Splintercloud arrows can someone give an offical ruling?

[jfkg306]

Hi, I hijacked this from another person's unanswered post on this in Rules

I think this sums up pretty much all of the questions so far?

PDT:

The Splintercloud Arrow from Elves of Golarion as written is unclear as to its use.

Please clarify:

Does the 5ft burst area mean a 2x2 Grid around an intersection, a 3x3 area around a central square, or is it a single 5ft square?

Does it need to hit normal AC and then grant the target a save to avoid damage?

Does it just target AC 5 for the square/intersection like other non-magical Area weapons (i.e. splash weapons)?

Do they benefit from things like Weapon Enhancements, spells that enhance ammunition, and feats and abilities that would add damage to a arrow from a bow like Deadly Aim or Weapon Specialization effect the damage?

How come there is never a rules clarification on something I seem to want and enjoy - and have to purchase a separate book just to use in PFS?

Someone in another post made this joke - and it was funny, but explains my point exactly:

I could justify the Buy, But I can't justify the buy if the rules groundswork is unclear, making it useless.

Someone in another post made this joke - and it was funny, but explains my point exactly: If you go by the RAW -

Splintercloud Arrow: The shaft of this arrow is formed
of numerous small bone fragments painstakingly glued
together. When fired they tear themselves apart, forming
a 5-foot burst of razor-sharp bones that deals 1d3 points
of piercing damage (Reflex DC 18 negates).

It blows up in your hand when you fire it from the bow and you reflex save or get hit.

Who would buy this?

Can someone officially clear this up?

[Starglim]

Areas of effect originate from a grid intersection (page 214 and diagram of a 5-foot radius burst on page 215).

[thistledown]

I'm generous - I'd say the person you shoot takes full damage from the shot, then everyone adjacent makes the save or 1d3 damage. Magic/feats/other riders on the arrow damage... that's more questionable.

But this should be under rules questions, not PFS.

[Eric Clingenpeel]

If you're really interested in how it should work, check out the Alchemy Manual that came out a little while ago. They updated all the Alchemical Arrows from EoG to PFRPG rules.

[Jeff Merola]

Specifically, the update to splintercloud arrows say that they do normal damage to the target on a hit, and then the target and everyone adjacent has to save or take 1d3 from the splinters.

[jfkg306]

Thanks guys!

I'm feeling the love!Thanks for all your help!

I'm off to buy said manual

[FLite]

In otherwords, they moved splintercloud from area effect to splash weapon rules?

[Jeff Merola]

FLite wrote:

In otherwords, they moved splintercloud from area effect to splash weapon rules?

Only kinda. It does nothing if you miss, unlike a normal splash weapon.

[N N 959]

I would think you could target an intersection and still do the 1d3 to adjacent squares

[The Great Rinaldo!]

N N 959 wrote:

I would think you could target an intersection and still do the 1d3 to adjacent squares

That would be logical, but it is not what the new text says.

[N N 959]

Tony Lindman wrote:

N N 959 wrote:

I would think you could target an intersection and still do the 1d3 to adjacent squares

That would be logical, but it is not what the new text says.

Let's take a look:

Splinter Cloud from Alchemist's Manual p. 21 wrote:

The shaft of this arrow is formed from numerous small bone fragments that have been painstakingly glued together. On a successful hit, a splintercloud arrow deals normal damage as it tears itself apart, creating a burst of razorsharp bone shards centered on the target. These shards deal 1d3 points of piercing damage to the target and any creatures adjacent to the target (Reflex DC 18 negates).

I'm afraid I don't see anything that refutes the idea that you can target the ground. If I successfully hit the target (ground), the ground takes 1d8 and anyone adjacent to the target (the ground) takes 1d3. The text does not require that I shoot a living creature.

[BigNorseWolf]

So the next time you have a lot of swarms, have the druids snake curl itself up in a square, hit it, and splintercloud the entire dungeon...