Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Sithraldor 03-23-08, 11:40 PM	if you had one of those mini kegs of gun powder & put caltrops in it & rigged a fuss. How much damage would it do & what would the area of effect be? I figured it would probably do bulg, piercing & slashing damage all in one.
Nathreet 03-23-08, 11:50 PM	Keg explosion blows by caltrops, caltrops fall to the ground without moving sideways much, adventurer disappointed. You want a cannon with grapeshot or a steel barrel. Possibly with breakaway grooves. Or a barrel lined completely with shrapnel (little or no gaps). You need some kind of "sail" so the shrapnel actually moves. Otherwise the explosion just blows by it. Caltrops are too round and narrow for this.
Dog_As_A_Devil_Deified 03-23-08, 11:54 PM	if you had one of those mini kegs of gun powder & put caltrops in it & rigged a fuss. How much damage would it do & what would the area of effect be? I figured it would probably do bulg, piercing & slashing damage all in one. Obviously you are looking at a houserule here, but I'd agree to that as DM, though I'd keep the damage reasonable. Like 750 gold buys you a 10d6 explosion, 20' radius, but the type of damage is divided 33.33% amongst each of the three damage types.
Amphoteric 03-24-08, 09:07 AM	Keg explosion blows by caltrops, caltrops fall to the ground without moving sideways much, adventurer disappointed. You want a cannon with grapeshot or a steel barrel. Possibly with breakaway grooves. Or a barrel lined completely with shrapnel (little or no gaps). You need some kind of "sail" so the shrapnel actually moves. Otherwise the explosion just blows by it. Caltrops are too round and narrow for this. I don't know if that is accurate. A claymore mine runs on the same principal. It really depends on the placement of caltrops inside the gunpowder keg. Also, such a device would functions 10x better with a solid metal pole running down the center to act as a "backstop" for the blast. Just my 2c
Sithraldor 03-24-08, 09:53 AM	The metal pole does direct outward better. I found that the idea works best when the caltrops are along the walls of the keg & gunpowder is in the center. The metal poles helps to direct it outward better & can sometimes add to the schapnel itself not likely though. It is handying have a uncle that is a pyrotechnic engineer.
Amphoteric 03-24-08, 10:54 AM	The metal pole does direct outward better. I found that the idea works best when the caltrops are along the walls of the keg & gunpowder is in the center. The metal poles helps to direct it outward better & can sometimes add to the schapnel itself not likely though. It is handying have a uncle that is a pyrotechnic engineer. Or have served in the military...*WINK*