Hand Crossbow

[bertman4]

So I had a question about hand crossbows. In the equipment section, it specifically says "You can shoot a hand crossbow with each hand, but you take a penalty on attack rolls as if attacking with two weapons." So as a full round action, I can fire off two shots with the hand crossbow. The attack roll penalties follow the two weapon fighting rules. That's fine. My question has to do with reloading. It says "You can shoot, but not load, a hand crossbow with one hand at no penalty." So to load a hand crossbow, you need two hands. Okay. What happens if your other hand is holding another hand crossbow? Does this mean to reload my hand crossbow I need to "sheathe" my 2nd hand crossbow (which is a move action) or drop it (free action)? If I "sheathe" my 2nd hand crossbow, then to reload that, I need to retrieve it (as a move action) the reload it (as a move action unless I have Rapid Reload feat)?

Bertman

 

[AuraSeer]

Reloading both crossbows normally takes 6 move actions (3 full rounds):

1) stow crossbow A
2) reload crossbow B
3) stow crossbow B
4) draw crossbow A
5) reload crossbow A
6) draw crossbow B

Using either Rapid Reload or Quickdraw, you can do it in 4 actions. With both those feats, it takes only 2 actions (one full round).

 

[RigaMortus]

Not to sound picky, but if you load a crossbow and then stow it away, won't the bolt fall out? I believe the bolt just lays on top of the crossbow, I don't think it "locks" in place... Our DM doesn't allow us to carry around loaded crossbows for just this reason.

 

[AuraSeer]

Not to sound picky, but if you load a crossbow and then stow it away, won't the bolt fall out?

You're right, but that's only an issue because D&D treats reloading as a single atomic operation. In the real world, there are two stages-- drawing back the string, and dropping a bolt in place-- which don't need to be done simultaneously.

In the real world you'd draw back the strings on each bow first. (While drawing one, momentarily hold the other under your arm or something.) Then wield one of them, and rest the other across your forearm or your knee. Drop bolts into both grooves, grab the handle of the second bow, and you're ready to dual-fire again. This is hard to explain precisely in terms of D&D actions, which is why I settled for the simplified explanation above.

Alternately you could just buy a pair of covered hand crossbows, which do lock their bolts in.

 

[Johnny Angel]

They explain hand crossbows as sneak attack weapons, so they're probably not looking for people to reload. You step out of the shadows, take your suprise round, and then close in while drawing your steel.

People here have been complaining that two weapon fighting is underpowered compared to two-handed weapons, but the fact that the Two Weapon Fighting benefit applies to the hand crossbow is at least one interesting advantage over two-handed fighting -- its an extra attack that can be used in both melee and ranged. Since this rule doesn't make sense unless it would also work for pistols, this becomes a significant advantage if you're running a swashbuckling or steampunk campaign. And with a pair of double-barrel pistols, if your BAB is at least +6/+1, you've got three attacks. If you take Improved and Greater Two Weapon Fighting, you're ready for the invention of the revolver, hoss.

 

[Aaron2]

Not to sound picky, but if you load a crossbow and then stow it away, won't the bolt fall out? I believe the bolt just lays on top of the crossbow, I don't think it "locks" in place... Our DM doesn't allow us to carry around loaded crossbows for just this reason.

Since actually putting the quarrel in the crossbow is a free action (just like loading a bow), there isn't much difference.


Aaron

 

[nimisgod]

With some juggling ability, maybe you can toss a handcrossbow up, and reload the other with both hands in time to catch the first. Then repeat using the others. IMO, this would be something like a Dex check...

 

[ergeheilalt]

Alternatively, you could find a gnome who can craft reloading crossbows - double (or triple if you think double isn;t expensive enough) the cost and get yourself a reloading hand crossbow. This would require a different EWP, a small draw back but not as bad as have to take quickdraw and rapid reload...

Erge