Arcane Strike Improvised


Rules Questions

Grand Lodge

Can you use the Arcane Strike with improvised weapons?

Scarab Sages

Arcane Strike places no restrictions on the number of types of weapons it can affect.

Grand Lodge

This is most certainly pleasing to hear.

Silver Crusade

Time to make Gambit!

Grand Lodge

I was thinking Arcane Duelist/Breaker Barbarian.

Gambit is bit too cliche' for me.


There's a nice feat in Varisia Player's Companion, Deadly Dealer that uses arcane strike with cards.

Yea, gambit.

Grand Lodge

I know about the feat.
It does not work with things that effect improvised weapons though.


Yea, just mentioning it to the people wondering about Gambit :)

Dark Archive

Breaker barbarian/dragon disciple?

Grand Lodge

No, just one level in Arcane Duelist. First level.

Totally throw off those playing with me when the humble Bard starts ripping the limbs off of fallen foes and start beating enemies to death, and smash their weapons with my teeth.


Pathfinder Maps Subscriber

Summon Instrument and beat them over the head with it. El KABONG !

Grand Lodge

Hmmm, what's the heaviest instrument you can summon?


Pathfinder Maps Subscriber

A double-bass ? (Definitely two-handed)

Grand Lodge

That may be the biggest instrument that can be held in two hands.

Is it the heaviest?

Scarab Sages

Keep in mind, it doesn't need to be an instrument that sounds good, simply an instrument.

Hence, you could summon an Adamantine Double-Bass if you felt so inclined.


Adamantine Double-Bass aren't exactly typical of their types.

Grand Lodge

Are there instruments made mostly of metal?


The important part really is the word "typical". Even a bell, mostly made of metal, wouldn't typically be adamantine. It's the same thing that stops you from summoning Drums of Earthquake when you summon a drum.


Steel guitar?

Grand Lodge

Ooh, what is the largest Bell or Gong that can be held it two hands?

Those are metal.


Some handbells get pretty big. I can't find a picture of it, but from memory, the larger bells are rung two-handed (although by moving the clapper, maybe).

http://www.sawlady.com/photos/CroslandMoorHandBellRingersUKyorkshire.jpg

However, you may want to use cymbals instead. It seems reasonable that you'd get a pair of them -- maybe you could TWF -- and also, possibly, have the potential to deal slashing damage.

Other than that, resonator guitars are made of metal although entirely out of the time period. Autoharps are wooden, smaller, but really heavy and solid-feeling for their size.

I, however, would beat people to death with bagpipes. It makes no sense, sure, but it would be hilarious. Imagine the squawks the poor things'd make.


Largest brass instrument is probably a tuba ... however timpani (aka kettle drum) are heavier and typically made of brass as well.

Grand Lodge

The heaviest thing I can come up with are Tibetan Handbells, which were many times, made of iron.

So, maybe a large Iron Handbell?

Can you summon instruments designed for larger creatures, as long as they can be held in two hands?


If you are a larger creature, yes.

A medium sized creature can't summon an instrument for a Large or larger creature though. You, a medium creature, can still summon an instrument, even though a Diminutive creature couldn't hold that instrument in two hands. It's relative to your size.

Grand Lodge

You can still summon two handbells.

Two castings, but doable.

Also, the spell never clarifies that it must be sized for you.

It only states you must be able to hold it with two hands.


The implication is that those are your hands. Otherwise, things get stupid silly.

"But Mr. GMMMMMmmm, a god could hold this organ the size of a planet! The rules don't say they have to be your hands, even though they only work for you."


Using Summon Instrument and improvised weapons as a way to always have a weapon is a hilariously clever thing though. Especially with no Material Components!

The Traveler's Any-Tool from UE might help too. You could make a "weapon" out of whatever is necessary. The spell Solid Note would work too, maybe. I'd have to read it, but it's basically "Summon Not-Quite-Immovable-But-Fully-Shapeable Rod."

With creativity, you could do a lot with that. It could conceivably do any of the physical damage types.

Grand Lodge

No, I mean your two hands.

Like an instrument used by large creatures in one hand, but held by a medium creature in two hands.


Oooooh. Maybe. The only thing stopping me from saying "yea, that'd work" is the handheld thing. It's a strange enough corner case though that it may just be best to assume no, or ask your GM.

Grand Lodge

There are no "inappropriately sized" penalties in regards to instruments.

A giant's hand gong is easily played by a medium PC.

There would be a point where it became impossible, but one size category should not be it for a number of instruments.


blackbloodtroll wrote:
Are there instruments made mostly of metal?

Get your hands on a gong.

Grand Lodge

Gongs are actually not very heavy, unless they are large enough to be outside the capabilities of the spell.

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