Are bombs enchantable as weapons?

[Indiana_the_Dog]

Hi, first thread here ^^, i hoped i looked well the rules & search.

On my italian fb page we had a discussion about whether or not would be possible to enchant 50 alchemist's vials of catalyst as normal improvised ammos (like harrow deck) and add the enchantment bonus to the bomb effect.

My argument is that vials of catalys liquid and bombs are the same item, it's just activated, so you can enchant them as normal improvised weapons prior the round in which they will be trasformed into bombs.

The other guy's argument is that the "vial of catalyst" is actually a component and the bomb itself, though it is considered a wepon to some effect or feats, it's a class skill that mereley uses components.

[Illeist]

No. Bomb catalysts aren't weapons, and, though bombs are, you create them with the same action you use to throw them. And things that aren't weapons can't be enchanted as weapons (much to the improvised weapon wielders' displeasure).

[QuidEst]

They can't. They're not masterwork. And I don't think it's a generally understood rule that you can put enhancement bonuses on an arbitrary improvised weapon. Even if you set that aside, where are you getting that pre-bombs would be treated as ammunition? The vials certainly don't seem like any existing ammunition.

Edit: Welcome to the forums! Sorry I have to side with your friend on this one, but I hope it helps.

[Claxon]

Nope, bombs nor the components can be enchanted as weapons.

Honestly, the extra damage or to hit bonus shouldn't be necessary since you target touch AC.

[Joesi]

Exactly as Illeist says: They're not bombs (not weapons) until right before you throw them.

One could take weapon focus into them for instance, but one couldn't really use Magic Weapon on it, at least not without using a readied action, and only functioning for the bombs the alchemist threw that round.

[TheApapalypse]

Perhaps you could rule that a bomb makers kit could be enchanted, such as a quiver, or like a lightning bow.

[Chell Raighn]

4 and a half year Necro... though I find it funny that not one person bothered to point out the Gloves of Improvised Might... which exist for the sole reason of giving a way to apply enchantments to improvised weapons, splash weapons, and bombs... which all by RAW cannot be enchanted normally.

[Thread Necromancers' Guild]

Four years is plenty of rest! Time to get up and participate in normal necropolitan society.

[ShadowcatX]

Chell Raighn wrote:

4 and a half year Necro... though I find it funny that not one person bothered to point out the Gloves of Improvised Might... which exist for the sole reason of giving a way to apply enchantments to improvised weapons, splash weapons, and bombs... which all by RAW cannot be enchanted normally.

Probably because they were in a book from 2017 and the thread is from 2016.

[vhok]

Chell Raighn wrote:

4 and a half year Necro... though I find it funny that not one person bothered to point out the Gloves of Improvised Might... which exist for the sole reason of giving a way to apply enchantments to improvised weapons, splash weapons, and bombs... which all by RAW cannot be enchanted normally.

in what way do you read Gloves of Improvised Might to come to the conclusion they can be used to buff bombs??

[Claxon]

vhok wrote:

Chell Raighn wrote:

4 and a half year Necro... though I find it funny that not one person bothered to point out the Gloves of Improvised Might... which exist for the sole reason of giving a way to apply enchantments to improvised weapons, splash weapons, and bombs... which all by RAW cannot be enchanted normally.

in what way do you read Gloves of Improvised Might to come to the conclusion they can be used to buff bombs??

Exactly this. Bombs are a weapon, so they would not qualify to be used with gloves of improvised might. Nor would splash weapons.

Also, it came out a year after this thread was originally started.