Zwordsman |
nope no way. and at higher levels there isn't a better version
effectly speaking last i knew in pathfinder
bayonets were pointless. much better to just whip out a knife on a weapon cord or something.
which is a shame..
I really think the game has a good space for a bayonet that doesn't block your weapon.
Murdock Mudeater |
Bayonets are two handed weapons (because the ranged weapons are two handed), so they give 1.5 times strength to damage. Probably not much for most ranged classes, but it helps.
As for weapon cords, if you read the description, you'd note that you can't switch weapons unless you untie or cut off the weapon cord. So you can't switch from gun/crossbow to a weapon corded weapon. At least, with pure RAW. I know, silly, but that's what it says.
The weapon cord's function to to protect against disarm attempts or failed combat maneuvers (using weapons with those traits, like grab or trip).
Murdock Mudeater |
Yeah, for whatever reason it was decided that a plug bayonet was required, because the standard type of bayonet we think of today was too good, I guess.
The entire thing is iffy. The modern "multi-purpose" bayonet is 19th century tech. As far as I can tell, the crossbow bayonet is more a 20th century hobbist upgrade, with no real function outside of appearances. The "medieval" firearms, which the Pathfinder class is designed around, were not bayonet friendly.
So, as I read it, it's a move action to attach the bayonet. Drawing the bayonet is entirely up to the GM, as the rules really don't cover where the bayonet can be stored or if the act of attaching the bayonet is intended to be part of the drawing action. Personally, I think the intention is that attaching the bayonet is drawing the bayonet.
Though my main take away in all this is that I could build a two-hander fighter (or titan mauler barbarian) that just uses a crossbow bayonet (which never fires).
It is notable that the bayonet does the same damage regardless of what it is attached to, making it one of the more light-weight two handed weapons (5 lbs with light crossbow). This also makes it one of the cheaper two-handed weapons to make out of special materials, since you are only billed for the blade itself (1 lb).