The build below is based on the idea that by pumping the size of a crossbow and the use of a handful of magic items, one can create something that approaches double the range of a Barret M82 Anti-material rifle (with a range of 1850 meters, or about 1.16 miles)
Strongheart Halfling Rogue 3/Swashbuckler 17 | +20d6 Sneak Attack
Use an 18 for Dex, the rest is really optional…
Equipment
Small Heavy Crossbow: 1d8 damage | 120’ range
Colossal Heavy Crossbow: 6d8 | 366’ range
Item of Sniper’s Shot, Hawkeye, Guided Shot:
Base: (1*3*8,000) + (1*3*8,000*.75)+(1*3*8,000*.5): 54,000
+1 Deadly Precision, Distance, Greater Dislocating, Quickloading, Sizing, Speed, Small Heavy Crossbow
Cost: 162,000 Range (when Sized to Colossal) 732’
+1 Brilliant Energy Crossbow Bolts
Cost: 50,000gp
Crystal Ball with True Seeing
Cost: 80,000
Small Heavy Crossbow: 1d8 damage | 120’ range
Colossal Heavy Crossbow: 6d8 | 366’ range
Item of Sniper’s Shot, Hawkeye, Guided Shot:
Base: (1*3*8,000) + (1*3*8,000*.75)+(1*3*8,000*.5): 54,000
+1 Deadly Precision, Distance, Greater Dislocating, Quickloading, Sizing, Speed, Small Heavy Crossbow
Cost: 162,000 Range (when Sized to Colossal) 732’
+1 Brilliant Energy Crossbow Bolts
Cost: 50,000gp
Crystal Ball with True Seeing
Cost: 80,000
:D
notice:
Sizing(CAdv p127)(Und p69)Any Weapon
The weapon’s size category can be changed as a Standard Action. For example, a Shortsword sized for a Small creature can be chanced to a Shortsword sized for a Medium creature.
if you change the size without being the proper size yourself.... you cant use the weapon
:D
Sizing allows the weapon to grow or shrink when you change size... so it is normally sized no matter how Big or Small you get... it does not allow a Small creature use a Colossal weapon
notice:
if you change the size without being the proper size yourself.... you cant use the weapon
:D
Aiming and pulling the trigger aren't that hard...you're over two miles from the target so you can take your time... If neccessary, use Enlarge Person
Also, use an elf
The point was to use something with a Dex bonus. To tell the truth, it doesn't matter too much if you use something bigger, as long as it can pull a trigger and hit a target with a crossbow...If you're really just going for range, there's not much that competes with cragtop archer.
{insert race here} Rogue 3/Swashbuckler 14/Cragtop Archer 3 | +8d6 Sneak Attack
Use an 18 for Dex, the rest is really optional… Though a high Str would be nice.
Equipment
Small Greatbow: 1d8 damage | 130’ range
Colossal Greatbow: 8d6 | 396’ range
Item of Sniper’s Shot, Hawkeye, Guided Shot:
Base: (1*3*8,000) + (1*3*8,000*.75)+(1*3*8,000*.5): 54,000
+1 Deadly Precision, Distance, Greater Dislocating, Sizing, Speed, Small Greatbow
Cost: 162,000 Range (when Sized to Colossal) 793’
+1 Brilliant Energy Arrows
Cost: 50,000gp
Crystal Ball with True Seeing
Cost: 80,000
Small Greatbow: 1d8 damage | 130’ range
Colossal Greatbow: 8d6 | 396’ range
Item of Sniper’s Shot, Hawkeye, Guided Shot:
Base: (1*3*8,000) + (1*3*8,000*.75)+(1*3*8,000*.5): 54,000
+1 Deadly Precision, Distance, Greater Dislocating, Sizing, Speed, Small Greatbow
Cost: 162,000 Range (when Sized to Colossal) 793’
+1 Brilliant Energy Arrows
Cost: 50,000gp
Crystal Ball with True Seeing
Cost: 80,000
Aiming and pulling the trigger aren't that hard...you're over two miles from the target so you can take your time... If neccessary, use Enlarge Person
Also, use an elf
i like the idea of being a long way from your Target and being able to hit it Hard with SA damage..... however:
2 points:
[indent]
1)Weapon Sizing.... notice:
Weapon Size: Every weapon has a size category. This designation indicates the size of the creature for which the weapon was designed.
A weapon’s size category isn’t the same as its size as an object. Instead, a weapon’s size category is keyed to the size of the intended wielder. In general, a light weapon is an object two size categories smaller than the wielder, a one-handed weapon is an object one size category smaller than the wielder, and a two-handed weapon is an object of the same size category as the wielder.
Inappropriately Sized Weapons: A creature can’t make optimum use of a weapon that isn’t properly sized for it. A cumulative –2 penalty applies on attack rolls for each size category of difference between the size of its intended wielder and the size of its actual wielder. If the creature isn’t proficient with the weapon a –4 nonproficiency penalty also applies.
The measure of how much effort it takes to use a weapon (whether the weapon is designated as a light, one-handed, or two-handed weapon for a particular wielder) is altered by one step for each size category of difference between the wielder’s size and the size of the creature for which the weapon was designed. If a weapon’s designation would be changed to something other than light, one-handed, or two-handed by this alteration, the creature can’t wield the weapon at all.
2)there is more to Firing a Crossbow, than just pulling a Trigger..... you need to move it to Fire it.. the farther away a target is .. the harder it is to make precise movements to actually track a Target.... even harder if you use an indirect Sighting system(Crystal Ball)
[/indent]
i like the creative thoughts behind it.... however if i was the DM, i would say you need to have Direct Line of Sight...sighting off of the Crossbow(between the Crosshair sights on the Crossbow, or whatever sights are used) ...to actually use it
result... idea as proposed is non-workable.... but thats just me, there are DMs that might allow it
:D
The greatbow does enjoy a range and damage advantage over crossbows that can be fired at full attack rate, but if you're willing to throw in a little extra cheese you can make crossbows work. I am, of course, referring to exploitation of the aptitude weapon property from ToB combined with Hand Crossbow Focus from DotU, and the use of a Great-Crossbow from Races of Stone. This gives you the highest base damage of any weapon I've ever seen, 18-20 threat range, and full attack rate.
Congratulations, you now have the D&D equivalent of a Barret .50 Cal Anti-Material rifle.
For the acquisition of targets at preposterous range, you can grab the Glass of Distance from sandstorm page 133-134. This thing'll let you spot people 10 miles away, and since it's a spyglass, the DM will liekly feel more inclined to let you strap it to your crossbow. The glass's teleportation ability should come in handy too for quick and easy relocation from your firing position after you make the shot(s).
Well wouldn't that mean that he would just take a -X penalty to his attack roll? If he were to use the Collosal crossbow that is.
not only a Penalty to Attack.... but i would be giving him a Penalty to Target(Spot) his prey using the Crossbow... if he did not have Direct LoS... he would have to determine the Square from the sourroundings that he saw thru the crystal ball... then Target that Square, but the target would gain a Save vs the Damage...... the rules for this are found in Heroes of Battle(IIRC).. it has rules for Indirect Fire and Seige engines
if you wanted to go this approach ..... the only solution:
Make the Colossal Crossbow mounted on an Colossal Animated fireing platform and Controlled by the Crystal Ball... it would be mounted on Wheels to allow movement.... and have the BAB of a Colossal Animated Object, but since it is firing Brilliant Energy Arrows it wouldnt matter much .... but it wouldnt get the Sneak Attack damage.... but it would reasonably be able to Track, Target, Load, and Fire.... with a person controling it by means of the Crystal Ball
:D
There's nothing stopping cragtop archer abilities from working with a crossbow - they work with any projectile weapon.
The greatbow does enjoy a range and damage advantage over crossbows that can be fired at full attack rate, but if you're willing to throw in a little extra cheese you can make crossbows work. I am, of course, referring to exploitation of the aptitude weapon property from ToB combined with Hand Crossbow Focus from DotU, and the use of a Great-Crossbow from Races of Stone. This gives you the highest base damage of any weapon I've ever seen, 18-20 threat range, and full attack rate.
Congratulations, you now have the D&D equivalent of a Barret .50 Cal Anti-Material rifle.
this is much more reasonable
For the acquisition of targets at preposterous range, you can grab the Glass of Distance from sandstorm page 133-134. This thing'll let you spot people 10 miles away, and since it's a spyglass, the DM will liekly feel more inclined to let you strap it to your crossbow. The glass's teleportation ability should come in handy too for quick and easy relocation from your firing position after you make the shot(s).
also much more reasonable..... but it would likely require the Weapon to be modified to simply ADD the Glass of Distance ability to the Cost of the Crossbow as per MIC adding magic items together
:D
basicly you could make a Ranged counterpart to a Juggernaut
:D
In light of our realization that one should use a golem...
Warforged Artificer 20
Craft Contruct, Craft Magic Arms and Armor, Craft Wonderous Item
Now we have a battery of these things. If we build a Colossal+ Animated Object that can float we will have a missile cruiser.
I stll prefer my assassin who sits down on the top of some building a couple miles away from his target, glances into his crystal ball and looses a barrage of 17d6 damage bolts that pass through the stone walls his target uses to protect himself without losing any momentum.
________________________________________________________________
As a side note:
The ICBM
Human of Thay Wizard 5/Red Wizard 10/Archmage 5
Prepare as many Teleport Object as you can. You can, thanks to your Caster Level of 40, teleport an object with a weight of one ton.
Your weapon of choice is an object weighing one ton with demensions of:
one foot thick by 1,314 feet long by 1,314 feet wide. If you can find a way to transport a greater weight...hmmm...
Perhaps you summon things via Gate and use Greater Teleport to move them above your target. Once again, a Crystal Ball is invaluable. With this system you summon things that can cast Iron Wall and teleport them as high above your target as you can. Let the walls fall via your new bombers. (Each of them should be given a Ring of Teleportation with 1 charge so they can get back and re-arm as it were, in this case to be handed a new ring and prep to go for another run.)
Originally posted by OokamiKiba:.50 CalRail gun
Fixed. :D
Weapon Size: Every weapon has a size category. This designation indicates the size of the creature for which the weapon was designed.
A weapon’s size category isn’t the same as its size as an object. Instead, a weapon’s size category is keyed to the size of the intended wielder. In general, a light weapon is an object two size categories smaller than the wielder, a one-handed weapon is an object one size category smaller than the wielder, and a two-handed weapon is an object of the same size category as the wielder.
Inappropriately Sized Weapons: A creature can’t make optimum use of a weapon that isn’t properly sized for it. A cumulative –2 penalty applies on attack rolls for each size category of difference between the size of its intended wielder and the size of its actual wielder. If the creature isn’t proficient with the weapon a –4 nonproficiency penalty also applies.
The measure of how much effort it takes to use a weapon (whether the weapon is designated as a light, one-handed, or two-handed weapon for a particular wielder) is altered by one step for each size category of difference between the wielder’s size and the size of the creature for which the weapon was designed. If a weapon’s designation would be changed to something other than light, one-handed, or two-handed by this alteration, the creature can’t wield the weapon at all.
thats why i suggested a Colossal Animated object use the Colossal Crossbow
:D
Anyhow, I still don't get how the damage of a colossal crossbow makes up for the animated object's lack of other abilities. While the colossal object's +24 bab does give a full four attacks, the thing won't have any feats / sources of extra damage / range / whatever.
Anyhow, I still don't get how the damage of a colossal crossbow makes up for the animated object's lack of other abilities. While the colossal object's +24 bab does give a full four attacks, the thing won't have any feats / sources of extra damage / range / whatever.
it really doesnt need many "other abilities" .... since it is firing this:
+1 Deadly Precision, Distance, Greater Dislocating, Sizing, Speed, Greatbow using these: +1 Brilliant Energy Arrows
personally i would have it fire this:
+1 Distance Splitting Force Expolosive Greatbow with: +1 Brilliant Energy Arrows
:D
Increasing weapon size doesn't increase its range, does it?
It's in the Arms and Equipment Guide. But, before you jump on me with cries of "3.0!" I'd like to note that the exact same table and paragraphs appear in Savage Species. Every size increase increases range by 25%.
As for Carnivor's idea, using a Heavy Crossbow is better simply because of Quickloading which operates the weapon for you. To do so with a Greatbow requires being able to operate the draw designed for a Colossal creature...
Also, I think the CO official stance on quickloading is that it does not load the weapon for you. This has been gone over in several threads dealing with dual-weilding quickloading hand crossbows, and the general consensus was that you still need to actually be capable of reloading the weapon (be that meaning that you CAN load it, or have hands free, or whatever).
That said, there's also nothing explicitly stating that you can't load a weapon designed for a larger creature. Perhaps the closest you could get is the information for reloading a ballista, which indicated that it takes longer to load a weapon designed for a larger weilder.
however it can be made to be Self-loading
OokamiKiba... good point about Quickloading ,... however it also requires a Colossal Sized creature to Aim and Fire properly.... using a Colossal Animated Object to fire it negates any Loading or Firing Penalties... all you have to do is Direct it to shoot at the target of your choice
:D
It's in the Arms and Equipment Guide. But, before you jump on me with cries of "3.0!" I'd like to note that the exact same table and paragraphs appear in Savage Species. Every size increase increases range by 25%.
you are right... you just triggered my memory about it.... but they only address Base Range Increment(every size increase is Added to the Base) ... not Adjusted Range increment(IIRC) ...... you dont Add +25% of previous amount to the Previous amount
:D
you are right... you just triggered my memory about it.... but they only address Base Range Increment(every size increase is Added to the Base) ... not Adjusted Range increment(IIRC) ...... you dont Add +25% of previous amount to the Previous amount
:D
That's debatable. After all, there is a new base range, is there not? The Large Crossbow's range is not an adjusted Medium Crossbow, but rather a range all its own. Therefore, couldn't we assume that it compounds by virtue of being a new "Base Range" each time?
As a side, since the base range of a small weapon is the same as a medium weapon, we should ask if the rules were thought out clearly enough that RAW isn't going to call for strange ranges. After all, a bow fired by a smaller crossbow should not go as far. (Bear in mind that a crossbow, unlike a normal bow, has a set power, rather than being governed by a function of strength)
It's in the Arms and Equipment Guide. But, before you jump on me with cries of "3.0!" I'd like to note that the exact same table and paragraphs appear in Savage Species.
...which is ALSO 3.0.
Have Fun ;)
:D
bottom line ..... what ever your DM allows...... boosting Ranges, 3.0 material, etc... if they allow it, Play it
Have Fun ;)
:D
Mostly I found it an interesting idea that one could get it to that kind of range;)
But thank you, Carnivore-kun, your input has been thought provoking.
So, later today or in the week, I will unvail my carpet bomber...
But size matters. Is a crossbow two handed, one handed or light? You can only up size it to the point of two handedness,if you wish to be able to wield it.
Seriously. My rogue wants a 10-barreled alchemists fire rocket launcher.
Give me some time and I might come up with one...
I came up with a carpet bomb... :D
Winged(bought-off) Necropolitan Artificer 20 (though Wizard 5/Red Wizard 10/X 5 works, but not as well)
Enlarged, Widened, Wall of Iron followed by Enlarged, Widened, Fabricate to turn the wall into 1' diameter spheres.
Extended Shrink Item on them and load them into a [b]Bag of Holding[/i] You can fit about three thousand of them in there. You should have somewhere in the region of ten to twenty thousand of these (they each now weigh half a pound and have a .001 cubic foot volume)
Fly above your target (five miles is plenty, this is why winged and, more importantly, undead. Five miles up is a little much for living things...certainly wouldn't want to take the risk...). Cast, directly below yourself mind, Enlarged, Sculpted, Widened, Control Winds. The sculpting is to make it into a cone with the wide end a the bottom.
Drop all the balls of iron into the cone and watch them launch downwards, spreading out as they do so. Say your command word. The balls will return to being two thousand pound missiles falling (ignoring air resistence) at 90,000+ meters per second. This translates into
Or 1/2 (907 x (90,000)^2)
Roughly 3,673,350,000,000 J This is a greater energy output than the Davy Crocket nuclear bomb.
I figure this'll flatten most anything it hits, stone castle included...plus, no raidiation!
Drop all the balls of iron into the cone and watch them launch downwards, spreading out as they do so. Say your command word. The balls will return to being two thousand pound missiles falling (ignoring air resistence) at 90,000+ meters per second.
Not quite. The DMG specifies on page 303 how to handle the damage. Each sphere if it is 2,000 lbs would deal 200d6.
Also, Shrink item specifies: Target: One touched object of up to 2 cu. ft./level. How are you shrinking thousands?
Not quite. The DMG specifies on page 303 how to handle the damage. Each sphere if it is 2,000 lbs would deal 200d6.
Well within acceptable, given the spread of devistation. Remeber, ten to twenty thousand of these are falling over a solid area. 200d6 is likely to destroy whatever it hits. If this is unacceptable, double the wieght and simply make more iron. 400d6 would do the trick if you prefer.
By the way, this doesn't mean that my numbers were wrong. Just that the game resolves the damage differently. It still has that amount of energy :D
Well within acceptable, given the spread of devistation. Remeber, ten to twenty thousand of these are falling over a solid area. 200d6 is likely to destroy whatever it hits. If this is unacceptable, double the wieght and simply make more iron. 400d6 would do the trick if you prefer.
By the way, this doesn't mean that my numbers were wrong. Just that the game resolves the damage differently. It still has that amount of energy :D
You cant hit the terminal velocity you speak of, because gravity is NOT defined as 9.8 m/s^2. Sorry.
Anyways, I apologize because I got my reply edited while you were replying, so you may have missed the question aboutshrink item. Or are you saying you are fabricating the Shrunken wall? Im not
sure that works... Checking fabricate (because Iron is a mineral) - you would only get 30'ish cubic feet of metal to manipulate.
You cant hit the terminal velocity you speak of, because gravity is NOT defined as 9.8 m/s^2. Sorry.
shrink item. Or are you saying you are fabricating the Shrunken wall? Im not
sure that works... Checking fabricate (because Iron is a mineral) - you would only get 30'ish cubic feet of metal to manipulate.
I retract Necropolitan. Instead, use Warforged. You shrink each one of them. A few dozen Rings of Wizardry wouldn't be amiss. Or maybe Pearls of Power (4th)
Then again, it'd be faster to shape the shrunken walls and then just unshrink them...gimme one second...
Iron = 7/874g/cm^3
Wall = (((5' x (20))^2 x 5") x 2) x 1.5
Wall = 21,600,000 in^3
Wall = 353,960,582.4 cm^3
Wall = 2.78708563