Flask Question.

[Chopstix]

Sorry for being a bit new to this, I just registered to this site.

I have a question regarding D&D 3 and 3.5. When I throw a flask without contents doesn't the flask itself to damage? Seeing as its roughly the size of a bottle following the PHB rules it should do 1d3 in addition to its contents. Also is there any other feats other then the Grenadier feat that increases splash damage?

So just as a hand tool these are what I would like answered:

1) Do you think a Flask should do damage without contents?
2) How much damage do you think it should?
3) What damage type would it be, piercing, bludgeoning, slashing ext..?
4) Is there any feat that could increase my splash damage?

Sorry if I'm asking to much. Thank you!

 

[Ahnehnois]

I think Grenadier is pretty much your feat. If there's anything else similar, it's quite esoteric. Perhaps look into Eberron books? There are ways of reducing the penalty for improvised weapons like flasks (can't recall refs off the top of my head).

I think 1d3 tops for the flask itself. A flask is 1.5 lbs, so this is a big flask. It's basically a bludgeoning instrument. It might break, but it's not that easy to break a 1.5 lb hunk of glass by throwing it at a soft fleshy human.

 

[Chopstix]

Thanks for the Help. I will check some Eberron books then.

As for the breaking thing your right, that wouldn't be easy. Do you or anyone know rules on trying to break a flask against a human body, for example DC's, bonuses I can get ext.

 

[Belzbet]

Yeah the alchemist i eberron setting allows you to add INT to splash weapon damage... Also, drunken master (in complete warrior) gives a damage boost when fighting with improvised weapons (ranged or melee as I read), hulking hurler (complete warrior) lets you throw improvised weapons at -2 instead o the normal -4 to hit (but you need to be large to take hulking hurler but I dont see why a DM cant fudge that prereq)

 

[Dwimmerlied]

I always assumed that the vial shatters when thrown against a target, because if it didn't, I reckon it would be a feat to get the majority of the contents onto the target. If the glass was anything like laboratory test tubes, they would shatter quite easily if thrown with any force, I reckon.

If you were to go with this assumption though, the glass itself would presumably have such little weight as to not present any real hp risk, especially when compared to a sling bullet; this is weighted metal and carries the significant force driven by the sling, yet only does 1d4 damage.

 

[MarkB]

I'd say that if you want the flask to deal damage to a target directly, you'd need to throw it as an improvised weapon, taking a -4 penalty to your attack roll and having a 10 foot range increment. On a hit, you might deal as much as 1d4 damage, though that's pushing it for an object that size.

If you're throwing it as a grenade-like weapon, then you're not throwing it to deal direct damage. It strikes the target, or maybe just the floor at the target's feat, and splashes them, but it doesn't impact with enough force or aim to deal damage from the impact alone.

 

[Grogg of the North]

An empty flask weighs 1.5 lbs*. Assuming you picked one up and throw it an orc's head, how much damage would you deal before he hits you with his axe? (Show your work!)

According to Complete Warrior, Table 4-7, you take a -4 penalty on the roll because it's an improvised weapon and you'd have a range increment of 10 feet. On a successful hit you'll do 1d3. Assuming you have a pint of water (or similar fluid?) in there you can bump the damage up to 1d4.

If you take the feat Throw Anything, also in CW, you could negate the -4 penalty for it being an improvised weapon but the feat states you have to be proficient with that weapon. Ask your DM. I'd probably allow it to apply.

*Things like alchemist fire, acid and oil only weigh 1 lb. So we'll just assume that the weight of an empty flask of those is negligible and does no damage.

 

[Chopstix]

Thank you everyone for the wonderful advice. I hope I didn't annoy you. But it makes sense to me now. All's good.