What type action is it to reload a blowgun?

[bigkilla]

I did not find a answer in my search so I will ask.

What type of action is it to reload a blowgun? Is it a standard or free action?

[Shadow_of_death]

I assume it is no more taxing then retrieving another arrow

[Nightwish]

I would say a move action, similar to reloading a light crossbow.

[Shadow_of_death]

Nightwish wrote:

I would say a move action, similar to reloading a light crossbow.

Why? what makes it worse then notching another arrow?

[Nightwish]

Shadow_of_death wrote:

Nightwish wrote:

I would say a move action, similar to reloading a light crossbow.

Why? what makes it worse then notching another arrow?

There's a little more effort involved. Grabbing and nocking an arrow is basically one fluid motion. With a blowgun, you have to grab the dart, stuff it in the tube, and raise it to your lips, then aim. It's not overly taxing, but it's not one fluid motion like arrow nocking.

[Shadow_of_death]

Actually bow and arrow is grab arrow, place arrow, release bow string while a blow gun is grab dart, put dart part way in mouth, blow

I do not see the extra difficulty, not to mention unless stated reloading is a free action, that is why bows do not mention it but crossbows do

[kyrt-ryder]

Shadow_of_death wrote:

Actually bow and arrow is grab arrow, place arrow, release bow string while a blow gun is grab dart, put dart part way in mouth, blow

I do not see the extra difficulty, not to mention unless stated reloading is a free action, that is why bows do not mention it but crossbows do

Don't forget draw arrow. Most people who don't shoot bows don't realize it, but there very much is a real step in there between knocking the arrow and drawing it.

[Stynkk]

IMO I think a blowgun follows the sling rules. As far as I know Bows are the only weapon that specifically state that it is a free action to reload them. They are the exception.

"You can fire, but not load, a sling with one hand. Loading a sling is a move action that requires two hands and provokes attacks of opportunity."

I think reloading a sling involves similar effort to reloading a blowgun. While we can think of circumstances (I hold 5 pebbles in my off hand), I think this is the general rule. Meanwhile, you need special feats to reload a crossbow (rapid reload), throw multiple weapons (quick draw).

I might consider quick draw to effect slings and/or blow guns or expand Rapid Reload to encompass that kind of weapon. Then of course you can always just remove this feature from the bow if you are so inclined.

[Oliver McShade]

Really, all the range weapon should have followed the same rules. The fact that bows are allowed to shoot faster, really makes them the only real range weapon worth using now.

[kyrt-ryder]

Oliver McShade wrote:

Really, all the range weapon should have followed the same rules. The fact that bows are allowed to shoot faster, really makes them the only real range weapon worth using now.

Theoretically it's balanced by bows being martial weapons, which requires a feat over the 'lesser' weapons. But because of the larger damage dice people always just buy martial prof longbow instead if they want a good ranged weapon, rather than the feat to make slings/crossbows work. (There are corner cases, but usually those are people trying to make a suboptimal concept work for coolness than thinking it's a fair choice.)

[Oliver McShade]

All bows = Barbarian, Fighter, Paladin, Ranger, Cavalier, Inquisitor.

Short bows = Bards, Rogue.

No Bows = Cleric, Druid, Monk, Sorcerer, Wizard, Alchemist, Oracle, Summoner, Witch.

Elves = Of any class can use bows.

So it is a feat tax on Pure casters, unless they are elves.

[Gallo]

If your dart is poisoned then you want to be really careful loading it otherwise your next shot could be your last...... That, arguably, could be why it is a move equivalent action.

As for all range weapons being treated the same.... there are various threads about crossbow versus long bow that could provide hours of entertainment.

[Gallo]

If your dart is poisoned then you want to be really careful loading it otherwise your next shot could be your last...... That, arguably, could be why it is a move equivalent action.

As for all range weapons being treated the same.... there are various threads about crossbow versus long bow that could provide hours of entertainment.

[Huma]

Anyone who has ever shot a bow in real life knows it would be very silly to have a blowgun take longer to reload than a bow.

Nocking an arrow requires you to rotate the arrow nock so that the "V" is appropriately positioned in relation to the bowsting. You also have to ensure this nock is placed on the bowstring at the correct place (normally between two small markers on the bowstring). This step alone in my opinion takes longer than putting a dart in a tube.

This is all supposed to be done while the bow is pointing in a safe direction so as to not misfire on an ally. Then you have to point the bow and draw the arrow in one motion. This is the "fluid motion" most people are talking about.

After that step you can aim and release.

In my opinion, loading a bow is a free action because of how many people think of archery in fantasy combat. A great example of this can be seen by Legolas and his ridiculous reload action in the Lord of the Rings movies. While he's supposed to be an epic character, and the argument can be made that in Pathfinder a heroic archer could be just as epic...I would think those epic skills could be used to reload a much easier device such as a blowgun.

[karkon]

bigkilla wrote:

I did not find a answer in my search so I will ask.

What type of action is it to reload a blowgun? Is it a standard or free action?

It is a free action. If you read the equipment entries for Longbow, shortbow, crossbows, and sling then you will see that only sling and crossbows have rules exempting them from the normal free action for retrieving ammo and using it.

Since blowguns do not have that exemption then it is a free action to draw a dart and shoot it with the blowgun.

[kyrt-ryder]

Huma wrote:

In my opinion, loading a bow is a free action because of how many people think of archery in fantasy combat. A great example of this can be seen by Legolas and his ridiculous reload action in the Lord of the Rings movies. While he's supposed to be an epic character, and the argument can be made that in Pathfinder a heroic archer could be just as epic...I would think those epic skills could be used to reload a much easier device such as a blowgun.

You and I are in total agreement on this subject Huma. (Well, except for Legolas as an epic character. I put him somewhere between levels 4 and 6, but that's neither here nor there.) Realistically the bow loads slower than both the blowgun AND the sling. Crossbows are an exception, but again, this is a fantasy setting, where fun and balance matter more than realism. I'm of the opinion all ranged weapons should have free action reloading.

[Ravingdork]

karkon wrote:

bigkilla wrote:

I did not find a answer in my search so I will ask.

What type of action is it to reload a blowgun? Is it a standard or free action?

It is a free action. If you read the equipment entries for Longbow, shortbow, crossbows, and sling then you will see that only sling and crossbows have rules exempting them from the normal free action for retrieving ammo and using it.

Since blowguns do not have that exemption then it is a free action to draw a dart and shoot it with the blowgun.

Thanks you for proving it. :D