View source for Riot Crossbow (3.5e Equipment)

{{author
|author_name=Sulacu
|date_created=April 10, 2018
|status=Some kind of fruit.
|img=Riot Crossbow.jpg
|imgsize=250px
|caption=A bandit raider touting a customized riot<br>crossbow.
|editing=
}}

<onlyinclude>{{3.5e Mundane Weapon
|weap=Riot Crossbow
|sme=e
|ulot=t
|ampt=p
|cost=400
|sdamage=1d8
|mdamage=1d10
|crit=19-20/×2
|range=60
|weight=25
|type=Piercing or Bludgeoning
|hp=10
|hardness=10
}}

Popularized by the infamous 'riot guards' of the Bolton kingdom – itself a cesspit of civil strife and social and cultural upheaval – the riot crossbow is a crossbow built into a heavy shield with a viewport for the wielder. Basically a combination of [[SRD:Heavy Crossbow|heavy crossbow]] and a [[Greatshield (3.5e Equipment)|greatshield]], the total is however much greater than the sum of its parts, and when wielded with the right know-how and martial training, the riot crossbow becomes a terrifying tool for close range suppression.

A riot crossbow grants a +2 bonus to checks to avoid being [[SRD:Trip|tripped]], [[SRD:Bull Rush|bullrushed]] or [[SRD:Overrun|overrun]]. You provoke no [[SRD:Attack of Opportunity|attacks of opportunity]] when firing a riot crossbow in melee. You may use the riot crossbow to shield bash as if using a [[Greatshield (3.5e Equipment)|greatshield]]. 

A riot crossbow may be enhanced as both a weapon and a shield, but the crossbow-part and the shield-part each have their own [[SRD:Enhancement Bonus|enhancement bonus]] and special qualities; qualities belonging to the crossbow do not take effect when using the shield or vice versa.

You may use the riot crossbow as a shield while wielding it with only one hand, but it must be two-handed to use the crossbow. Reloading a riot crossbow is a [[SRD:Move Action|move action]]. You retain your [[SRD:Shield Bonus|shield bonus]] to [[SRD:Armor Class|Armor Class]] while reloading.

The riot crossbow is classified as an [[SRD:Exotic Weapon|exotic weapon]], but any creature may treat the riot crossbow as a [[SRD:Martial Weapon|martial weapon]] provided they have [[SRD:Tower Shield Proficiency|Tower Shield Proficiency]] and a [[SRD:Strength|Strength]] of 17. Those who have the proper [[SRD:Exotic Weapon Proficiency|Exotic Weapon Proficiency]] however only need to be proficient with regular shields and have a [[SRD:Strength|Strength]] of 13 to gain the following benefits and [[Weapon Arts (3.5e Other)|weapon arts]]:

*You may choose to reload the riot crossbow as an attack action.
*You are treated as having [[SRD:Tower Shield Proficiency|Tower Shield Proficiency]] as part of your [[SRD:Exotic Weapon Proficiency|Exotic Weapon Proficiency]] in the riot crossbow, though only if you are [[SRD:Shield Proficiency|proficient with regular shields]].
*''{{Anchor|Phalanx}}:'' You gain [[SRD:Cover|partial cover]] (+4 AC, +2 [[SRD:Reflex|Reflex]]) against all attacks and effects originating from the quadrant (90-degree cone) you are facing. This cover remains while attacking and performing other activities, though is broken if you move more than 10 feet in a single [[SRD:Round|round]]. 

:While Phalanx is active, you are treated as having the [[SRD:Improved Shield Bash|Improved Shield Bash]] feat, and the attack penalty on a [[SRD:Shield Bash|shield bash]] is reduced by 2 points.

:As an [[SRD:Immediate Actions|immediate action]] usable once per [[SRD:Round|round]] while Phalanx is active, you may give partial cover to an adjacent ally against a single attack or effect. 

:This ability counts as a martial stance, and automatically activates at the start of your turn unless you are already using a different stance.

*''{{Anchor|Sudden Rush}}:'' If you make a [[SRD:Shield Bash|shield bash]], you may choose to immediately perform a [[SRD:Bull Rush|bull rush]] against the target as a [[SRD:Swift Action|swift action]]. If the shield bash hits the target, you gain a +4 bonus to the opposed [[SRD:Strength|Strength]] check. Any movement resulting from a Sudden Rush counts towards the maximum movement allowed to maintain your Phalanx.
*''{{Anchor|Sudden Sting}}:'' If you make a [[SRD:Shield Bash|shield bash]] while the riot crossbow is loaded, you may choose to immediately perform an attack as a [[SRD:Swift Action|swift action]]. If both the shield bash and the follow-up attack hit the target, it must make a [[SRD:Fortitude|Fortitude]] save (DC 10 + ½ your BAB + your [[SRD:Strength|Strength]] bonus) or be [[SRD:Staggered|staggered]] for 1 [[SRD:Round|round]].
</onlyinclude>

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{{3.5e Mundane Weapons Breadcrumb}}
[[Category:3.5e]]
[[Category:User]]
[[Category:Equipment]]
[[Category:Weapon]]
[[Category:Mundane]]
{{Navboxes}}
Author	Sulacu +
Class	Projectile +
Cost	400 gp +
Critical	19-20/×2 +
Damage	1d10 +
Damage Type	Piercing + and Bludgeoning +
Hardness	10 +
Hit Points	25 +
Identifier	3.5e Equipment +
Proficiency	Exotic +
Range	60 +
Rating	Undiscussed +
Size	Two-Handed +
Title	Riot Crossbow +
Weight	25 +