Hi!
I can't seem to find the rules in my pile of books on how to use a boomerang. Bascically, I'm wondernig how others have or would use it (or wouldn't) in game.
- Would you allow the attacker to catch it at the end of this round, or at the begining of the next?
- What would the player have to roll to catch the boomerang?
- Would you allow other off hand attacks while the boom is in the air?
- Would attacking more than one opponent with the same boom be allowed and how would you rule that scenario?
- What would result in a lost boom or one that just falls to the ground?
Any suggestions / diuscussion is most welcomed!
I have a player with a boom and he wants to be able to attack more than one person with one throw. He intends to have his character learn the skill and get better at it but for now I'll allow it at significant disadvantage but I would like to hear from others before I house rule it for my Eberron game.
Thanks in advance!
How to rule on the use of a Boomerang
I've actually thrown a boomerang. My educated guesses are:
1. The attacker catches it at the beginning of the next round, but only if he either missed or had hit a Small-sized or flying enemy. Boomerangs were designed for hitting birds.
2. He rolls a Dexterity check to have the boomerang conveniently come right back to his hand. Otherwise, he only needs to walk about 5 to 10 feet to fetch it.
3. He can perform off-hand attacks while the boomerang is in the air, because you only throw the thing with one hand.
4. No more than one opponent may be hit with one toss of the boomerang.
5. A boomerang may be lost through a fumble or by hitting an enemy on the ground that is Medium or Large. One that just falls to the ground generally does not fall more than 15 feet away from the attacker, and that's on a bad roll.
1. The attacker catches it at the beginning of the next round, but only if he either missed or had hit a Small-sized or flying enemy. Boomerangs were designed for hitting birds.
2. He rolls a Dexterity check to have the boomerang conveniently come right back to his hand. Otherwise, he only needs to walk about 5 to 10 feet to fetch it.
3. He can perform off-hand attacks while the boomerang is in the air, because you only throw the thing with one hand.
4. No more than one opponent may be hit with one toss of the boomerang.
5. A boomerang may be lost through a fumble or by hitting an enemy on the ground that is Medium or Large. One that just falls to the ground generally does not fall more than 15 feet away from the attacker, and that's on a bad roll.
C&C/D&D-related writings, Cortex Classic material, and other scraps: https://sites.google.com/site/x17rpgstuff/home
Class-less D&D: https://github.com/ssfsx17/skill20
Class-less D&D: https://github.com/ssfsx17/skill20
-
gideon_thorne
- Maukling
- Posts: 6176
- Joined: Thu Mar 30, 2006 8:00 am
- Contact:
Re: How to rule on the use of a Boomerang
Thing is, actual hunting boomerangs don't come back automatically. They aren't designed too. The one that 'does' is intended as a toy.
_________________
"We'll go out through the kitchen!" Tanis Half-Elven
Peter Bradley
_________________
"We'll go out through the kitchen!" Tanis Half-Elven
Peter Bradley
"The accumulated filth of all their sex and murder will foam up about their waists and all the whores and politicians will look up and shout, 'Save us!' And I'll look down, and whisper 'No.' " ~Rorschach
Yes, but we have to give the poor aboriginal player something to look forward to. That's why I suggested allowing it to come back when hitting Small enemies.
C&C/D&D-related writings, Cortex Classic material, and other scraps: https://sites.google.com/site/x17rpgstuff/home
Class-less D&D: https://github.com/ssfsx17/skill20
Class-less D&D: https://github.com/ssfsx17/skill20
-
gideon_thorne
- Maukling
- Posts: 6176
- Joined: Thu Mar 30, 2006 8:00 am
- Contact:
ssfsx17 wrote:
Yes, but we have to give the poor aboriginal player something to look forward to. That's why I suggested allowing it to come back when hitting Small enemies.
Pour some Oil of Impact on it. *toss..... boom!* Make it a real 'boom-erang'
_________________
"We'll go out through the kitchen!" Tanis Half-Elven
Peter Bradley
"The accumulated filth of all their sex and murder will foam up about their waists and all the whores and politicians will look up and shout, 'Save us!' And I'll look down, and whisper 'No.' " ~Rorschach
I would do this, for the "skipping:"
The attacker can elect to strike any number of creatures with 5' of each other. One attack roll is made, against the best AC of the group. The roll is reduced by 4 for each target thereafter. Damage is divided among those hit. It is possible to inflict no damage this way (acting as a simple distraction, instead.)
For example, 3 creatures with an AC of 10, 14, and 15 are in a tight formation. The boomer wants to hit all three. He rolls his d20 and has to hit AC 15. The total is a whopping 22. This easily hits AC 15. 22 - 4 = 18 so it easily hits the next best as well; 22 - 8 = 14 which is still good enough to hit the last one. However, the damage is divided into third.
The attacker can elect to strike any number of creatures with 5' of each other. One attack roll is made, against the best AC of the group. The roll is reduced by 4 for each target thereafter. Damage is divided among those hit. It is possible to inflict no damage this way (acting as a simple distraction, instead.)
For example, 3 creatures with an AC of 10, 14, and 15 are in a tight formation. The boomer wants to hit all three. He rolls his d20 and has to hit AC 15. The total is a whopping 22. This easily hits AC 15. 22 - 4 = 18 so it easily hits the next best as well; 22 - 8 = 14 which is still good enough to hit the last one. However, the damage is divided into third.
gideon_thorne wrote:
Thing is, actual hunting boomerangs don't come back automatically. They aren't designed too. The one that 'does' is intended as a toy.
Well... this is fantasy, so they do come back !
gideon_thorne wrote:
Pour some Oil of Impact on it. *toss..... boom!* Make it a real 'boom-erang'
That I like! LOL!
serleran wrote:
The attacker can elect to strike any number of creatures with 5' of each other. One attack roll is made, against the best AC of the group. The roll is reduced by 4 for each target thereafter. Damage is divided among those hit. It is possible to inflict no damage this way (acting as a simple distraction, instead.)
I like this. It hadn't hit me (no pun intended!) to just do one attack roll. This is indeed the way to go. THANKS!
As for the returning of the boomerang, I find it difficult to accept, but this is fantasy afterall! I did think that if it hit an enemy it would just bonk off him and fall to the ground, but then the 'fun' in using it would be lost. Aside from making it a magical item, I can only suspend reality and accept that it returns. LOL!
Thanks again.
...Jynx
Thanks to your input and my own ideas, this is what I've come up with...
In order to hit a target with a Boomerang, you make the usual range attack. Having the boomerang hit more than one target is possible but you must hit the best AC of all combined targets. The targets must be within a few feet of each other and within range of the boomerang. The attack roll is then reduced by 4 for each additional target. Damage is divided among those hit (min 1 each), and a succesful CON Save (CL = damage) must be made or the vicitm loses his next attack/action (be it in this round or the next). In order to catch the boomerang, the attacker must make a succesful DEX check (under DEX) or drop it within 5-10 feet of it's original take off point. There is always a chance that the boomerang will not return if the attack fails. If the intended victim saw it coming and attempted to either catch or knock it off then it will not return. A natural 1 means it's gone of course in a random direction.
Throwing a Boomerang leaves the attacker free to do one more move even if that is an off hand attack at the usual penalty. Due to the specialization required to actually throw a boomerang, the penalty for non weapon proficiency is doubled and the chances to catch it is halved.
I use the 2e weapon specialization table and my campaigns are slightly more 'heroic' and 'out there' so that's the reason for such a generous ruling! I think my player will like this and should make for some interesting situations.
Thanks again!
In order to hit a target with a Boomerang, you make the usual range attack. Having the boomerang hit more than one target is possible but you must hit the best AC of all combined targets. The targets must be within a few feet of each other and within range of the boomerang. The attack roll is then reduced by 4 for each additional target. Damage is divided among those hit (min 1 each), and a succesful CON Save (CL = damage) must be made or the vicitm loses his next attack/action (be it in this round or the next). In order to catch the boomerang, the attacker must make a succesful DEX check (under DEX) or drop it within 5-10 feet of it's original take off point. There is always a chance that the boomerang will not return if the attack fails. If the intended victim saw it coming and attempted to either catch or knock it off then it will not return. A natural 1 means it's gone of course in a random direction.
Throwing a Boomerang leaves the attacker free to do one more move even if that is an off hand attack at the usual penalty. Due to the specialization required to actually throw a boomerang, the penalty for non weapon proficiency is doubled and the chances to catch it is halved.
I use the 2e weapon specialization table and my campaigns are slightly more 'heroic' and 'out there' so that's the reason for such a generous ruling! I think my player will like this and should make for some interesting situations.
Thanks again!
I would only allow a boomerang to return if it misses, and even then only if the PC makes a successful attack roll to make the catch.
A boomerang that hits is going to lie on the ground next to its concussed target, unless it's magical of course.
_________________
History teaches us that men behave wisely once they've exhausted all other alternatives.
A boomerang that hits is going to lie on the ground next to its concussed target, unless it's magical of course.
_________________
History teaches us that men behave wisely once they've exhausted all other alternatives.
Catweazle wrote:
I would only allow a boomerang to return if it misses, and even then only if the PC makes a successful attack roll to make the catch.
A boomerang that hits is going to lie on the ground next to its concussed target, unless it's magical of course.
I understand that and am thinking of making it magical. I don't want to dwell too much on the IS IT REALISTIC argument, rather look at is it cool for FANTASY. At the same time the more I think it over, the more I think it should in fact DROP or at the very least be misdirected upon return. I still can envision it hitting multiple targets.
So if it's magical in some way, then that will explain all.... I'll discuss it with the player.
I suppose it's more of a 'stun' or 'knockout' weapon and not a really big damage / killing weapon. The player weilding it should use it as such and not go around tossing it at every chance he gets.
-
Coleston the Cavalier
- Unkbartig
- Posts: 880
- Joined: Mon May 01, 2006 7:00 am
- Location: Herrin, IL
- Contact: