Weapon (crossbow, light), very rare (requires attunement by a person who is able to cast arcane spells)
The Spellslinger -
A militant mage's best friend.
Created by a Warlock who wanted to make the most out of his spells, this light crossbow looks ordinary enough (except for the obvious aura of power wrapped around it, visible to anyone with an eye for the arcane).
Under normal circumstances, the Spellslinger is just a regular light crossbow that most anyone can use. But when attuned to someone who can cast arcane spells, the weapon becomes much more powerful and versatile.
Upon making a connection with its wielder, the crossbow becomes capable of firing whatever spells the magic user knows/has prepared. It has 10 charges to do so with 1 charge to be used per spell's base level (cantrips use no charges). Spells that can be cast at higher levels will expend more charges when cast at higher levels via the Spellslinger.
1d10 charges are replenished daily at dawn.
If the wielder chooses to use Dexterity to fire off a spell, and they are proficient with the weapon, they may add the damage of the crossbow (1D8 piercing) to any damage the spells do. Otherwise, they must fire the spell off with whatever ability they normally use to cast their spells, and no extra damage from the crossbow is added.
Spells fired from the bow are subject to the weapon's range.
Spells fired from the bow are subject to the spell's casting time.
Spell attack rolls must hit for the spell to take affect.
Spells that initially require saving throws to take affect cannot be fired from the Spellslinger.
Spells that require neither an attack roll, nor an enemy to initially perform a saving throw, hit automatically (providing the target is within range).
All spells require the expenditure of a bolt to fire, even cantrips.
Proficiency with a Light Crossbow allows you to add your proficiency bonus to the attack roll for any attack you make with it.
This weapon has the following mastery property. To use this property, you must have a feature that lets you use it.
Slow. If you hit a creature with this weapon and deal damage to it, you can reduce its Speed by 10 feet until the start of your next turn. If the creature is hit more than once by weapons that have this property, the Speed reduction doesn’t exceed 10 feet.
Notes: person who is able to cast arcane spells, Damage, Utility, Combat, Focus, Ammunition, Loading, Range, Two-Handed, Slow
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Posted Aug 23, 2018So if I am reading this correctly, you are allowing someone to fire this crossbow as part of casting a spell or as an attack?
This then deals the spell damage and the bolt damage, having rolled a single attack die for both effects?
but uses only the charge, rather then the spell slot, thus giving your caster a number of free spell uses per day?
I have re-written it, based on my understanding below, please confirm.
Notes: The wielder must be proficient with Light Crossbows to wield, Ammunition, Loading, Range, Two-Handed.
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Posted Aug 23, 2018Thanks for the feedback.
You have some interesting ideas, but I don't think I'll be making any significant changes. I designed the weapon for my character and playstyle vs just in general. If I make a version 2.0, I may include some of this, though. That said, there is one or two things I'll clarify here:
1. If a spell is fired that requires an attack roll, that is the only time damage from the crossbow can be added. It is not required to be added, though, but even if it is added, it is still only one attack roll, this time made with dexterity instead of the normal characteristics of intelligence, charisma, or wisdom. Just like a finesse weapon can use strength or dexterity, this can use dexterity or int/cha/wis to cast a spell (it always uses dexterity when fired as a normal crossbow). It's just that when dexterity is used for the spellcasting, crossbow bolt damage can also be added to any attack spell.
2. The weapon wasn't specified to require an attack action or a bonus action to fire because not all spells that can be fired with the Spellslinger are attack spells. The weapon can fire ANY spell the wielder knows that doesn't initially require a saving throw. And some of those non attack spells can be cast with a reaction i.e. Shield.