Bolt Ace and Light Ballista Interactions


Pathfinder First Edition General Discussion


From the Bolt Ace archetype :
Inexplicable Reload : At 11th level, loading a crossbow becomes unthinking and automatic for a bolt ace. As long as she has at least 1 grit point, she always starts each round of combat (even a surprise round) with her crossbow loaded. Also, the amount of time needed to reload a crossbow decreases by one step: a standard action becomes a move action, a move action becomes a swift action, a swift action becomes a free action, and a free action becomes not an action. This deed replaces lightning reload.

The description for the ballista is as follows: A ballista is essentially a Huge heavy crossbow fixed in place.

Given this description, can the Inexplicable Reload affect light ballistas? Can other abilities of the Bolt Ace affect light ballistas? Would the only obstacle one would have to worry about is the size of the PC wielding said ballista?

Scarab Sages

A ballista is not a crossbow. It is a siege engine. A bolt ace would not have any bonuses with them.

Dark Archive

I would agree. 'Essentially' is a description of how it works, you would be looked for 'is treated as' or 'can be used as', ex. Gladius, Bastard Sword.


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I've always wanted to play a character who wields a balista enchanted with the called enchantment. He would run around the battle field summoning his siege engine into position and blowing stuff up. I think that reloading hands would even let you reload your balista every round.


This is as close as you can get. It's only a large heavy cossbow, but hey...


I guess this raises the question,... what happens if a bolt ace simply buys a huge heavy crossbow, which by definition is a crossbow?

Yes, it's probably too large to carry around, so you put in on a stand. Or wheels.

What's the difference between a crossbow on a stand and a ballista?

Dark Archive

Knight Magenta wrote:
I've always wanted to play a character who wields a balista enchanted with the called enchantment. He would run around the battle field summoning his siege engine into position and blowing stuff up. I think that reloading hands would even let you reload your balista every round.

I... think I'm going to steal this. That's ingenious.

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