Crossbow Questions [Archive] - Wizards Community

Crossbow Questions [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Nived
08-01-06, 05:59 PM I have a new campaign coming up in awhile and I'm trying to build something 'off the beaten path'. However it seems that no matter how I come at the problem I hit a roadblock.

What I'm trying to build. A crossbow user. I have access to the PHBII so there are feats that make it worthwhile (Crossbow Sniper).

What I'd like, naturally, is the most bang for my buck. So I thought Repeating Heavy Crossbow with Rapid Shot. 5 shots a round 1d10+half dex. Seemed like a good idea. However looking at the stats it seems reloading a Repeating Crossbow (whether heavy or light) is a full round action. Nothing drops this, not Rapid Reload, not Quickdraw... you get one round of devisation, then a round to reload the bugger.

Conversly a Light Crossbow with Rapid Shot and Rapid reload can get 5 shots off every round... While a Light Repeating Crossbow with Exotic Weapon Prof and Rapid Shot would be 5 shots every OTHER round.

This seems really messed up.

Anyway to speed up the clip change on a Repeater or should I suck up the lower damage and go with the light crossbow and rapid reload?
PoorHobo
08-01-06, 07:17 PM I believe there is a first level spell in Faerun that does it. Thouhg I only vaguly remember reading something abou it and I don't have the books. Might be in Magic of Faerun. Not sure. Wich would mean you would need something that grants first level casting without a restricted spell list.

---
Arvagor
08-01-06, 07:36 PM How are you firing 5 shots in one round? You are still limited to the number of shots that your BAB would allow you to take, i.e. BAB +1 to +5, one shot per round, BAB +6 to +10, two shots per round, etc. Rapid Shot would let you add an additional shot, but that still requires a full attack action.
Nived
08-01-06, 10:49 PM I was speaking theoretically at high levels.

Say you're 16th level. And have proficiency.

-Light Crossbow: At 16th level you'd get one shot off per round (move action to reload).

-Heavy Crossbow: At 16th level you'd get one shot off every two rounds (Full Round Action to reload)

-Light or Heavy Repeating Crossbow: You'd get 4 attacks in one round, then either have to load a new clip (full round action). Or get only one shot off the next round (5 round clip), then spend the third round reloading.

With Rapid Reload at 16th level

-Light Crossbow: You'd get 4 shots off every round.

-Heavy Crossbow: You'd get one shot off every round.

-Light or Heavy Repeater: Same as above no effect from Rapid Reload.

With Rapid Shot and Rapid Reload

-Light Crossbow: Taking a -2 to all rolls you'd get your full BAB 4 shots +1 extra shot at your highest BAB, so 5 shots. EVERY ROUND

-Heavy Crossbow: You'd get two shots off each round. Both at highest BAB -2.

-Light or Heavy Repeater: You'd manage to fire a full clip of 5 shots. 4 BAB 1 Rapid Shot... but it'd still take a full round to reload it the next round.

____
On top of all that there is no rule that says (like it does for Composite bows and regular bows) That Weapon Focus: Light Crossbow would cover the repeating version as well... and vice versa.

I know I know this is what I get for choosing one of the 'less optimized' weapons. Heck the only PrC I can find that even covers crossbows is Deepwood Sniper from the old Masters of the Wild... while there are dozens of bow PrC's scattered around.

I supposedwhat gets me is that with the same number of feats (Rapid Reload and Rapid Shot vs EWP Light Repeater and Rapid Shot) the simple weapon blows the exotic version of the same away... and they're all Core PHB. It bothers me. I would have liked to use a heavy... but it seems that I'd be kneecapping myself even more if I went for that increased damage die.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Nived 08-01-06, 05:59 PM	I have a new campaign coming up in awhile and I'm trying to build something 'off the beaten path'. However it seems that no matter how I come at the problem I hit a roadblock. What I'm trying to build. A crossbow user. I have access to the PHBII so there are feats that make it worthwhile (Crossbow Sniper). What I'd like, naturally, is the most bang for my buck. So I thought Repeating Heavy Crossbow with Rapid Shot. 5 shots a round 1d10+half dex. Seemed like a good idea. However looking at the stats it seems reloading a Repeating Crossbow (whether heavy or light) is a full round action. Nothing drops this, not Rapid Reload, not Quickdraw... you get one round of devisation, then a round to reload the bugger. Conversly a Light Crossbow with Rapid Shot and Rapid reload can get 5 shots off every round... While a Light Repeating Crossbow with Exotic Weapon Prof and Rapid Shot would be 5 shots every OTHER round. This seems really messed up. Anyway to speed up the clip change on a Repeater or should I suck up the lower damage and go with the light crossbow and rapid reload?
PoorHobo 08-01-06, 07:17 PM	I believe there is a first level spell in Faerun that does it. Thouhg I only vaguly remember reading something abou it and I don't have the books. Might be in Magic of Faerun. Not sure. Wich would mean you would need something that grants first level casting without a restricted spell list. ---
Arvagor 08-01-06, 07:36 PM	How are you firing 5 shots in one round? You are still limited to the number of shots that your BAB would allow you to take, i.e. BAB +1 to +5, one shot per round, BAB +6 to +10, two shots per round, etc. Rapid Shot would let you add an additional shot, but that still requires a full attack action.
Nived 08-01-06, 10:49 PM	I was speaking theoretically at high levels. Say you're 16th level. And have proficiency. -Light Crossbow: At 16th level you'd get one shot off per round (move action to reload). -Heavy Crossbow: At 16th level you'd get one shot off every two rounds (Full Round Action to reload) -Light or Heavy Repeating Crossbow: You'd get 4 attacks in one round, then either have to load a new clip (full round action). Or get only one shot off the next round (5 round clip), then spend the third round reloading. With Rapid Reload at 16th level -Light Crossbow: You'd get 4 shots off every round. -Heavy Crossbow: You'd get one shot off every round. -Light or Heavy Repeater: Same as above no effect from Rapid Reload. With Rapid Shot and Rapid Reload -Light Crossbow: Taking a -2 to all rolls you'd get your full BAB 4 shots +1 extra shot at your highest BAB, so 5 shots. EVERY ROUND -Heavy Crossbow: You'd get two shots off each round. Both at highest BAB -2. -Light or Heavy Repeater: You'd manage to fire a full clip of 5 shots. 4 BAB 1 Rapid Shot... but it'd still take a full round to reload it the next round. ____ On top of all that there is no rule that says (like it does for Composite bows and regular bows) That Weapon Focus: Light Crossbow would cover the repeating version as well... and vice versa. I know I know this is what I get for choosing one of the 'less optimized' weapons. Heck the only PrC I can find that even covers crossbows is Deepwood Sniper from the old Masters of the Wild... while there are dozens of bow PrC's scattered around. I supposedwhat gets me is that with the same number of feats (Rapid Reload and Rapid Shot vs EWP Light Repeater and Rapid Shot) the simple weapon blows the exotic version of the same away... and they're all Core PHB. It bothers me. I would have liked to use a heavy... but it seems that I'd be kneecapping myself even more if I went for that increased damage die.