I'll make a list of all the kind of crossbows that will exist in my world.
The basic crossbows are:
Hand crossbow:[/B] exotic, tiny, damage 1d6, crit 19-20/x2, range 30ft, reload as move action
Light crossbow:[/B] simple, small, damage 1d8, crit 19-20/x2, range 80ft, reload as move action
Heavy crossbow: simple, medium, damage 2d6, crit 20/x3, range 120ft, reload as full round action
Great crossbow (or siege crossbow): martial, large, 2d8, crit 20/x4, range 160ft, reload as two full round actions (but two characters working together can reload it in one full round)
The possible advancements are:
Repeating crossbow
These crossbows can fire up to 5 shots before reloading (that is a full round action). Only hand and light crossbows can be made repeating.
The type changes to exotic.
Double crossbow
A bit like some gunpowder rifles, the double crossbow has two triggers and to bows, and so is able to fire two shots before reloading. Great crossbows cannot be double.
The two bolts can be fired at once (not requiring a full attack) at a single target of size Medium or greater, or at two targets standing adiacent. There is a -2 penality to hit and a critical of 20/x2. In case of special damage such as sneak attack, only the first bolt gets it.
Reloading a single bolt takes the normal time for that kind of crossbow, while reloading two takes double (note:two times a move action is a full round)
The type changes to exotic
Crossbow proficency
In primitive cultures the shortbow is simple and all crossbows are exotic.
In advanced cultures (such as some gnomish or dwarvish kingdoms), instead, hand the crossbow and all the double crossbows are simple, while the repeating ones are martial. Usually in these places bows are exotic weapons.
What do you think ?
(Note: please do not suggest to add armor penetration to crossbows; I feel that the normal D&D combat goes well)
The basic crossbows are:
Hand crossbow:[/B] exotic, tiny, damage 1d6, crit 19-20/x2, range 30ft, reload as move action
Light crossbow:[/B] simple, small, damage 1d8, crit 19-20/x2, range 80ft, reload as move action
Heavy crossbow: simple, medium, damage 2d6, crit 20/x3, range 120ft, reload as full round action
Great crossbow (or siege crossbow): martial, large, 2d8, crit 20/x4, range 160ft, reload as two full round actions (but two characters working together can reload it in one full round)
The possible advancements are:
Repeating crossbow
These crossbows can fire up to 5 shots before reloading (that is a full round action). Only hand and light crossbows can be made repeating.
The type changes to exotic.
Double crossbow
A bit like some gunpowder rifles, the double crossbow has two triggers and to bows, and so is able to fire two shots before reloading. Great crossbows cannot be double.
The two bolts can be fired at once (not requiring a full attack) at a single target of size Medium or greater, or at two targets standing adiacent. There is a -2 penality to hit and a critical of 20/x2. In case of special damage such as sneak attack, only the first bolt gets it.
Reloading a single bolt takes the normal time for that kind of crossbow, while reloading two takes double (note:two times a move action is a full round)
The type changes to exotic
Crossbow proficency
In primitive cultures the shortbow is simple and all crossbows are exotic.
In advanced cultures (such as some gnomish or dwarvish kingdoms), instead, hand the crossbow and all the double crossbows are simple, while the repeating ones are martial. Usually in these places bows are exotic weapons.
What do you think ?
(Note: please do not suggest to add armor penetration to crossbows; I feel that the normal D&D combat goes well)