Wound points and crossbows.

[mirivor]

Two questions.

I am currently using the wound/vitality system presented in Unearthed Arcana. Those of you who use it, do your players like it?

Second, and yes I know that there is a thread concerning xbows, what do you think of allowing "mighty" crossbows to allow for strength bonuses? Maybe rule that the crossbow has a certain pull built into it and only someone with the appropriate strength or better can load the thing. This would allow for the crossbow's own power to account for the damage bonus as opposed to the shooter's. Please let me know what you think. Later!

 

[DanMcS]

Second, and yes I know that there is a thread concerning xbows, what do you think of allowing "mighty" crossbows to allow for strength bonuses? Maybe rule that the crossbow has a certain pull built into it and only someone with the appropriate strength or better can load the thing. This would allow for the crossbow's own power to account for the damage bonus as opposed to the shooter's. Please let me know what you think. Later!

The "might" of a crossbow should have nothing to do with the strength required to load it. That's why crossbows had special machines and levers invented to load them, so that someone who wasn't strong enough to pull it back by hand could still load it normally.

 

[Tetsubo]

Races Of Stone introduces a new larger crossbow, 2d8 damage for the Medium sized version I think.

 

[Sado]

If it required more strength to load (and thus did more damage) that should be factored in to the crossbow's regular damage, not given as a bonus dependent on strength. It would increase damage by the same amount no matter how strong the shooter was.

 

[Psimancer]

In regards to your wounds & vitality question; can’t help, but I am interested in the responses that you will (hopefully) get…

Second, I don’t have an issue with ‘mighty’ crossbows; I am thinking about using them in my game. This is what I have so far:

If a characters' Strength is not enough to load a mighty crossbow, they require a device (see below) and extra time. The number below indicates the increase in Strength AND the number of additional rounds spent loading the crossbow… The Rapid Reload feat would instead reduce these times by one round.

Stirrup & Hands: +0 (standard method)
Belt & Claw: +1
Cord & Pulley: +2
Goatsfoot Lever: +3
Windlass: +4
Cranequin: +5

For example, A Str 15 character has a Str 18 heavy crossbow (+4 damage). He requires a goatsfoot lever to span it, which adds 3 rounds to the loading time…

Follow the cost increase for Composite Longbows; +1 Str = +100 gp…


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