Crossbow and ranged attack questions. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Crossbow and ranged attack questions. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Fox Reeveheart
07-12-07, 05:00 PM 1.) Can I take a double move action (since i am not moving any distance) to load and fire a light crossbow?

2) is there anything like a feat and such to let me fire a ranged weapon while threatened? and no not order of the bow initiate, thats bows only, not crossbows.

3) are bolts stored in a quiver?
Arien_Drajanuma
07-12-07, 05:07 PM 1.) Can I take a double move action (since i am not moving any distance) to load and fire a light crossbow?

You can take a move action to load the light crossbow and a STANDARD action to fire it. How would you fire anything with a double move action?

2) is there anything like a feat and such to let me fire a ranged weapon while threatened? and no not order of the bow initiate, thats bows only, not crossbows.

There's one in Drow of the Underdark that lets you fight with a rapier and a hand crossbow and you don't provoke AoO when firing in melee, but it's waaaaaay so specific. Other than that, the closest thing you have is Combat Archery (Races of the Wild, I believe), which gives you a +4 dodge bonus to AC for AoOs when firing in melee. Not sure if it works with xbows, though...

3) are bolts stored in a quiver?

No, they are generally carried in a little "box" on your belt. Look at Gimble's image on the Bard class description in the PHB.
Lucas Blackstone
07-12-07, 05:09 PM You can take a move action to load your x-bow, and a standard action to fire. Or you can take other feats to use even less actions.

You can always fire a bow while threatened. I'll assume you mean is there a feat you can take to make it so firing your x-bow and not provoke. I'm not sure of any feats to do so. Arrow Mind is a good spell for that though. Level 1 Wiz/Sorc/Ranger spell.

Quiver/bolt case, whatever. Same difference for D&D purposes. I don't see why you couldn't put bolts in a quiver, but I'm not a archer of any sort so there may be reasons.
Fox Reeveheart
07-12-07, 05:12 PM so basically if I don't move in the round I can load and shoot one crossbow bolt each round? (obviously without rapid reload)
dknight100
07-12-07, 05:16 PM there is no difference rules mechanic wise, quiver vs bolt case. In real life, the difference is that a crossbow bolt isnt very long, so putting it in a quiver (modern day often on belt, olden day often on the back) would make them really hard to draw. Arrows are okay for being drawn from your back because they're long.
Arien_Drajanuma
07-12-07, 05:16 PM Exactly.

And you can take a 5 ft step (generally enough to get you OUT of an enemy's thread range
Malchius
07-12-07, 05:24 PM Or if it's an exotic crossbow you could take a couple of levels in exotic weapon master which I'm sure lets you shoot your exotic ranged weapons in melee, which is alright for a Great Crossbow, hmmm wonder if it works for Ballistae?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Fox Reeveheart 07-12-07, 05:00 PM	1.) Can I take a double move action (since i am not moving any distance) to load and fire a light crossbow? 2) is there anything like a feat and such to let me fire a ranged weapon while threatened? and no not order of the bow initiate, thats bows only, not crossbows. 3) are bolts stored in a quiver?
Arien_Drajanuma 07-12-07, 05:07 PM	1.) Can I take a double move action (since i am not moving any distance) to load and fire a light crossbow? You can take a move action to load the light crossbow and a STANDARD action to fire it. How would you fire anything with a double move action? 2) is there anything like a feat and such to let me fire a ranged weapon while threatened? and no not order of the bow initiate, thats bows only, not crossbows. There's one in Drow of the Underdark that lets you fight with a rapier and a hand crossbow and you don't provoke AoO when firing in melee, but it's waaaaaay so specific. Other than that, the closest thing you have is Combat Archery (Races of the Wild, I believe), which gives you a +4 dodge bonus to AC for AoOs when firing in melee. Not sure if it works with xbows, though... 3) are bolts stored in a quiver? No, they are generally carried in a little "box" on your belt. Look at Gimble's image on the Bard class description in the PHB.
Lucas Blackstone 07-12-07, 05:09 PM	You can take a move action to load your x-bow, and a standard action to fire. Or you can take other feats to use even less actions. You can always fire a bow while threatened. I'll assume you mean is there a feat you can take to make it so firing your x-bow and not provoke. I'm not sure of any feats to do so. Arrow Mind is a good spell for that though. Level 1 Wiz/Sorc/Ranger spell. Quiver/bolt case, whatever. Same difference for D&D purposes. I don't see why you couldn't put bolts in a quiver, but I'm not a archer of any sort so there may be reasons.
Fox Reeveheart 07-12-07, 05:12 PM	so basically if I don't move in the round I can load and shoot one crossbow bolt each round? (obviously without rapid reload)
dknight100 07-12-07, 05:16 PM	there is no difference rules mechanic wise, quiver vs bolt case. In real life, the difference is that a crossbow bolt isnt very long, so putting it in a quiver (modern day often on belt, olden day often on the back) would make them really hard to draw. Arrows are okay for being drawn from your back because they're long.
Arien_Drajanuma 07-12-07, 05:16 PM	Exactly. And you can take a 5 ft step (generally enough to get you OUT of an enemy's thread range
Malchius 07-12-07, 05:24 PM	Or if it's an exotic crossbow you could take a couple of levels in exotic weapon master which I'm sure lets you shoot your exotic ranged weapons in melee, which is alright for a Great Crossbow, hmmm wonder if it works for Ballistae?