confused about bola use [Archive] - Wizards Community

confused about bola use [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Nathreet
12-02-06, 12:09 AM The weapons table lists the bola as an exotic range weapon that deals 1d4 damage. The PHB says bolas can be used for a ranged trip attack without allowing a counter-trip and leaves it at that.

So, going by the rules, it seems I could either do damage or trip. 4+ legged creatures would get a +4 on the trip check. Success means the creature falls prone.

This doesn't seem to make sense. Real bolas were used to stop 4 legged animals and forcefully tossed bolas would sometimes crush their bones. They worked by wrapping around a leg of the animal.

So, do I get the trip attack and damage? Or only one?
Do 4+ legged creatures get a +4 to resist the trip?
Does the prone creature have to remove the bolas before it gets up, or do they fall off on their own?
RavenDrake
12-02-06, 12:16 AM It says that you can make a trip attack with the weapon. Since it provides no altnerate rules to override the normal combat rules, then a trip attack with a bola resolves exactly the same way as a trip attack with any other weapon(refer to the Trip section in the Combat rules). In short, though, no you don't deal any damage on a trip.
Nathreet
12-02-06, 12:22 AM Strange, I'm gonna see if WotC has something on this. Just doesn't seem right. As in, how would I do damage? By throwing a pair of wooden balls at the creature's body instead of its legs?

EDIT: After reading the rules carefully and looking at similar examples, I am going to guess that RavenDrake is right. I don't agree with it, but it seems I can choose either damage or a trip attack (which 4+ legged creatures get a +4 against).
risner
12-02-06, 02:45 AM that RavenDrake is right. I don't agree with it, but it seems I can choose either damage or a trip attack (which 4+ legged creatures get a +4 against).

He is, welcome to 3.5 called shots (trip, grapple, sunder, disarm, etc.)
Qube
12-02-06, 09:15 AM So, going by the rules, it seems I could either do damage or trip. 4+ legged creatures would get a +4 on the trip check. Success means the creature falls prone.
simple awnser: yesThis doesn't seem to make sense. Real bolas were used to stop 4 legged animals and forcefully tossed bolas would sometimes crush their bones. They worked by wrapping around a leg of the animal.
welcome to DnD (i mean, you can use a small wooden club to bash though a solid steel door)
So, do I get the trip attack and damage? Or only one?
Do 4+ legged creatures get a +4 to resist the trip?
Does the prone creature have to remove the bolas before it gets up, or do they fall off on their own?
- either you make a trip attampt or an attack. (IIRC, trip attampt = ranched touch + opposted trip check; no damage)
- creatures like horses or deer get a +4 bonus
- does bolas say anything about this? no? then they can yust stand. bolas do not stick.
ludomastro
12-02-06, 11:58 PM One comment - the RAW =/= common sense: the DM; however, can use it.
Nathreet
12-03-06, 01:27 AM One comment - the RAW =/= common sense: the DM; however, can use it.

Naw, I'd say the opposite in most cases. Or otherwise it's an attempt at simplification. I blame a lack of fore-thought here, but it could also be simplification. There's always a reason why they put something in the rules, be it a good reason or a bad one.
ludomastro
12-03-06, 01:40 AM Naw, I'd say the opposite in most cases. Or otherwise it's an attempt at simplification. I blame a lack of fore-thought here, but it could also be simplification. There's always a reason why they put something in the rules, be it a good reason or a bad one.

It was a simplification - Let me amend that to say:

RAW does not always make common sense (though the rule is still there for a reason). A DM can override the RAW for "common sense" reasons if it suits his game.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Nathreet 12-02-06, 12:09 AM	The weapons table lists the bola as an exotic range weapon that deals 1d4 damage. The PHB says bolas can be used for a ranged trip attack without allowing a counter-trip and leaves it at that. So, going by the rules, it seems I could either do damage or trip. 4+ legged creatures would get a +4 on the trip check. Success means the creature falls prone. This doesn't seem to make sense. Real bolas were used to stop 4 legged animals and forcefully tossed bolas would sometimes crush their bones. They worked by wrapping around a leg of the animal. So, do I get the trip attack and damage? Or only one? Do 4+ legged creatures get a +4 to resist the trip? Does the prone creature have to remove the bolas before it gets up, or do they fall off on their own?
RavenDrake 12-02-06, 12:16 AM	It says that you can make a trip attack with the weapon. Since it provides no altnerate rules to override the normal combat rules, then a trip attack with a bola resolves exactly the same way as a trip attack with any other weapon(refer to the Trip section in the Combat rules). In short, though, no you don't deal any damage on a trip.
Nathreet 12-02-06, 12:22 AM	Strange, I'm gonna see if WotC has something on this. Just doesn't seem right. As in, how would I do damage? By throwing a pair of wooden balls at the creature's body instead of its legs? EDIT: After reading the rules carefully and looking at similar examples, I am going to guess that RavenDrake is right. I don't agree with it, but it seems I can choose either damage or a trip attack (which 4+ legged creatures get a +4 against).
risner 12-02-06, 02:45 AM	that RavenDrake is right. I don't agree with it, but it seems I can choose either damage or a trip attack (which 4+ legged creatures get a +4 against). He is, welcome to 3.5 called shots (trip, grapple, sunder, disarm, etc.)
Qube 12-02-06, 09:15 AM	So, going by the rules, it seems I could either do damage or trip. 4+ legged creatures would get a +4 on the trip check. Success means the creature falls prone. simple awnser: yesThis doesn't seem to make sense. Real bolas were used to stop 4 legged animals and forcefully tossed bolas would sometimes crush their bones. They worked by wrapping around a leg of the animal. welcome to DnD (i mean, you can use a small wooden club to bash though a solid steel door) So, do I get the trip attack and damage? Or only one? Do 4+ legged creatures get a +4 to resist the trip? Does the prone creature have to remove the bolas before it gets up, or do they fall off on their own? - either you make a trip attampt or an attack. (IIRC, trip attampt = ranched touch + opposted trip check; no damage) - creatures like horses or deer get a +4 bonus - does bolas say anything about this? no? then they can yust stand. bolas do not stick.
ludomastro 12-02-06, 11:58 PM	One comment - the RAW =/= common sense: the DM; however, can use it.
Nathreet 12-03-06, 01:27 AM	One comment - the RAW =/= common sense: the DM; however, can use it. Naw, I'd say the opposite in most cases. Or otherwise it's an attempt at simplification. I blame a lack of fore-thought here, but it could also be simplification. There's always a reason why they put something in the rules, be it a good reason or a bad one.
ludomastro 12-03-06, 01:40 AM	Naw, I'd say the opposite in most cases. Or otherwise it's an attempt at simplification. I blame a lack of fore-thought here, but it could also be simplification. There's always a reason why they put something in the rules, be it a good reason or a bad one. It was a simplification - Let me amend that to say: RAW does not always make common sense (though the rule is still there for a reason). A DM can override the RAW for "common sense" reasons if it suits his game.