D&D 5E Thief Rogue throwing Ball Bearings everywhere

[Stoutstien]

'Just'?

Melting iron is beyond standard medieval technology.

Melted iron was well within the technology well before any time that is commonly considered medieval. The largest limiting factor was actually the formation of workable iron stock. the smelting techniques at the time were so inefficient the loss of materials during the process made iron a very precious commodity. Iron itself is actually workable at a relatively low temperature.

Then there is the fact there is nothing historically relevant about the level of technology in any DND setting.

 

[R_J_K75]

Given the limited damage to the surroundings, the temperature of a fireball is far too low to melt iron.

But its MAGIC fire cast by Arthur Brown, you know the God of Hellfire!

 

[Undrave]

'Just'?

Melting iron is beyond standard medieval technology.

Then use lead.

 

[Charlaquin]

'Just'?

Melting iron is beyond standard medieval technology.

Who says they gotta be iron?

 

[Undrave]

The purpose of caltrops is to throw them in an area that your enemies will need to pass through, not in an area that you and your allies need to cross. You don't need special boots. Just jump over them or move at half speed.

Yeah, caltrops and ball bearings you normally throw BEHIND you to slow down pursuers as you're running in the other direction.

 

[Imaculata]

Yeah, caltrops and ball bearings you normally throw BEHIND you to slow down pursuers as you're running in the other direction.

Exactly. Now you can also use them offensively of course (but they were not intended for that purpose). In the past I have played a swashbuckler character that used caltrops in combat, but even then I was always very careful in the placement. I used them to slow the advance of approaching enemies, and to hinder them during combat. But of course I made sure that they didn't get in the way of my allies. If they are, all your allies need to do is move through that square carefully (half speed), or move around it, or jump over the square.

But caltrops are not nearly as effective as to justify specialized gear against them.

 

[Undrave]

Exactly. Now you can also use them offensively of course (but they were not intended for that purpose). In the past I have played a swashbuckler character that used caltrops in combat, but even then I was always very careful in the placement. I used them to slow the advance of approaching enemies, and to hinder them during combat. But of course I made sure that they didn't get in the way of my allies. If they are, all your allies need to do is move through that square carefully (half speed), or move around it, or jump over the square.

But caltrops are not nearly as effective as to justify specialized gear against them.

Yeah, you can use it in combat to make it longer for enemies to join combat, or channel them towards your allies. A swashbuckler prefers to 1-vs-1 so of course they'd like a few extra rounds to tango with their target while the other enemies get diverted or slowed down.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Then use lead.

Not hard or spherical enough. It would be as effective as throwing a handful of smooth pebbles.

The point of ball bearings is they are perfectly smooth - you can only make them from a very hard material like steel or brass. They are beyond medieval tech-level.

 

[Undrave]

Not hard or spherical enough. It would be as effective as throwing a handful of smooth pebbles.

The point of ball bearings is they are perfectly smooth - you can only make them from a very hard material like steel or brass. They are beyond medieval tech-level.

Not if you only use them for tripping people up.

You can also make glass marbles for the same effect.

 

[MarkB]

Not if you only use them for tripping people up.

You can also make glass marbles for the same effect.

You need to make sure you keep track of them, though. Losing your marbles is a lot worse than losing your bearings.