Bolas

[Caliber]

Basicly, if someone could simply explain how Bolas work I would be much obliged.

The entire description is hard to understand, but I will try to give you my interpretation, and hopefully you can correct me.

You make a Ranged Touch Attack, and if you hit the target is tripped. The target gets to make a grapple check opposed by your roll to hit him, if he succeeds he is solely tripped and can simply stand up next turn.

If he fails, he is grappled as well and has to spend a Full Round action to extricate himself.

I am pretty sure I got some things wrong but ...

Any help?

 

[jontherev]

Basicly, if someone could simply explain how Bolas work I would be much obliged.

The entire description is hard to understand, but I will try to give you my interpretation, and hopefully you can correct me.

You make a Ranged Touch Attack, and if you hit the target is tripped. The target gets to make a grapple check opposed by your roll to hit him, if he succeeds he is solely tripped and can simply stand up next turn.

If he fails, he is grappled as well and has to spend a Full Round action to extricate himself.

I am pretty sure I got some things wrong but ...

Any help?

That's right.

 

[Corwyn]

Well I can tell you how bolas work in RL.

They are three balls with a string attached to each ball. The other ends of the strings are bound together.
If you throw the bola properly the balls will spin round in a circle, the centre is where the strings are attached to each other.

When you hit someone the bola will wrap around the person.
For example the legs, thus inhibiting that person from walking.

The in game mechanics, I don't know.
But the rules you just stated sound ok to me.

PS In which supplement can I find them?

 

[Caliber]

I guess I should have been more specific. I was talking about the bolas in Sword and Fist.

The reason I thought I had this wrong was because it sounds REAL overpowered to me. A ranged touch attack for an automatic trip? Very strange.

But I do admit they seem to model real life well so ...

 

[Corwyn]

I just looked it up.
And it indeed seems a little on the strong side.

With the ranged touch att. it will almost always lead to a tripped opponent and the chances that he will end up grappled are pretty good, especially against weaker foes like spell casters.

Personally I would make getting out of the grapple a move equivalent action if the target has an edged weapon handy.

On the other hand id indeed mimics RL reasonably well.

The only balancing factor I could see is that this is an exotic weapon.

 

[ThomasBJJ]

There are some slightly different stats and rules for Bolas in the Dragon magazine that says "Warriors kick ass!" on the cover. It's the second or third issue after 3rd edition changeover.