View source for Projectile Weapons

[[Category:Epic Path]][[Category:Catalog Page]]
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Ranged weapons are divided into two large 'families', the projectile weapons (that use ammunition) and the thrown weapons. There's also oddballs such at the blow gun, lasso, or harpoon, which have specific rules that govern their use. Read the description of each weapon completely.

Projectile weapons are hand-held, directly wielded objects that a proficient wielder can use to propel ammunition at a foe at a distance. Thus, without ammunition, a projectile weapon is useless, so make sure you have some ammo!  There are magical items which generate ammunition, and if you use a projectile weapon, such an item is highly recommended, if you can afford such a thing.

Attacks made with ammunition and a projectile weapon is called a projectile ranged attack, and as the target gets further away, may cause penalties to-hit. Each projectile weapon has an entry in the 'Range' field in their entry. Projectile weapons may make attacks at a distance less than or equal to their range number at no penalty to-hit. If the distance to the target is in the second range band, the attack is made at a minus two to-hit. If in the third, the attack is made at a -4 to-hit. The absolute maximum range a projectile weapon may attack at is the upper end of their tenth range band, at a nearly insurmountable -18 to-hit. Yes, a projectile weapon can usually drive ammunition much further than you can reliably hit with it.

As an example, a  hand crossbow can attack a creature at a range of 3 feet to 30 feet without any penalty to-hit, although making ranged attacks within the reach of a foe provokes attacks of opportunity. A hand crossbow can attack at a range of 35 feet to 60 feet at a -2 to-hit, at a range of 65 feet to 90 feet at -4 to hit, up to a maximum of 275 to 300 feet at a whopping -18 to-hit.  

In contrast, a heavy crossbow can make attacks at a range of 5 feet to 120 feet at no penalty! Attacks at 125 feet to 240 feet are made at a -2 to-hit, 245 to 360 feet at -4, and a heavy crossbow can make attacks at a range of 1085 feet to 1200 feet at that painful -18 to-hit. 

No projectile weapon can make attacks at a distance that is greater than ten times their range band, without feats or abilities that expressly allow such things.

== Magic Weapons ==
Rules for the creation, cost and effects of magic weapons can be found on the following pages:

* [[Magic Weapons]]
* [[Dweomermetals]]
* [[Melee Magic Properties]]
* [[Ranged Magic Properties]]
* [[Reforging]]

== Simple Projectile Weapons ==
<p>
{{:Heavy Crossbow (Weapon)}}
</p>
<p>
{{:Light Crossbow (Weapon)}}
</p>
<br>

== Martial Projectile Weapons ==
<p>
{{:Composite Longbow (Weapon)}}
</p>
<p>
{{:Composite Shortbow (Weapon)}}
</p>
<p>
{{:Longbow (Weapon)}}
</p>
<p>
{{:Shortbow (Weapon)}}
</p>
<br>

== Exotic Projectile Weapons ==
<p>
{{:Composite Greatbow (Weapon)}}
</p>
<p>
{{:Greatbow (Weapon)}}
</p>
<p>
{{:Hand Crossbow (Weapon)}}
</p>
<p>
{{:Hand Onager (Weapon)}}
</p>
<p>
{{:Stonebow (Weapon)}}
</p>