Can Keen be applied to a crossbow? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Can Keen be applied to a crossbow? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
ccerose
09-15-06, 02:33 PM See title.

If so, would a +1 keen light crossbow cost 8335 gp?
Pandaemoni
09-15-06, 02:41 PM See this crossbow? ... it's razor sharp.

Technically, per the RAW, no. That said, there's no reason a DM can't houserule that such a bow would impart the keen property to quarrels it fires.
ccerose
09-15-06, 02:54 PM Well, that makes sense, I was just hoping I was reading it wrong.
OravennasBrother
09-15-06, 04:21 PM RAW the SRD states
"Only piercing or slashing weapons can be keen. "
BUT the random rolls for missile weapons does not inlcude a Keen Property. A random weapon cannot be keen, but the SPELL Keen Edge from the SRD
states "If cast on arrows or crossbow bolts, the keen edge on a particular projectile ..."
And the spell is required to imbue the keen property.
So it ends up seeming a DM judgement call.
savant_warlord13
09-15-06, 04:33 PM Crossbows are piercing weapons. Go for it.
Rulebook
09-15-06, 07:40 PM crossbows are not piercing weapons. they are improvised bludgeoning.

crossbow bolts however are. if it said "a weapon with this confers its bonus to ammo" you could get away with it.

the best you could hope for is a bunch of keen bolts.
Pandaemoni
09-15-06, 07:54 PM My point was: If you're equipping a character and spending cash, this is a question to run by the DM. As noted, the tables in the DMG do not allow for a "Keen Crossbow" (they don't allow for keen bolts either...). If you're the DM, it's up to you.

Personally, I don't see any problems with it myself, so I'd allow it.
bondious
09-16-06, 04:14 AM I would say "no" to a Keen Crossbow (or regular Bow, for that matter).

My reasoning is that the crossbow itself is not the weapon, the bolts are, and there is no text in the Keen description saying that the "Bows, crossbows, and slings so crafted bestow the cold energy upon their ammunition."

I have no problem with enchanting 50 +1 Bolts into +1 Keen Bolts, though.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
ccerose 09-15-06, 02:33 PM	See title. If so, would a +1 keen light crossbow cost 8335 gp?
Pandaemoni 09-15-06, 02:41 PM	See this crossbow? ... it's razor sharp. Technically, per the RAW, no. That said, there's no reason a DM can't houserule that such a bow would impart the keen property to quarrels it fires.
ccerose 09-15-06, 02:54 PM	Well, that makes sense, I was just hoping I was reading it wrong.
OravennasBrother 09-15-06, 04:21 PM	RAW the SRD states "Only piercing or slashing weapons can be keen. " BUT the random rolls for missile weapons does not inlcude a Keen Property. A random weapon cannot be keen, but the SPELL Keen Edge from the SRD states "If cast on arrows or crossbow bolts, the keen edge on a particular projectile ..." And the spell is required to imbue the keen property. So it ends up seeming a DM judgement call.
savant_warlord13 09-15-06, 04:33 PM	Crossbows are piercing weapons. Go for it.
Rulebook 09-15-06, 07:40 PM	crossbows are not piercing weapons. they are improvised bludgeoning. crossbow bolts however are. if it said "a weapon with this confers its bonus to ammo" you could get away with it. the best you could hope for is a bunch of keen bolts.
Pandaemoni 09-15-06, 07:54 PM	My point was: If you're equipping a character and spending cash, this is a question to run by the DM. As noted, the tables in the DMG do not allow for a "Keen Crossbow" (they don't allow for keen bolts either...). If you're the DM, it's up to you. Personally, I don't see any problems with it myself, so I'd allow it.
bondious 09-16-06, 04:14 AM	I would say "no" to a Keen Crossbow (or regular Bow, for that matter). My reasoning is that the crossbow itself is not the weapon, the bolts are, and there is no text in the Keen description saying that the "Bows, crossbows, and slings so crafted bestow the cold energy upon their ammunition." I have no problem with enchanting 50 +1 Bolts into +1 Keen Bolts, though.