What do folks think about the crossbow? It doesn't feel to me like a good Athasian weapon... anyone work on substitutes? I realize it probably could be made without metal or "advanced" knowledge, but...
Also, the Bard's Friend is not in the 4E book. It is a logical weapon for bards. Has anyone worked on this or other weapons not in this edition?
As for the crossbow, I agree it isn't very athasian. There were a few adventures in 2ed that had crossbows in memorable moments though. I specifically remember having a giant tracking down our party to collect a reward for killing us. Course, the giant fancied himself a sharpshooter and thought he would stand back at range and pick us off. The crossbow he used was more like a ballista but you get the idea.
The image of a huge giant standing a football field length away from me while trying to aim with his horrid range combat modifiers (probably with his tongue sticking out while he was concentrating) and missing horribly while we run at him; just gives me the giggles.
I would actually expect a crossbow to me the more prevelant weapon, rather than a short/longbows, since the needed materials are a bit more forgiving in that it doesn't need to be a solid piece of wood.
I've heard there was a period of a few decades after the crossbow was invented during which only the military could use it, and it was illegal for others. It allowed, apparently, for too easy assassinations since it requires very little room to operate versus a bow.
Crossbows could be used on Athas by the city-states' military, and be illegal for all others. Assassins and bards would have them, of course...
typically, the bow was held on by sinews/rope, later ones used metal
it was only later versions that used metal bow limbs (prod)
it's a common mistake ot think Athasians are stupid, very very wrong!
deliberate clamp down on organized knowledge by the SKs does cause problems, but in the real world, folk made crossbows 2000+ years ago.
our ancestors were brilliant, they made the Pyramids, Roman rapid fire ballistas etc.
the crossbow has many advantages over a bow, and you can imagine them using drake bone/claws etc for heavy draw weight versions.
A Pope introduces a Papal ban of excommunication on those who used crossbows, except against "heathens", lol, because crossbows made a peasant capable of killing a knight...
small or hand ones were banned for a while in IIRC, a few italian towns? because of the use in assassinations, but they were a major hunting wepaon so couldn't be totally banned, as "rifles" were mostly useless for such until the 1600s
As for Bard's friends, Superior Weapon to say the least, should be ranged like a dagger, and vicious or something like that, brutal? The benefit to Bard's friends was that a proficient user (remember proficiencies?) could apply a different poison to each of the blades, and pick which blade struck what target to deliver that particular poison. Poison being one use of course.
I did note some ranged ideas around boomerangs, atlatl, blow guns, and other ideas made back then. I'll work it out with my player. It isn't a big deal, but I prefer another option if possible. The crossbow isn't a universal thing like the bow or spear, so it isn't immediately clear to me that it has to develop on Athas.
Edit: OneWeirdCat, I think you were recalling the Master's Whip, which had an ending that could hold lots of poisons. The Bard's Friend had the ability to parry blows for a specialized user and could easily be concealed.
Popularized by the bards of Balic, the bard's friend is a particularly gruesome looking weapon, sporting several blades and prongs. if properly used, it is an excellent parrying weapon and brawl-stopper. The blades themselves are most often formed of bone or obsidian, strapped and mounted to a central wooden grip. The prongs are usually wooden, though they can be the fangs of desert predators or sharpened bone. The grip may have holes for the fingers; when there are no holes, the weapon is usually worn with leather straps holding it to the hand. Known to be a bard's weapon, it is not uncommon to see the blades dripping with poison. Proficient users can conceal the weapon withing their clothing and draw it with ease. The various blades and prongs make it an surprisingly effective parrying weapon.
Superior one-handed melee weapon
Cost: 15 gp
Damage: 1d6
Proficient: +2
Weight: 1 lb
Properties: Defensive, Off-Hand, Brutal 1
Group: Light Blade
Feats could include a power to quickdraw the weapon and attack, one to increase the parrying bonus, and perhaps one to disarm a foe's weapon and distract them.
I am working on guidelines for my home campaign.
What do folks think about the crossbow? It doesn't feel to me like a good Athasian weapon... anyone work on substitutes?
I disagree about the crossbow. Think about the 'Mob Rules' scene from the animated film 'Heavy Metal'.
Athas lacks metal, and crossbows certainly do not need metal. Athas is a very old world, and someone would certainly have come up with a crossbow. In fact, crossbows, particularly repeating crossbows, have a certain foreign exoticism about them that is definitely Athasian.
I am working on guidelines for my home campaign.
What do folks think about the crossbow? It doesn't feel to me like a good Athasian weapon... anyone work on substitutes?
I disagree about the crossbow. Think about the 'Mob Rules' scene from the animated film 'Heavy Metal'.
Athas lacks metal, and crossbows certainly do not need metal. Athas is a very old world, and someone would certainly have come up with a crossbow. In fact, crossbows, particularly repeating crossbows, have a certain foreign exoticism about them that is definitely Athasian.