Manyshot with a crossbow

[Crothian]

It actually kind of bugs me that things like manyshot only work with bows. I just don't see any balance reason behind it... does anyone see a reason why it shouldn't work with any type of ranged weapon?

Because one can't load two bolts into a crossbow at once to be fired at the same time.

 

[starwed]

Because one can't load two bolts into a crossbow at once to be fired at the same time.

Just to be clear, I mean a game balance reason. (Besides which, your reason simply doesn't apply to knives, shuriken, or pretty much any ranged weapon except a crossbow.)

 

[RigaMortus2]

There is no game balance reason. It's all about the flavor. Just as allowing Power Attack to work with light weapons wouldn't "break" anything. It certainly wouldn't unbalance anything, but for flavor reasons, Power Attack damage can not be applied to light weapons.

 

[wayne62682]

I find the easy solution is to "invent" a Double Crossbow that lets you fire two bolts at a -4 penalty (if you don't have the feat). Like in Ladyhawke...

 

[pawsplay]

Throwing two stones with a sling would just be dumb. A crossbow isn't quite as dumb, but still pretty dumb. A double crossbow might work, but it would be a bear to keep a true aim on.

 

[FireLance]

Throwing two stones with a sling would just be dumb. A crossbow isn't quite as dumb, but still pretty dumb.

One man's "dumb" is another man's "cinematic".

 

[pawsplay]

One man's "dumb" is another man's "cinematic".

Beating someone up with a scarf and a cureball is cinematic. Trying to fire a double crossbow would be like trying to play darts on an electric bull, unless you came up with a devilishly clever triggering mechanism. A double crossbow is fine for a volley, but accuracy?

 

[starwed]

Beating someone up with a scarf and a cureball is cinematic. Trying to fire a double crossbow would be like trying to play darts on an electric bull, unless you came up with a devilishly clever triggering mechanism. A double crossbow is fine for a volley, but accuracy?

But manyshot is a volley! (And as far as accuracy goes, you take a pretty hefty penalty to your attack.)

Besides, it's not like firing four arrows at the same time from a bow is the model of real world archery.

 

[pawsplay]

But manyshot is a volley! (And as far as accuracy goes, you take a pretty hefty penalty to your attack.)

Besides, it's not like firing four arrows at the same time from a bow is the model of real world archery.

First of all, they might be nocking them and firing them quickly. Secondly, I have at least seen two arrows fired at once with accuracy.

 

[FireLance]

First of all, they might be nocking them and firing them quickly.

So you'd allow Manyshot with a light or hand crossbow for someone with Rapid Reload?

Anyway, I've always pictured nocking and firing quickly as a full attack with a bow and Manyshot as nocking two or more arrows which are fired simultaneously. In a recent game session, someone wanted to tie two flasks of holy water together and throw them simultaneously. The DM disallowed it, but that seems to me to be a reasonable way to use Manyshot with a thrown weapon. Using a small bag to hurl two sling stones or sling bullets simultaneously would be one way of pulling off Manyshot with a sling, and simply lining up crossbow bolts on the string doesn't seem to me to be very different from firing two arrows simultaneously from a bow. You've got a significant penalty to hit, but if you're skilled or lucky enough, I'm not going to say you can't pull it off.

Secondly, I have at least seen two arrows fired at once with accuracy.

I hope you're not limiting the PCs in your game to doing only the things that you have seen.