Javelin of Lightning or other ammo with spells

[Light Knight]

How exactly does a javelin of lightning work.

Do you make a to hit roll, and if you hit, the target gets hit with a 5d6 lightning bolt + javelin damage...or does it just act like you are casting a lightning bolt.

And if you have quick draw and 2 of them can you throw 2 in a round?

Im asking this, because I am wanting to put some 1 and 2nd level spells on crossbow bolts, and wanted to know how to use them.

 

[trancejeremy]

How exactly does a javelin of lightning work.

Do you make a to hit roll, and if you hit, the target gets hit with a 5d6 lightning bolt + javelin damage...or does it just act like you are casting a lightning bolt.

And if you have quick draw and 2 of them can you throw 2 in a round?

Im asking this, because I am wanting to put some 1 and 2nd level spells on crossbow bolts, and wanted to know how to use them.

In 1e, that's how it worked - you attacked with it, and when it struck it did 1d6 + the lightning damage

 

[Sekhmet]

Once it leaves your hand, it acts like a 5d6 Lightning Bolt. It is consumed in the attack.
If you have more than one, you can throw as many per round as you have attacks.

If you're trying to create new magic items (your crossbow bolts), make sure to run them by your DM first. The Javelin of Lightning is a longstanding tradition in D&D, unique in it's properties. It does not act like typical ammunition.

 

[Light Knight]

I dm in one game, and play in a game with one of the players in my game, we colloborate on what we allow in both games....So I want to make sure if a player wants to cast and 7th level Scorching ray on a bolt, what will happen. So do you roll for the attack to hit, or no attack and just roll a ranged touch attack for both rays on the one target?

 

[Sekhmet]

With Scorching Ray, you roll one Ranged Touch Attack per Ray.
The Lightning Bolt requires no such roll. You designate where it goes and it just goes there, like a Magic Missile.

 

[Light Knight]

So if the player were a 15th level fighter and had 3 such bolts, he could fire all of them...and hit one target with potentially 6 scorching rays..?

 

[Sekhmet]

Each bolt would be enchanted by a caster of a specific level, with a specific number of rays on each bolt (regardless of the users level).
For example, at 7th level, a Wizard could make such a bolt that would fire 2 rays, and an 11th level Wizard could make a bolt that fired 3 rays.

They would be fired like any normal ammunition, and could be fired as rapidly as the character can possibly fire a crossbow.

 

[Light Knight]

So, if I fire 3 bolts, each with a 7th level casting, I will then make 6 ranged touch attacks?

 

[Light Knight]

Two last questions. How do you determine DC's of spells blast on items...And what would be the cost of the item? According to RAW use activated single charge items are spell level x caster level x 50. Making the above item cost 700gp per bolt (plus cost of bolt). But a Javelin of Lighting is 1500gp. Which doesnt fit.

 

[Sekhmet]

Yes, you would make six touch attacks.
Also, the cost of the Javelin of Lightning is 750, the price is 1,500.
A 5th level Wizard enchanted them, using a 3rd level spell. (5x3 = 15 x 50 = 750)
Your bolts match up to that price (7x2 = 14 x 50 = 700).

To purchase your bolt, you can safely double that cost (1400gp/bolt).
The cost of creating an item is (supposed to be) always cheaper than buying it at a store.

The DC would be as if the Wizard were casting the spell with your ability modifier. DC 10 + spell level (2) + relevant ability modifier (Int), if I'm not mistaken.