Riot Crossbow (3.5e Equipment)

Author: Sulacu (talk) Date Created: April 10, 2018 Status: Some kind of fruit. Editing: Clarity edits only please

Rate this article Your rating for this article: Favor Like Neutral Dislike Oppose Submit | Cancel Discuss this article

A bandit raider touting a customized riot crossbow.

Riot Crossbow

Exotic Two-Handed Projectile

Cost:	400 gp
Damage (Small):	1d8
Damage (Medium)1:	1d10
Critical:	19-20/×2
Range Increment:	60'
Weight2:	25 lbs
Type3:	Piercing or Bludgeoning
HP4:	25
Hardness:	10

1. See Damage Increases by Size to calculate the damage for a weapon larger than Medium or smaller than Small.
2. Weight figures are for Medium weapons. A Small weapon weighs half as much, and a Large weapon weighs twice as much.
3. When two types are given, the weapon is both types if the entry specifies "and", either type (player's choice at time of attack) if the entry specifies "or", or each end of the double weapon is a different type if the entry specifies "/".
4. The hp value given is for Medium armor, weapons, and shields. Divide by 2 for each size category of the item smaller than Medium, or multiply it by 2 for each size category larger than Medium.

Popularized by the infamous 'riot guards' of the Bolton kingdom – itself a cesspit of civil strife and social upheaval – the riot crossbow is a crossbow built into a heavy shield with a viewport for the wielder. Basically a combination of heavy crossbow and a 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 tripped, bullrushed or overrun. You provoke no attacks of opportunity when firing a riot crossbow in melee. You may use the riot crossbow to shield bash as if using a 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 enhancement bonus and special qualities; qualities belonging to the crossbow do not take effect when using the shield or vice versa. A riot crossbow carries with it an armor check penalty of -5.

You may fire the riot crossbow with only one hand, but it must be reloaded with both hands. Reloading a riot crossbow is a move action. You retain your shield bonus to Armor Class while reloading.

The riot crossbow is classified as an exotic weapon, but any creature may treat the riot crossbow as a martial weapon provided they have Tower Shield Proficiency and a Strength of 17. Those who have the proper Exotic Weapon Proficiency however only need to be proficient with regular shields and have a Strength of 13, and furthermore gain access to the following benefits and weapon arts:

• You may choose to reload the riot crossbow as an attack action.
• You are treated as having Tower Shield Proficiency as part of your Exotic Weapon Proficiency in the riot crossbow, though only if you are proficient with regular shields.
• Phalanx: You gain partial cover (+4 AC, +2 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 round.

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

As an immediate action usable once per 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.

• Sudden Rush: If you perform a shield bash, you may choose to immediately follow up with a bull rush against the target as a swift action. If the shield bash hits the target, you gain a +4 bonus to the opposed Strength check. Any movement resulting from a Sudden Rush counts towards the maximum movement allowed to maintain your Phalanx.
• Sudden Sting: If you perform a shield bash while the riot crossbow is loaded, you may choose to immediately follow up with an attack as a swift action. If both the shield bash and the follow-up attack hit the target, it must make a Fortitude save (DC 10 + ½ your BAB + your Strength bonus) or be staggered for 1 round.

---

Back to Main Page → 3.5e Homebrew → Equipment → Weapons