Crossbow PrC

[colonialbob]

The discussion about the mighty crossbow made me wonder... are there any crossbow PrCs out there? I'm thinking about making one, just for fun... anyway, thoughts?

[Lapis Lazuli]

I imagine that PrCs means prestige classes?

If so,none that I know of.2nd Ed DnD had a dwarven crossbow kit,but far as I know it's all bows and melee in 3rd ed.

[Lapis Lazuli]

Well,they specifically state a race of what-ever size can fire crossbows onehanded,but two-weapon prof does not negate the -4 penalty when doig so.

<span style="color:#3333ff"> So if you got a pair of repeating mw mighty x-bows and want to go in guns ablazing,what if your prestige class has a feat that lets these specialist reduce the "I'm firing twin x-bows" penalties.</span>

Maybe this specialist has to have point blank shot as a prerequisit ,but the rest of the improv.crit and far/rapid/precise shot feats can be attained as bonus feats as they increase in prestige lvls.

[Lapis Lazuli]

<span style="color:#3333ff">What about feats like ricochet shot..it is in M&M [probly exists in half a dozen d20 games though] ,and basically allows you to take a -2 to hit per "bounce" to ricochet the [in this instance bolt] shot.This allows you to ignore some concealment [or all if they are like behind just a wall or table and the ricochet comes from behind them].</span>

I think 3rd Ed could use a decent ranged prest. class. Noone wants to be an archer cause really,there is no comparision to a melee combat monster or a caster.so here is an idea...

What about a to hit and/or damage bonus equal to their prestige class level.So if it ges 10 lvls they can add 10 to hit/dmg with a crossbow.Maybe thats too much,but it would mean one of these crossbowmen could potentially do 11-21 dmg with even a crappy xbow.Suddenly he is comparable to melee combat monsters.And depending on prerequis [alot of prest, start at 6th or 7th lvl before they can prest...] the characters going to be round 7th lvl before he is a first lvl x-bowman.If he prest asap he isnt doing that plus 10 till 16th or so lvl so it really doesnt sound so bad.Most npc's or monsters his lvl are gonna be able to take it.

Speaking of prerequists...i'm thinking an Errol Flynn mustache has to be one of the prereq.'s.

I also think you need to put this is the newsletter,when finished.I know 'd like to see it!

[colonialbob]

Hmm... We'll see. I'm thinking of more unique abilities, but a damage bonus will likely figure in there somewhere. That's one problem I have mechanics wise... it's easy for a fighter to do insane amounts of damage, but archers and especially crossbowmen are essentially capped at pretty low levels.

[Knight of Roses]

There are a couple of ways to increase average damage without just adding a flat damage bonus:

Increase Critical/Ability to make bolts Keen
Sniper 'Sneak Attack'
Increased damage die type in the first range band

[colonialbob]

*nod* those are good ideas... I will think about it and try to put something together, and we can continue discussion in that thread.

[Lapis Lazuli]

I know you said we could continue this in another thread,but KoR reminded me with his posting,that I played the KOTOR [star wars] pc game...in it they had a power attack for ranged combat.pretty much worked the same way as normal power attacks feats,just usable at ranged.

[bandersnatch]

I think a crossbow PrC would lend itself to a kind of crossbow tinkerer/engineer class. I.e. the PrC invests xp into the crossbow but gets some cool features, like say a spreadshot to attack an area, the ability to launch alchemical items/smoke bombs, autoloading and heavy crossbows updated to repeater crossbows, bolts that split into multiple fragments for multiple damage dice, and most definitively reloading as a swift action, which is the biggest drawback of crossbows.

Would add a bit more flavor to the class as well, methinks.

[Shadowbranch1]

Here is one I made a while ago. You may be able to use some of it.

Shadows PrC (http://barroks-tower.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=9615)

[Lapis Lazuli]

That's pretty coool,thank you.I never heard of precision as a damage mod before,that's a nice touch.

It's kinda where I was going with the lvl hit/dmg mods.

Also pile up is a neat feat,lol I think that would be quite a surprise to the caster behind his warrior friend.