LOTR Pump-action Crossbow

[Liquid Snake]

Has anyone come up with any rules for the Pump-action Crossbow from the LOTR:TTT? The Uruk-hai use them on Helm's Deep. On the EE Appendix Discs they explain they actually come from real German designs from the 15th -or 14th, can't remember- century. The pump-action thingy allowed for a much quicker reload.

 

[Joshua Randall]

Umm... there is already a similar item in D&D.

Crossbow, Repeating: The repeating crossbow (whether heavy or light) holds 5 crossbow bolts. As long as it holds bolts, you can reload it by pulling the reloading lever (a free action). Loading a new case of 5 bolts is a full-round action that provokes attacks of opportunity.

Normally, reloading a crossbow is either a move action (light or hand) or full-round action (heavy).

 

[GuardianLurker]

Has anyone come up with any rules for the Pump-action Crossbow from the LOTR:TTT? The Uruk-hai use them on Helm's Deep. On the EE Appendix Discs they explain they actually come from real German designs from the 15th -or 14th, can't remember- century. The pump-action thingy allowed for a much quicker reload.

Quicker, because you didn't have to fumble around with a goat's foot or crank. However, one of the big benefits of crossbows is they have a *much* heavier draw - which is why you needed a goat's foot as most people couldn't pull back the string by hand.

If you really wanted to see the full benefit of a pump action xbow, you'd have to offer corresponding decreases in range and damage (i.e. a pump-action light would be equivalent to a shortbow). Without that, yes, you'd see a slight decrease, but not enough to make a difference.

 

[Nifft]

Optionally, a strength requirement on the reloading xbow might make it as fast & deadly as the regular one, but far less suited to being a wizard's last resort.

-- N

 

[Ranger REG]

The pump-action thingy allowed for a much quicker reload.

Not really. All you did is pull back the string. You still need to arm the weapon with a bolt. The good thing about it, is you keep the light crossbow from getting dirty (traditional crossbow have a stirrup at the end where you place it on the ground, step on the stirrup, and manually pull back the string). Heavy crossbow may benefit from the pump-action (more like a bellow-pump action), but only if said crossbow is mounted on tripod to give assistance and stability. Reduce reload time from full-round to a move action. The drawback to this is the use of tripod or a permanent mounting base.

 

[Liquid Snake]

It's the smae thing as any other non-cross bow. You have to reach for the arrow on your quiver to "reload" it. I think it would allow for multiple attacks just like a long/short bow. But I agree some penalties should be added to balance it.