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Hey guys, I'm a level one sorcerer and I thought it'd be fun to dual-wield crossbows(like a lot of other people, i later realized). I currently have the two-weapon fighting feat and +4 to dex, and two masterwork light crossbows. It comes out to a total of -1 to hit with each of them. So this works well, but my problem is; how do i reload them? I've seen some talk about the wondrous item Spare Hand, but it's 12000 GP, and im *poor*. Is there a good way to do this? It's been suggested to me that i use Prestige Points to buy a porter or the like to reload my crossbows on his turn(if he has one). I need some ideas..
Thanks
Primus Agnarok
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I can't see any schtick for this build being viable in higher-tier games, but if you own Ultimate Combat here's an option. Also, I believe that Vanities like porters disappear during combat, so that's not an option.
You'll be better off throwing Acid Splashes or using wands or something.
Agh thats no fun. and lol Acid Splash. 1d3 is the worst. So bad that there isn't even a dice for it.
Primus, the sorcerer who uses magic missile instead
1d3 acid splash is not the worst. Dual-wielding crossbows, as a sorceror no less, is the worst. There's just no good way to optimize what you want to do. Crossbows are unfortunately quite terrible for everyone pretty much no matter what.
In the long run, those 1d3 acid splashes will be more effective than dual-wielding crossbows because there is no 2 round pause to reload your 0 level spells, acid splash is a ranged touch attack so you'll miss less and acid splash will not be affected by DR's that could foil your crossbow damage. Reliably consistent small damage is preferable to the possiblility of intermittent large damage imho.
1d3 damage that hits is better than 1d8 that doesn't, which your crossbows won't with a -4 to each.
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Just as an example, take any creature from CRs 1-4 from the bestiary and try to hit it with -1 to-hit attacks. Now, imagine wasting 3 rounds beforehand to get these attacks off and have them reload themselves. That 2nd-level spells could could be FAR better utilized.
For a more positive direction, one thing to consider is playing a dual-wielder who ISN'T half Base-Attack class, or at least a 3/4ths BAB that can compensate. A Ranger, Inquisitor, or Fighter would be far more appropriate (and actually viable.)
Hold an acid flask and get +1 damage
And take a bloodline that gives you +1 to acid damage (or +1 to all damage) to get 3-5 damage, which is actually only .5 average damage per hit less than a light crossbow.
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1d3 is the worst. So bad that there isn't even a dice for it.
Of course there are d3. And I'm not talking about d6 that are numbered 1, 2, 3 twice. There are actual d3. I own such a thing (I also own a d7, a d16, a d24, a d30, and a d100).
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I have a -1 to hit dual-wielding light crossbows. I may just drop them after the first round, but i'm looking for fun.. besides lol i will stick with magic missile, acid splash is just :/. I am using an electric bloodline.. wreckin chain lightning and such. I was realy looking for help for this, not that its a bad idea. I understand what you mean, Born of Fire. The only reason acid splash is decent for now is cause its a cantrip.
Primus
I guess if you have the quick draw feat and preloaded crossbows you could pull this off...sort of.
Of course, it's still going to be really terrible.
Not much to help you with dual wielding a weapon that needs two hands to operate/reload just one. Probably just preload them, fire them off, then drop them and start electrocuting stuff.
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Or just electrocute stuff without the crossbows. Crossbows are a terrible option for 99% of the builds out there. If you are not a vital strike kobold crossbowman fighter/sniper rogue, you have a better choice than crossbows. You ALWAYS have a better choice than dual-wielding crossbows. For a sorcerer, the better is to use Acid Splash, or Ray of Frost. You can optimize cantrips to be as damaging as a crossbow bolt, and they are far more accurate when you run out of real spells. But you are a sorcerer. You shouldn't worry about running out of spells.
If you just think it will look cool to be shooting two crosswbows, by all means do so. Just be aware it will cause you to not meaningfully contribute to your party success whenever you do so.
Or just electrocute stuff without the crossbows. Crossbows are a terrible option for 99% of the builds out there. If you are not a vital strike kobold crossbowman fighter/sniper rogue, you have a better choice than crossbows. You ALWAYS have a better choice than dual-wielding crossbows. For a sorcerer, the better is to use Acid Splash, or Ray of Frost. You can optimize cantrips to be as damaging as a crossbow bolt, and they are far more accurate when you run out of real spells. But you are a sorcerer. You shouldn't worry about running out of spells.
If you just think it will look cool to be shooting two crosswbows, by all means do so. Just be aware it will cause you to not meaningfully contribute to your party success whenever you do so.
Plus there are so many better feat choices than TWF for a Sorcerer.
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Floating Disk and Unseen servant. Have multiple crossbow loaded and ready to go set them on the floating disk. Shoot drop them, grab two more, shoot drop them, repeat. In the meantime the unseen servant is picking them up and reloading.
The only problem with this is the picking up part as it's a move action... still wouldn't that just be cool looking? ;-p
Or just electrocute stuff without the crossbows. Crossbows are a terrible option for 99% of the builds out there. If you are not a vital strike kobold crossbowman fighter/sniper rogue, you have a better choice than crossbows. You ALWAYS have a better choice than dual-wielding crossbows. For a sorcerer, the better is to use Acid Splash, or Ray of Frost. You can optimize cantrips to be as damaging as a crossbow bolt, and they are far more accurate when you run out of real spells. But you are a sorcerer. You shouldn't worry about running out of spells.
If you just think it will look cool to be shooting two crosswbows, by all means do so. Just be aware it will cause you to not meaningfully contribute to your party success whenever you do so.
Yes. Or why not try this. Get a couple of wands or rods and have them made up to LOOK like Lt CB. One is a wand of MM, another a rod of quicken, and come in blasting.
I have a wizard who had a special magic missile wand that looks exactly like a Mauser Mechanical Pistol, and when used it had a little illusion that made it sound & look like a gun going off. Fun!
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Remember taht that -4 or, more likely, -8 you are going to be taking to hit with yoru dual crossbows is lessdebilitating when applied to a ranged touch attach than an attack against real armor.
-4 for firing into melee.
-4 for firing through cover.
-8 for firing into melee through cover.
And getting Point Blank Shot and Precise Shot also apply to spells like Ray of Frost and its bigger brothers.
Just ride in the back of a cart with a dozen pre-loaded crossbows to grab/fire/drop . . .
Wow people... Let him have his fun. Lol
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Floating Disk and Unseen servant. Have multiple crossbow loaded and ready to go set them on the floating disk. Shoot drop them, grab two more, shoot drop them, repeat. In the meantime the unseen servant is picking them up and reloading.
The only problem with this is the picking up part as it's a move action... still wouldn't that just be cool looking? ;-p
Thats good.. It is mostly just for 'coolness.' not for extreme usefulness. I may just do what one of you said and drop em after the first round of walking in with em, unless i can use Conjuring Hand spell from the Ultimate Combat guide.. cause that works perfect.