Honestly, one of by big gripes with the D&D system has always been that crossbows suck, very very heavily (requiring an extra feat and STILL being less good than a bow), making archery the standard attack form of the day. Historically, we all know how untrue this is. A crossbow was much deadlier than a bow, not just easier to use.
I'm aware that archers are a classic fantasy archetype, and that Paizo doesn't want to do anything so drastic as alter equipment, so, I think fixing the crossbow falls into the arena of feats. It's easy to add a new feat. Namely, what can we do to make the crossbow good again? Perhaps a feat that adds int to damage? Or a feat to make a standard crossbow attack at touch ac? I don't know what, but the crossbow needs SOMEthing crossbow-specific to be de-sucked.
|
Crossbows have a huge advantage for players who have a low strength score.
If you're smart you'll take XWP Repeating X-Bow instead of Rapid Reload =p
Crossbow users still need to take as many feats as archers though; Point Blank Shot, Rapid Reload, Precise Shot (which should really be ditched - in fact I'm gonna make a post about that right now)
Crossbows have a huge advantage for players who have a low strength score.
If you're smart you'll take XWP Repeating X-Bow instead of Rapid Reload =p
Crossbow users still need to take as many feats as archers though; Point Blank Shot, Rapid Reload, Precise Shot (which should really be ditched - in fact I'm gonna make a post about that right now)
I'm not seeing the advantage. A non-mighty bow is still better. And, whether you take rapid shot or repeating crossbow, you're still wasting an extra feat on a weapon that should technically do more damage/be better.
It terms of making them more realistic AKA deadlier, what about upping the damage die one. Light crossbows do 1d10, and heavy do 1d12. Reload times are still a pain without feats, but it would make them more worrysome at low levels. Its still less painful than a greataxe right? Too much?
Not too much from a balance perspective. I actually think crossbows are something that need a complete redo, but I figure an actual change to the item itself be too much for backwards compatibility.
Crossbows should have a bonus to pierce armor. That was where they were great at.
I second the request for extra feats:
Crossbow Mastery - as in CotCGPG or PCCS
Sharpshooter - get your dex bonus to damage with x-bows, and use sneak attack at any range (only if you aim)
|
Sharpshooter - get your dex bonus to damage with x-bows, and use sneak attack at any range (only if you aim)
This feat exists: Crossbow Sniper (PHB2) - add half your dex modifier to damage with crossbows and deal precision based damage out to 60 feet.
I have played around with crossbows for several characters, mostly bards and artificers with heavy repeaters, and had little success. For our RotRL playtest I am playing Harsk, and crossbow mastery from the PFCS really opens up crossbows as a viable weapon. With a dip into fighter for weapon spec and a flat +hit/+damage build he is really kicking out some damage. He also doesn't need a high str score, as is the case with archery builds, and his focus on straight enhancement bonuses to his bow means that when he gets Deadly Aim he will still hit effectively.
Without Crossbow Mastery, none of this would be possible. Please add this feat to the PFRPG, as it has been the cornerstone of a great and memorable character. And what dwarf would be caught dead with a bow?
Ryn, who likes crossbows that fire like tommyguns...
I would rephrase this to "non-bow" ranged weapons need some help.
It seems like the game rules, feats, classes are all targeted towards steering people to the longbow. This has led to a sort of monotony in ranged combat. Some feats or class options should open up at least one or two options for non-archer ranged players. Personally I think both slings and crossbows should be made a little better by comparison to the longbow.
|
RPG Superstar 2008 Top 32, 2011 Top 16
|
I would rephrase this to "non-bow" ranged weapons need some help.
It seems like the game rules, feats, classes are all targeted towards steering people to the longbow. This has led to a sort of monotony in ranged combat. Some feats or class options should open up at least one or two options for non-archer ranged players. Personally I think both slings and crossbows should be made a little better by comparison to the longbow.
Do you mean non-bow projectile weapons, or also thrown weapons? Thrown weapons don't seem to be in the same group as x-bows or slings, since with quick draw, you can throw as many in a round as your attacks allow, and you get your Str bonus to damage still.
I would rephrase this to "non-bow" ranged weapons need some help.
It seems like the game rules, feats, classes are all targeted towards steering people to the longbow. This has led to a sort of monotony in ranged combat. Some feats or class options should open up at least one or two options for non-archer ranged players. Personally I think both slings and crossbows should be made a little better by comparison to the longbow.
Yes, I completely agree. I forgot about the lowly sling (which, in a range thread, was pointed out by someone who knew better than myself to be quite dangerous). Monotony in ranged weapons actually does become a problem in some groups, as you sometimes have 3 players fighting over who gets the cool magic bow the party found.
Do you mean non-bow projectile weapons, or also thrown weapons? Thrown weapons don't seem to be in the same group as x-bows or slings, since with quick draw, you can throw as many in a round as your attacks allow, and you get your Str bonus to damage still.I would rephrase this to "non-bow" ranged weapons need some help.
It seems like the game rules, feats, classes are all targeted towards steering people to the longbow. This has led to a sort of monotony in ranged combat. Some feats or class options should open up at least one or two options for non-archer ranged players. Personally I think both slings and crossbows should be made a little better by comparison to the longbow.
Pretty much both. About 80% of ranged feats out there are bow oriented. Even if you assume that the long bow is the best ranged weapon there should be choices for other range weapon users. To advance a bit.