Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Harmor 08-06-04, 05:35 AM	Ok I'm not sure there is a weapon quality or a wondrous property so I'll do both. Shrinking: The weapon or piece of armor (not currently worn), can strink to 1/16 of its normal size in each dimension (to about 1/4,000th the original volume and mass). The change effectively reduces the object's size by four categories. Optionally, you can also change its now shrunken composition to a clothlike one. To return the item to its normal size takes a standard action by uttering the command word. Faint Trasmutation; CL 3rd; Craft Magic Arms and Armor, shrink item (http://www.systemreferencedocuments.org/35/theraven_stephenh/spells/Shrink_Item.html); Price +1 bonus. -- Ballista of Shrinking: This weapon functions as a +1 ballista. The ballista is essentially a Huge heavy crossbow fixed in place. Its size makes it hard for most creatures to aim it. Thus, a Medium creature takes a -4 penalty on attack rolls when using a ballista, and a Small creature takes a -6 penalty. It takes a creature smaller than Large two full-rounds actions to reload the ballista after firing. A ballista takes up a space 5 feet across. When the command word is spoken the ballista shrinks to 1/16th its original size, approximately the size of hand crossbow. If you attempt to fire the ballista in this shrunken form you still incure a -4 profencency penalty. However, loading the shruken crossbow takes a move-equivalent action to reload. Faint Trasmutation; CL 3rd; Craft Magic Arms and Armor, shrink item (http://www.systemreferencedocuments.org/35/theraven_stephenh/spells/Shrink_Item.html); Price 4,500 gp; Cost: 4,000gp + 500gp for the masterwork ballista + 160 XP. What do you guys think?
Seeker95 08-06-04, 09:16 AM	It sounds neat at first glance, but I'm not seeing any benefit? Firing a ballista that is the size of a crossbow results in shooting crossbow bolts.
Llathos 08-06-04, 10:54 AM	Seeker, I don't know about you, but firing a bolt the size of a tree trunk and then magically shrinking the ballista down and running away to another spot seems kinda handy to me. Never mind the uses in a seige situation with limited ballistae and many walls to cover. It's like having ultra-mobile artillery...
tarkin 08-06-04, 12:49 PM	I would not let it work in shrunken form - that leads to unneccsary complications, arguments, and people trying to abuse the rules. But I do like the idea of a portable artilery weapon. Especially one that can be shrunken in it's loaded form, unshrunk in one round, and fired in the next.
Seeker95 08-06-04, 01:41 PM	Originally posted by Llathos magically shrinking the ballista down and running away to another spot seems kinda handy to me. My mistake. I was picturing someone trying to use a shrunken ballista, and forgetting about using it in its normal size as even being an option. That said, I would not make this a weapon property. Weapon properties should be more universally usable and desireable. I would make it a magic item that can affect weapons. So, I like the concept. But not the mechanic.