Can I reload a crossbow with a vestigial arm?


Rules Questions


The alchemist discovery that gives you extra arms, can it be used to reload a crossbow, or reload a repeating crossbow?

Vestigial Arm (Ex): The alchemist gains a new arm (left or
right) on his torso. The arm is fully under his control and
cannot be concealed except with magic or bulky clothing.
The arm does not give the alchemist any extra attacks or
actions per round, though the arm can wield a weapon
and make attacks as part of the alchemist’s attack routine
(using two-weapon fighting). The arm can manipulate or
hold items as well as the alchemist’s original arms (for
example, allowing the alchemist to use one hand to wield
a weapon, another hand to hold a potion, and the third
hand to throw a bomb)
. The arm has its own “hand” and
“ring” magic item slots (though the alchemist can still
only wear two rings and two hand magic items at a time).
An alchemist may take this discovery up to two times.


Nemitri wrote:

The alchemist discovery that gives you extra arms, can it be used to reload a crossbow, or reload a repeating crossbow?

Vestigial Arm (Ex): The alchemist gains a new arm (left or
right) on his torso. The arm is fully under his control and
cannot be concealed except with magic or bulky clothing.
The arm does not give the alchemist any extra attacks or
actions per round, though the arm can wield a weapon
and make attacks as part of the alchemist’s attack routine
(using two-weapon fighting). The arm can manipulate or
hold items as well as the alchemist’s original arms (for
example, allowing the alchemist to use one hand to wield
a weapon, another hand to hold a potion, and the third
hand to throw a bomb)
. The arm has its own “hand” and
“ring” magic item slots (though the alchemist can still
only wear two rings and two hand magic items at a time).
An alchemist may take this discovery up to two times.

It only limits: does not give the alchemist any extra attacks or

actions per round.

Reloading is not an extra attack. So yes, it works.

Silver Crusade

I personally don't see why not. But would it not still cost the same move action to do so?

EDIT: Ah, Starbuck beat me to it.


So technically I could use two repeating crossbows in each hand (with the two weapon fighting feat) and reload each round-provided I get another vestigial arm?

Dark Archive

Nemitri wrote:

The alchemist discovery that gives you extra arms, can it be used to reload a crossbow, or reload a repeating crossbow?

Vestigial Arm (Ex): The alchemist gains a new arm (left or
right) on his torso. The arm is fully under his control and
cannot be concealed except with magic or bulky clothing.
The arm does not give the alchemist any extra attacks or
actions per round
, though the arm can wield a weapon
and make attacks as part of the alchemist’s attack routine
(using two-weapon fighting). The arm can manipulate or
hold items as well as the alchemist’s original arms (for
example, allowing the alchemist to use one hand to wield
a weapon, another hand to hold a potion, and the third
hand to throw a bomb). The arm has its own “hand” and
“ring” magic item slots (though the alchemist can still
only wear two rings and two hand magic items at a time).
An alchemist may take this discovery up to two times.

Bolded the correct part for you. The answer is no, because reloading a crossbow takes an action.

Shadow Lodge

Mergy wrote:


Bolded the correct part for you. The answer is no, because reloading a crossbow takes an action.

Gonna nit pick slightly here. It says you cant get any EXTRA actions in a round, it doesn't say you can't use the arm to load the crossbow as a move action with your vestigial arm INSTEAD of your regular hands. So as long a you don't try to do it to get an extra action in the round, but instead use it as your normal move action, there is no problem. This sounds purely like a role-play choice as opposed to trying to munchkin out an extra reload in a round.

Dark Archive

Kabump wrote:
Mergy wrote:


Bolded the correct part for you. The answer is no, because reloading a crossbow takes an action.
Gonna nit pick slightly here. It says you cant get any EXTRA actions in a round, it doesn't say you can't use the arm to load the crossbow as a move action with your vestigial arm INSTEAD of your regular hands. So as long a you don't try to do it to get an extra action in the round, but instead use it as your normal move action, there is no problem. This sounds purely like a role-play choice as opposed to trying to munchkin out an extra reload in a round.

You're correct of course. I was interpreting his question as a way to use a crossbow in a full attack, by using his arms to get extra reload actions. If you want to hold something in your regular arms and reload with your vestigials you can do that, but you cannot attack and reload at the same time, no matter how many arms you have.


As others have said, yes, but you can't gain any extra actions. So what you COULD do is basically use a crossbow "one-handed" and hold a melee weapon/shield/whatever in the other hand. You'd still need to spend an action to reload.

Dark Archive

stringburka wrote:
As others have said, yes, but you can't gain any extra actions. So what you COULD do is basically use a crossbow "one-handed" and hold a melee weapon/shield/whatever in the other hand. You'd still need to spend an action to reload.

Which is powerful in and of itself. Other options include holding a reach weapon and a melee weapon and a shield at the same time, or threatening with a longsword, holding a buckler, and using a whip to trip people who provoke.


Don't repeating crossbows reload as a free action? Then it would work with vestigial arms indeed.

Dark Archive

Nemitri wrote:
Don't repeating crossbows reload as a free action? Then it would work with vestigial arms indeed.

You could indeed fire off the clip using the extra arm; however, replacing the clip would still be a full-round action, and would not be sped up by extra arms.


Note that this is the same as for firearms. If you can get the load time down to a free action you still need a free hand to reload with... so you can dual wield if you have a vestigial arm, tentacle, or prehensile hair.

A friend came up with a funny dual pistol wielding dwarf that uses his mustache to reload weapons. The whole character was silly and more for comic relief than to be used in a long term game, but it was fun.


The benefit here is that you can use vestigal arms (If you've got one then you may as well go for two) to give you extra options in combat.

Example.

I have four arms. I can't take any extra actions but all the arms are fully functional and can weild weapons.

I use one pair of arms to carry my crossbow, the other pair to carry sword and shield.

I get the benefit of the sheild throughout the combat. (the AC benefit does not count as an action)

Round 1: Opponents are at range, I use my crossbow.

Round 2 and 3: Opponents have closed, I use my sword.

Round 4: I have killed my opponent and use my crossbow against a ranged opponent.

Round 5: I charge and attack something with my sword.

I am a really great switch hitter.

There are fun options for using a reach weapon in one pair of hands and a close weapon in the other as well.

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