Expanded archery for Oriental Adventures
This article suggests a better method for conducting missile combat; four new types of arrows are also introduced. Note that the damage ratings for arrows given in Oriental Adventures remain the same. What has been changed is the focus of the armor-class adjustments, which has been moved from the different bows to the various types of arrows. Despite this change, the bow distinctions are retained through the creation of a separate modifier table for each bow.
The four new arrow types are described as follows.
Bird Arrow
This arrow looks much like the humming bulb arrow, having a
large,
rounded tip instead of a point. This arrow is mostly used on
birds or small
creatures which would be sliced in half by a standard arrowhead.
Although
seldom used against human foes, this arrow has been employed on
occasion
when nothing else was available. This bird arrow does 1-2 hp
damage against
any size of creature.
Target Arrow
The target arrow is designed for use in the training of younger
warriors.
This arrow lacks a metal arrowhead; instead, its tip is simply
fire-hardened wood. This arrow is rarely used in normal combat,
but (as
with bird arrows) it is useful when nothing else is available.
Hollow-Tip Arrow
This arrow can only be made by the best of the arrowsmiths. It
should be
extremely rare, difficult to purchase, and available only in large
cities.
The hollow-tip arrow is commonly thought of as a ninja weapon and
carries
penalties to honor for its use (see Oriental Adventures, page 36),
although
any class of character can use it. The arrowhead of the arrow is
replaced
by a finely balanced piece of pottery, usually in the shape of a
small bulb.
This pottery bulb is secured to the arrow with tree sap and
thread. The
bulb is usually filled with grenade powders. The following are
some
substances for possible use in these arrows, with appropriate
modifiers:
Acid: The target area affected by the acid is a 5'-diameter circle. See the Dungeon Masters Guide, page 80, for the effects of acid on various materials; the arrow will do an additional 1-3 hp damage from acid to living targets.
Dust: The target has a + 2 on all saving throws vs. the effects of magical or mundane dusts contained in this arrow bulb.
Flash: The target is blinded for 1-6 rounds by flash powder.
Gas: Gas is expelled from the bulb upon striking the target. The gas affects the target in the same round, expanding out in a 5' radius centered on the target. All others within that area are affected by the gas on the next round. The gas dissipates on the third round, affecting no one.
Pepper: The target gains a + 2 on any saving throw vs. the effects (usually a save vs. poison or else sneezing for 2-8 segments, preventing spell-casting and placing a - 1 "to hit" penalty on attacks for that round).
Poison: The target area affected by the poison is a 5'-diameter circle, large enough for one being. Note that only insinuative poisons work with this arrow. See pages 20-21 of the DMG for more information on poison and its effects.
Fishing Arrow
This arrow was originally made by fishermen, who would tie thin
cords to
the ends of the arrows and fire them into the water in an effort
to spear
fish. The archers would then haul in the lines and their catches.
Over the
years, this arrow has been modified for use in warfare. The arrow
does
little damage when it hits, but the small barbs along its length
cause
terrible wounds if the arrow is removed improperly. Ninja have
put this
arrow to another good use by tying a silken rope to the arrow's
end, then
firing it into a wooden building or tree. This arrow catches
better in wood
than a standard arrow. A person of normal weight (i.e., up to 200
lbs.) who
climbs a rope tied to a normal arrow pulls the arrow loose on a
roll of 1-4
on 1d6. A fishing arrow, on the other hand, comes loose only on a
1-2 on 1d6.
Crossbow bolts are only rarely specialized because bolts of unusual shapes would not slide across the firing groove of the crossbow, making it impossible to fire. Special crossbows may be custom made to accommodate special bolts, with the price being 2-8 times the normal cost of the item and requiring twice the amount of time to complete. In so doing, a bowyer has a - 4 on his roll for successfully making the weapon. In the event of success, the resultant crossbow is capable of firing only one type of special bolt, which must also be custom made by the crossbow maker.
Table 1 shows the costs of these special arrows. Tables 2 and 3 are for the daikyu (great bow) and hankyu (little bow), respectively, For the short composite bow, use Table 3 with a - 1 on all figures. For the short bow, use Table 3 with a - 2 on all figures. Table 4 shows the damage done by the new arrows.
Table 1
Costs of New Arrows
Arrow Cost
Bird 5 yuan
Training 1 yuan
Hollow-tip, acid 3 ch'ien
Hollow-tip, dust 13 yuan
Hollow-tip, flashpowder 5 tael
Hollow-tip, gas 3 ch'ien
Hollow-tip, poison 2 ch'ien
Hollow-tip, pepper 2 tael
Fishing 2 yuan
Table 2
Arrow Adjustments for Daikyu
Armor class of target
Arrow type 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Armor piercing +2 +2 +2 +3 +3 +4 +4 +4 +5
Frog crotch -1 0 0 0 0 +2 +3 +3 +4
Humming bulb -2 -1 0 0 0 +1 +1 +2 +3
Leaf head 0 0 0 +1 +2 +3 +3 +4 +4
Standard 0 0 0 +1 +2 +3 +4 +4 +4
Bird -2 -1 0 0 0 +1 +1 +2 +3
Training 0 0 0 +1 +2 +2 +3 +3 +4
Hollow tip -1 -1 0 0 0 +1 +1 +2 +3
Fishing 0 0 0 +1 +2 +2 +3 +3 +4
Table 3
Arrow Adjustments for Hankyu
Armor class of target
Arrow type 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Armor piercing -2 -2 0 +1 +2 +2 +3 +4 +4
Frog crotch -4 -2 -1 -1 0 0 +1 +2 +3
Humming bulb -4 -3 -2 -2 -1 0 0 +1 +1
Leaf head -4 -3 -2 -1 -1 0 0 +1 +2
Standard -4 -4 -2 -1 0 0 +1 +2 +2
Bird -4 -3 -2 -2 -1 0 0 +1 +1
Training -5 -4 -3 -1 -1 0 0 +1 +2
Hollow tip -4 -3 -2 -2 -1 0 0 +1 +1
Fishing -5 -4 -3 -1 -1 0 0 +1 +2
Table 4
Damage for New Arrows
Target size
Arrow type S-M L
Bird 1-4 1-2
Training 1-3 1-2
Hollow-tip 1-2 1-2
Fishing* 1-6 1-4
* This arrow does an extra 1-6 hp damage if removed without the proper
precautions. Careful removal takes 2-5 rounds.
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