My artificer has the idea of crafting a periscope crossbow, a crossbow mounted on a frame with a mirror on top, both movable in a 90 degree angle, so that I can shoot around corners while remaining in full cover. The trigger will pulled by the telekinetic feat (or a pulley and a string). Would you DMs out there allow it?
I think it would be okay. A crossbow isn't that threatening of a weapon, and my monsters tend to make just as much use of cover as my players, so I can't imagine this would become too problematic.
However, you're basically asking for a mechanical upgrade, so even if the concept is okay, you should expect some kind of trade-off. I have no idea what would be an appropriate trade-off though. Maybe I'd erase the next minor magic item you would've found? Or replace it with the key component you needed to complete the crossbow?
You could certainly try. Although, you would likely have disadvantage on the attacks. As an experiment, hold up a mirror looking over your shoulder and walk around your home backwards using the mirror to navigate. (AVOID STAIRS!!!) See how much you bump in to.
You could certainly try. Although, you would likely have disadvantage on the attacks. As an experiment, hold up a mirror looking over your shoulder and walk around your home backwards using the mirror to navigate. (AVOID STAIRS!!!) See how much you bump in to.
That's not how a periscope works. You use two mirrors, so the image you see is flipped back to normal. Not saying it wouldn't cause any problems, but it wouldn't be quite that bad.
You could certainly try. Although, you would likely have disadvantage on the attacks. As an experiment, hold up a mirror looking over your shoulder and walk around your home backwards using the mirror to navigate. (AVOID STAIRS!!!) See how much you bump in to.
That's not how a periscope works. You use two mirrors, so the image you see is flipped back to normal. Not saying it wouldn't cause any problems, but it wouldn't be quite that bad.
I understand how a periscope works, I have built some myself in the past. But I figured an experiment that involved less construction, fewer materials and didn’t require projectiles would be close enough to make the point. How about this as a more accurate experiment: Take a small piece of material that is dense enough to sink and not water soluble and put it in a pint glass full of water. Then try picking it up with a pair of chopsticks. The refraction from the water should simulate the difficulty I am alluding to effectively. Would that be an adequately accurate analogue (ahh the alliteration) for you?
I think it would be okay. A crossbow isn't that threatening of a weapon, and my monsters tend to make just as much use of cover as my players, so I can't imagine this would become too problematic.
However, you're basically asking for a mechanical upgrade, so even if the concept is okay, you should expect some kind of trade-off. I have no idea what would be an appropriate trade-off though. Maybe I'd erase the next minor magic item you would've found? Or replace it with the key component you needed to complete the crossbow?
I agree it sounds good, very artificer-y, I could see implementing a -1 to hit, maybe a -2
Disadvantage sounds appropriate to me. Periscope aside, aiming a crossbow at the end of a pole is going to be way less precise than stabilizing it with your own arms. Handling the recoil would also be difficult. And I'd probably make the weapon/frame targetable.
A magic item that did this would be Rare at the least. So it's not really fair to your teammates to argue that you can just make it outside of any class features or treasure.
I think it would be okay. A crossbow isn't that threatening of a weapon, and my monsters tend to make just as much use of cover as my players, so I can't imagine this would become too problematic.
However, you're basically asking for a mechanical upgrade, so even if the concept is okay, you should expect some kind of trade-off. I have no idea what would be an appropriate trade-off though. Maybe I'd erase the next minor magic item you would've found? Or replace it with the key component you needed to complete the crossbow?
I agree it sounds good, very artificer-y, I could see implementing a -1 to hit, maybe a -2
Maybe a sliding scale based off of Proficiency? Like a -X penalty where X=3-(½PB (rounded down)) So with a PB of 2–3, it would be a -2 penalty, with a PH of 4–5 it would be a -1 penalty, and it would be “-0” or “—“ with PB of 6 or more. (That is possible.)
I’d also agree with it giving disadvantage. Or maybe no proficiency bonus, since it’s pretty far removed from a standard crossbow. If I was feeling really nice, I’d allow a homebrew feat to offset the negatives.
My artificer has the idea of crafting a periscope crossbow, a crossbow mounted on a frame with a mirror on top, both movable in a 90 degree angle, so that I can shoot around corners while remaining in full cover. The trigger will pulled by the telekinetic feat (or a pulley and a string). Would you DMs out there allow it?
I think it would be okay. A crossbow isn't that threatening of a weapon, and my monsters tend to make just as much use of cover as my players, so I can't imagine this would become too problematic.
However, you're basically asking for a mechanical upgrade, so even if the concept is okay, you should expect some kind of trade-off. I have no idea what would be an appropriate trade-off though. Maybe I'd erase the next minor magic item you would've found? Or replace it with the key component you needed to complete the crossbow?
You could certainly try. Although, you would likely have disadvantage on the attacks. As an experiment, hold up a mirror looking over your shoulder and walk around your home backwards using the mirror to navigate. (AVOID STAIRS!!!) See how much you bump in to.
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That's not how a periscope works. You use two mirrors, so the image you see is flipped back to normal. Not saying it wouldn't cause any problems, but it wouldn't be quite that bad.
I understand how a periscope works, I have built some myself in the past. But I figured an experiment that involved less construction, fewer materials and didn’t require projectiles would be close enough to make the point. How about this as a more accurate experiment: Take a small piece of material that is dense enough to sink and not water soluble and put it in a pint glass full of water. Then try picking it up with a pair of chopsticks. The refraction from the water should simulate the difficulty I am alluding to effectively. Would that be an adequately accurate analogue (ahh the alliteration) for you?
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I agree it sounds good, very artificer-y, I could see implementing a -1 to hit, maybe a -2
Disadvantage sounds appropriate to me. Periscope aside, aiming a crossbow at the end of a pole is going to be way less precise than stabilizing it with your own arms. Handling the recoil would also be difficult. And I'd probably make the weapon/frame targetable.
A magic item that did this would be Rare at the least. So it's not really fair to your teammates to argue that you can just make it outside of any class features or treasure.
My homebrew subclasses (full list here)
(Artificer) Swordmage | Glasswright | (Barbarian) Path of the Savage Embrace
(Bard) College of Dance | (Fighter) Warlord | Cannoneer
(Monk) Way of the Elements | (Ranger) Blade Dancer
(Rogue) DaggerMaster | Inquisitor | (Sorcerer) Riftwalker | Spellfist
(Warlock) The Swarm
Maybe a sliding scale based off of Proficiency? Like a -X penalty where X=3-(½PB (rounded down)) So with a PB of 2–3, it would be a -2 penalty, with a PH of 4–5 it would be a -1 penalty, and it would be “-0” or “—“ with PB of 6 or more. (That is possible.)
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I’d also agree with it giving disadvantage. Or maybe no proficiency bonus, since it’s pretty far removed from a standard crossbow.
If I was feeling really nice, I’d allow a homebrew feat to offset the negatives.
Note: Mage Hand has a carrying capacity of 10lbs and a light crossbow weighs 5lbs, so that would probably be the easiest magical route.
Mechanically, I'd probably have it run like a Ballista. Action to load, Action to Aim and Fire.
Running it like a ballista would be way too harsh though and render that nice idea completely useless.
I agree with either disadvantage, no proficiency or a negative -2 penalty or similar though.