Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Double M 06-02-05, 05:40 PM	Hey All, I'm sure that this has been discussed here or elsewhere, but I want to have a magically re-loading weapon and am not completely sure how to go about it. I want it for a sling and a crossbow, but the magical mechanics would probably apply to any projectile weapon. I was thinking of using Leomund's Secret Chest as the magical basis and having the item hold 20 or 50 "rounds" in its extradimensional space that would appear in the weapon as a free action; either by a command word or by the simple action of the sling being wound to be fired. Does anyone have any ideas or links to previously created weapons? Your help is greatly appreciated.
Jaid 06-02-05, 06:07 PM	slings already are a free action to reload, aren't they? and isn't there already a self-reloading crossbow? if not, there was in previous editions... anyways, for the sling i would make it pretty cheap 'cause it's not exactly a very impressive enchantment IMO, more for flavor than anything... the crossbow would be more expensive though.
Double M 06-02-05, 06:18 PM	slings already are a free action to reload, aren't they? Nope, reloading is a move action that requires both hands and provokes Attacks of Opportunity. and isn't there already a self-reloading crossbow? if not, there was in previous editions... There are repeating crossbows that have 5 bolt cartridges, but they require exotic weapon proficiency, are expensive, and cumbersome to re-load. Anybody have any other ideas?
Santrilla 06-02-05, 06:45 PM	To be honest I think you'd have a much easier time if you just designed it so the weapon created ammo, rather than teleported it in through an extradimensional portal. Though I can understand that you'd want to pre-load it with magic ammunition and whatnot. Major Creation would seem to be the best base spell for something like this, but the casting time for that is 10 minutes; still, if it was limited to ONLY making a unit of ammo for that weapon, it wouldn't make too much difference. As for cost? Well, Returning is only a +1 bonus, but this seems more powerful; perhaps +2. Restocking This enchantment can only be placed upon ranged weapons. Restocking weapons magically create a fresh round of ammunition as soon as one is loosed, greatly reducing the amount of time it takes to reload. A ranged weapon that normally takes a full-round action to load instead takes a move action, and a weapon that normally takes a move action to load can instead be reloaded as a free action. A restocking sling can be reloaded with one hand but a restocking crossbow cannot (the crank must still be turned), and winding a restocking crossbow still provokes an attack of oppurtunity. Restocking weapons can only create mundane ammunition, and ammunition created by the weapon disappears 2 rounds after being created. A restocking weapon can only create one unit of ammunition per round. Moderate conjuration; CL 10th; Craft Magic Arms and Armor, major creation; Price +2 bonus.
Double M 06-02-05, 07:09 PM	If you were going to go the creation route, why wouldn't you just use minor creation. It can create wooden objects like an arrow, granted the crafter requires a bowmaking craft check in order to do it, but if the crafter had the requisite ability in bowmaking, I think it would be adequate to use minor instead of major and thus reduce the price. I think that you are right about the +1 cost being too low, but I think the +2 price seems a bit high for a minor creation-based item. Perhaps a split; somewhere in the 5,000 range. You are also right about the extradimensional space allowing for the loading of any type of ammo rather than just a mundanely created arrow of bullet. Any other thoughts?
Jaid 06-02-05, 10:46 PM	crossbow bolts are typically metal aren't they? and so are sling bullets.
Santrilla 06-03-05, 05:18 AM	Arrows aren't entirely made of organic material; the head is metal or stone. Same with crossbow bolts and sling bullets. Minor creation only allows you to make wooden objects.
Double M 06-03-05, 09:55 AM	You're correct about sling bullets, but I thought crossbow bolts did not necessarily have metal tips. The description in the PHB doesn't specifically state that they have metal tips and in the picture of three different bolts in the PHB, it appears that one of the bolts is just a well-sharpened piece of wood. In any event, since the sling bullets are non-organic, I may have to go the major creation route for that one. Anyone have any other ideas that we might have missed? Thanks again.
tarkin 06-03-05, 11:32 AM	Couple of things. Forget about matching the spell to the price. That is irrelevant. You have a desired effect, you have a spell that is at least somewhat tangentially related to it, that's goode engough Auto-reloading has two advantages: 1) It lets you use a heavier damaging weapon at the same rate as a lower damaging weapon. 2) It lets you fire two crossbows (one in each hand) at the same time, for more than one shot. These two abilities tell me the price should clearly be a +2 power, not a +1. (+3 is too expensive in my mind. I personally do not like the creation bit, as that means you have to use normal ammo, being unable to magically create +1 ammo, or better yet, change the ammo. Besides, creating the ammo is not the problem, the problem is pulling the lever back for the crossbow So this is what I would write it up: -------------- Self-Reloading: Only ranged weapons that have a reloading time can have the Self-Re-loading ability. The weapon contains a small extradimensional space holding upto 50 ammo pieces, and after every shot magically reloads itself, including cocking itself. If the user places diffferent ammo in the extra dimensional space, they may name it, and when using the weapon as a free action they may request a specific type of ammo verbally (loud and clear voice required). Finaly, one more factor. The weapon is a self-Reloading - the first ammo must be loaded by hand. If it is left alone for more than 5 minutes, it unloads itself (this is good weapon practice, it prevents the weapon from breaking/self-activating in your pack). It takes the standard amount of time to load the first peice of ammo. Strong divination; CL 11th; Craft Magic Arms and Armor, Secret Chest, Animate Object; Price +2 bonus. ----------------- Note 1) that this combines the power of an Efficient Quiver magic item. 2) This also requires you to load the first shot, so if the weapon has a strength requirement you must be able to load it once in order to use it. This was put in part as a balancing factor.