So...for those that don't know...Grenadier Alchemists with the Explosive Missile discovery can spend a move (later reduced to swift, later further reduced to free) action to attach an alchemical item to an arrow (or other ammunition) and spend a standard action to attach an alchemist bomb to the same arrow, and fire it at a target.
Under RAW, you can't add Vital Strike to that due to competing standard actions, I get that. The house rule in effect is that you can add Vital Strike any time you are limited to one attack for any reason (generally meant to allow Vital Strike on charges, but I'd also allow it to apply to Spring Attack or other similar situations).
So...with a bomb, a flask of acid, and a bow, what's the general opinion on the effect of Vital Strike in this self-inflicted situation? I'm the GM, and I'm leaning towards only allowing it to be applied to the bow damage, but I'm curious if others have a reasonable argument otherwise.
Fair enough in practice. Granted, the bomb is a weapon in its own right, so I can see someone making an argument that they should be able to apply it to the bomb instead.
Also, as an aside, in the event of crits I treat this the same as spellstrike - arrow threat range, x3 for the arrow, x2 for the bomb, x2 for the alchemical item when appropriate.
I can see someone making an argument that they should be able to apply it to the bomb instead.No! NO! NOT okay!
Hey, not saying I agreed with it... :)
what about mythic VS?
We haven't used mythic rules yet in this group, but looking at it, it would still boil down to how you ruled on VS applying in the first place in this situation.
Oh...and regarding the bomb, Vital Strike would only add +1d6 with the way bombs are written (bomb does 1d6, add 1d6 at every odd level starting at 3rd as bonus dice), so it's not like it would be vastly overpowered or anything like that. For a medium character with a longbow, they'd be better off with the bow damage anyway.
what about mythic VS?
This should not be used under any circumstances as written
Assuming I ignored the part of kinetic blast that flat out says "no vital strike" (and you're right, I probably would for internal consistency), I would treat it the same as a thrown alchemist bomb, even though it isn't written exactly the same. It would just be an additional +1 die of damage, and +2 dice for Improved VS, not doubling/tripling all dice. If I did that there wouldn't be a kineticist without it.
Yes, house rules always have the potential for unforeseen cans of worms being spewed all over your front walk. That's why I usually think about potential house rules for a few weeks (sometimes a few months) before bringing them up with my group.
|
I have always felt that things like the grenadiers ability and explosive missile were add one to the attack. They tap in more Damage but don't get the perks of stuff like vital strike
Already bad enough resolving a conductive musket attack with an explosive bomb plus holy water+slime grenade (admixture funneled together)
So mythic VS, as in i use improved vital strike with an Impact large Bastard Sword, base damage is 3D6 so i would roll 9D6 and then multiply all of my static modifiers by 9 and add that too? That is just bonkers...what about mythic VS?This should not be used under any circumstances as written
Most mythic rules allow for bonkers, which is pretty much the point.