AoE Weapon Damage on Swarms


Rules Questions


Okay, I figure the odds of this working are fairly low, but I should check just to be sure.

I'm getting ready to run a module for some friends as my first time GMing, just a short 1st/2nd level dungeon crawl. The issue is that the author of the module included two swarms (both of which the players will probably stumble into), and I'm slightly worried that it will result in a TPK unless the party specifically prepares for it.

One of my players has told me that he wants to play a Gunslinger with a Blunderbuss. Given previous Gunslingers that he has played, he probably wants it for the AoE damage effect (that really seems like the only reason to take that weapon instead of the Musket). I know that normally weapon damage does not apply to swarms, but would the Blunderbuss be able to damage them with the AoE effect?


Weapon damage is only ignored for swarms that have small enough (Diminutive I believe) constituent elements.

Also, the proper thing to do when facing a foe you learn you cannot damage with the abilities you have prepared is: run away.

Also also, the PCs won't stumble into the second swarm unless they survive the first one. At that point, knowledge is power, and they should have learned a few things about dealing with them. So really, that there are two isn't a big deal.


If the swarm is made of Fine or Diminutive creatures, this is a good question. If the swarm is made of larger creatures there is no problem because Blunderbusses do B damage and swarms of Tiny (or larger, I suppose) creatures take normal damage from bludgeoning weapons.

If it's Fine or Diminutive, the swarm section of the rules is in conflict with itself. It says they're immune to all weapon damage (that part is pretty clear) but it says that effects that affect an area do 1.5x normal damage. A blunderbuss is both: it's a weapon that produces an effect that affects an area.

Which means, unless there's a FAQ or Errata I don't know about, this conflict has to be resolved by GM decision.

I think the key decision to make is to decide whether scatter shot from a blunderbus counts as "an effect", or did the author only intend for magical effects and splash weapons? You're the GM here, you'll have to work that out for yourself.

As for me, I'd allow it. That ammo isn't cheap, those swarms are deadly, and this seems like it could be the only way for the party to proceed with the adventure (proceed with with fun) so let's make that happen.

Scarab Sages

Worst case, a bluderbuss can fire dragon's breath ammunition. You might provide a bandoleer with a few rounds of them.


"A swarm takes half again as much damage (+50%) from spells or effects that affect an area, such as splash weapons..."

"A splash weapon is a ranged weapon that breaks on impact, splashing or scattering its contents over its target and nearby creatures or objects"

"The blunderbuss fires in a 15-foot cone when firing pellets"

I don't see how a gun can fire enough pellets to hurt a swarm of bats (5000 creatures) or ants (10000 creatures). I wouldn't count it as a splash weapon, which is usually an explosive.


Weapons usually target a single creature. Since swarms are not single creatures, weapons have less effect on them. Let look at the text:

Blunderbuss

Ultimate Combat p137 wrote:

Blunderbuss: This weapon fires pellets or a bullet from its trumpet-shaped barrel, making it an effective fowling weapon or close-fighting personal defense weapon. The blunderbuss fires in a 15-foot cone when firing pellets, and has a 10-foot range increment when firing a bullet. A blunderbuss uses a bullet or pellets and a single dose of black powder or a single alchemical cartridge as ammunition.

Scatter Weapon Quality: A weapon with the scatter weapon quality can shoot two different types of ammunition. It can fire normal bullets that target one creature, or it can make a scattering shot, attacking all creatures within a cone. Cannons with the scatter weapon quality only fire grapeshot, unless their descriptions state otherwise. When a scatter weapon attacks all creatures within a cone, it makes a separate attack roll against each creature within the cone. Each attack roll takes a –2 penalty, and its attack damage cannot be modified by precision damage or damage-increasing feats such as Vital Strike. Effects that grant concealment, such as fog or smoke, or the blur, invisibility, or mirror image spells, do not foil a scatter attack. If any of the attack rolls threaten a critical, confirm the critical for that attack roll alone. A firearm that makes a scatter shot misfires only if all of the attack rolls made misfire. If a scatter weapon explodes on a misfire, it deals triple its damage to all creatures within the misfire radius.

Table 3–4: Early Firearms
Firearm Cost Dmg (S) Dmg (M) Critical Range Misfire Capacity Weight1 Type2 Special
Two-Handed Firearms
Blunderbuss 2,000 gp 1d6 1d8 ×2 special 1–2 (10 ft.) 1 8 lbs. B and P scatter

Well, you get "it can make a scattering shot, attacking all creatures within a cone", and "When a scatter weapon attacks all creatures within a cone, it makes a separate attack roll against each creature within the cone".

While I would like it to count as an AoE, it requires attack rolls, not saving throws. Thus I would rule it counts as a weapon vs. a swarm, and use the weapon rules. The only other option is to roll 1000*d20 and see how many little creatures are hit. Damage takes out that critter. Then see what portion of the swarm is left. That is now the portion of HP the swarm has left. Don't forget the size modifier to AC that the little creatures get, on top of the penalty listed above. Maybe you can calculate the percentage hit based on BAB and swarm's base AC.

/cevah

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