Steam Weapons

[Xathan]

The contents of this post are considered Open Game Content.

Steam Weapons This is just the beginning of what I am working on for steam powered weapons. Nothing too original yet, but it is a start. If you don't like the steam, change the power source, and they would work well for any high tech fantasy setting.

Four basic questions:
Power source â,¬' Iâ,¬,,¢m not sure how to handle this. Iâ,¬,,¢m thinking of giving people â,¬Ëchargesâ,¬,,¢, which would be a tube containing some flammable substance and an injection of water in two compartments, the charge is fitted into the device and drains the substance and water into respective chambers to power the weapons. A charge operates a weapon for 10 rounds (1 minute) of continuous use.

Feats â,¬' Iâ,¬,,¢m not sure how to work proficiency with these.

Cost â,¬' again, Iâ,¬,,¢m not sure how to price these items. They are clearly more powerful than PHB items, but they also have to be usable from first level to be interesting.

Names: Most of my names are just two words stuck together; some new names would be awesome.

[table=Steam Weapons]
[tr][th]Weapon Name[/th][th]Cost[/th][th]Dmg (M)[/th][th]Critical[/th][th]Range Incr.[/th][th]Weight[/th][th]Type[/th][/tr]
[tr][th]Melee Weapons, light[/th][/tr]
[tr][th]Shudderknife[/th][td]Cost[/td][td]2d4[/td][td]x2[/td][td]10 ft[/td][td]1 lb[/td][td]Piercing/Slashing[/td][/tr]

[tr][th]Shotknife[/th][td]Cost[/td][td]1d4[/td][td]x2[/td][td]20 ft[/td][td]1 lb[/td][td]Piercing [/td][/tr]

[tr][th]Melee Weapons, One Handed [/th][/tr]

[tr][th]Chainsword[/th][td]Cost[/td][td]2d6[/td][td]x3[/td][td]-[/td][td]7 lbs[/td][td]Slashing[/td][/tr]

[tr][th]Ranged Weapons[/th][/tr]

[tr][th]Autobow, Hand[/th][td]Cost[/td][td]1d6[/td][td]x2[/td][td]100 ft[/td][td] 5 lbs[/td][td]Piercing[/td][/tr]

[tr][th]Autobow[/th][td]Cost[/td][td]2d6[/td][td]x2[/td][td]120 ft[/td][td]10 lbs[/td][td]Piercing[/td][/tr]

[tr][th]Shredder[/th][td]Cost[/td][td]2d4[/td][td]x2[/td][td]40 ft[/td][td]12 lb[/td][td]Slashing/Piercing[/td][/tr]

[tr][th]Flamethrower[/th][td]Cost[/td][td]3d6[/td][td]-[/td][td]30 ft line/15 ft cone[/td][td]12 lb*[/td][td]Fire[/td][/tr]

[tr][th]Acid Lobber[/th][td]Cost[/td][td]2d6[/td][td]-[/td][td]20 ft[/td][td]12 lb[/td][td]Acid[/td][/tr]

[/table]

Chainsword: A Chainsword features a sword blade with numerous smaller blades attached to a chain replacing the edge of the blade. When activated, the chainswordâ,¬,,¢s chain whirls rapidly, giving it a cutting edge that tears into foes. A chainsword grants the wielder a +4 equipment bonus on sunder attempts against armor,  and wounds from a chainsword bleed for one point of damage for a number of rounds equal to the damage dealt. A heal check (dc 15) or any healing magic stops the bleeding.

Shudderknife: A small motor in this knife causes this daggerâ,¬,,¢s blade to move back in forth in very rapid pumping motion, giving it more stabbing power. It treats a creatureâ,¬,,¢s natural armor as if it were one point lower, minimum +0.

Shotknife: This knifeâ,¬,,¢s blade can be launched as a ranged attack. Replacing the blade is a full round action that provokes attack of opportunity. The knife grants a +4 equipment bonus to slight of hand checks made to conceal the knife, and a +4 equipment bonus on bluff checks to feint in combat when using the ranged feature of the knife.

[note=autofire]The D20 modern SRDâ,¬,,¢s autofire states [spoiler=Autofire] If a ranged weapon has an automatic rate of fire, a character may set it on autofire. Autofire affects an area and everyone in it, not a specific creature. The character targets a 10-foot-by-10-foot area and makes an attack roll; the targeted area has an effective Defense of 10. (If the character does not have the Advanced Firearms Proficiency feat, he or she takes a â,¬'4 penalty on the attack roll.) If the attack succeeds, every creature within the affected area must make a Reflex save (DC 15) or take the weaponâ,¬,,¢s damage. Autofire shoots 10 bullets, and can only be used if the weapon has 10 bullets in it.
Autofire is not the same thing as burst fire, which involves firing a short burst at a specific target. Firing a burst requires the Burst Fire feat. If a character fires a blast of automatic fire at a specific target without the Burst Fire feat, itâ,¬,,¢s treated as a standard attack. The attack, if successful, only deals normal damageâ,¬'all the extra ammunition the character fired is wasted.
Some firearmsâ,¬'particularly machine gunsâ,¬'only have autofire settings and canâ,¬,,¢t normally fire single shots.[/spoiler][/note]Autobow, both. These bows hold a round of 20 darts. They can be fired as normal, or can be fired on autofire, dealing damage in a ten foot square, so long as that square is within the first range increment. A reflex save (dc 15) allows for half damage. If the square is within the second or range increment, it deals damage in a 20 foot square, but the damage is halved, and a reflex save (dc 10) negates the damge. Except as noted, autofire follows the rules in the d20 modern SRD

Shredder: the Shredder can only be used on autofire, and fills the air with deadly shrapnel. The save DCs for the Shredderâ,¬,,¢s autofire is increased by +2, and it can be used on autofire up to five increments away, doing a ten foot square and full damage for the first two increments, a twenty foot square and half damage for the latter three. A shredder takes a standard action to reload, and only holds one round at a time.  

Flamethrower: Simple and effective, the flamethrower has two settings, a line and a cone. Creatures struck by the flamethrower burn for an additional round, taking an extra 1d6 damage. A DC 15 reflex save halves the initial damage and negates the secondary damage. A flamethrower requires a fuel tank, strapped to the characters back and weighing 15 lbs. Such a tank is good for 5 shots.

Acid Lobber: A recently developed weapon, the acid lobber fires a glob of acid at a target within its range. It makes attacks as a range touch attack. The acid splashes, dealing 1d6 damage to all adjacent opponents, reflex DC 15 halves the damage. An acid requires a fuel tank, strapped to the characters back and weighing 10 lbs. Such a tank is good for 10 shots.

[Xathan]

reserve for any non OGC material I want to post on this topic.

[Poseptune]

Autobow: I am trying to picture 30 arrows on a bow. Wouldn't that be overly combersome? Definitely an exotic weapon. Edit: Crossbow, I was hoping that was what it was.

I think it is time for me to goto bed when I read acid lobster instead of acid lobber. Though this might be an interesting creature....hhhmmm

[Xathan]

That would be an interesting creature, lol.

As for how it works, picture the bow van helsing had in the movie. The sit on a large round clip - another good example would be a Tommy Gun. Also, the autobow uses darts, not arrows, as it is more accurately a crossbow.

EDIT Now that I think about it, 30 is still too much. I cut it down to 20, and changed the discription to read darts, instead of saying arrows. >.<

Yeah..you can tell I'm getting tired too.

[Poseptune]

Powersource: That's not a bad idea you could make the "cell" a tiny dose of alchemist fire or something similar

Feats: Exotic weapon prof. would take care of all of these. You could have a few items be familiar to certain races.

Price: I would put the cost about 20-50 gp higher than their normal counterpart. The shudderknife for example might cost 17gp. The "cells" cost would depend on how long they would last (# of charges).

Chainsword: This thing would definitely be cumbersome. I might instill a -1 or -2 penalty on it, with maybe a feat that could take away the penalty and give it a +1 bonus. I don't know. I'm just trying to picture someone fighting with a chainsaw, though the motor could be shrunken down by magic..

ShudderKnife: If they can make this in knife form can they make a sword shudder?

Shotknife: Reminds me of the deringer from the old west. :) I like it.

Autobow: Better without the word arrows. :)

Shredder: Kitchen appliance or nemisis of green amphibians? :P It is a nice wide range weapon. "Oh no, a group of wizards, they look like they are getting ready to cast. GET THE SHREDDER!"

Flamethrower: "Dragon's breath in a can" - label on the side. Actually dragon's breath might not be a bad name for this. I would make this more expensive, because it is more powerful than most of the low level spells.

Acid Lobber: Made from the sylvia of the acid lobster. :)

[Xathan]

The problem with exotic weapons prof is that I want these to be common in sooth. Should I just make a steam weapon prof (melee) and steam weapon prof (ranged) feats instead? Or something like that - I don't want them to be exotic.

That works for the priceing, I think. Thanks for the idea. :D

The motor is shrunken down. No magic needed, they just know how to build it smaller through lots of practice. I just like it that way. :-P

Yes, shudderswords do exist, I just wasn't quite sure on the stats.

Shotknife: Glad you like, it's a fun weapon.

Shredder: hehehe, the text made me giggle like a small child.

Flamethrower: yeah...this is so called Dragonsbreath now, it's so much cooler.

Acid Lobber/Acid Lobster: Heh, I like. :P

[CYMRO]

I'm just trying to picture someone fighting with a chainsaw, ..

His name is Ash, housewares.

[Poseptune]

I'm just trying to picture someone fighting with a chainsaw, ..

His name is Ash, housewares.

LOL! True...

Xathan steam weapon profs(SWP) would work and you could work them in like the martial weapons in the classes. Fighter would have all martial and SWP. While a rogue may have SWP with the shotknife, shudderknife and hand autobow for example.

[Xathan]

and I swear that I didn't write this thread after watching Evil Dead 2. Honest. I mean it.

"Groovey."

[Poseptune]

Hee hee we posted at the same time, though it looks like I was a split second faster :)

and I swear that I didn't write this thread after watching Evil Dead 2. Honest. I mean it.

"Groovey."

You could call the shredder a Boom Stick.

Shop Smart. Shop S mart. :)

[Xathan]

Actually, the Boom Stick is the slang name for the upcoming rocket launcher. :P

Speaking of which, what does everyone think of making rockets tiny constructs with a fast fly speed but a manuverability of clumsy. (They'd be magically enhanced to seek out targets, and more expensive because of it.)

[CYMRO]

Actually, the Boom Stick is the slang name for the upcoming rocket launcher. :P

Speaking of which, what does everyone think of making rockets tiny constructs with a fast fly speed but a manuverability of clumsy. (They'd be magically enhanced to seek out targets, and more expensive because of it.)

That is kwite kool!  

[Lmns Crn]

Speaking of which, what does everyone think of making rockets tiny constructs with a fast fly speed but a manuverability of clumsy. (They'd be magically enhanced to seek out targets, and more expensive because of it.)

Interesting idea, but it might be more complicated than you need to get. If you'd posed the problem to me, I'd rather give magically-enhanced rockets a simple bonus to attack rolls, rather than worry about the location, vector, and maneuverability of large numbers of tiny projectiles.

Although, the idea of evasive maneuvering against rockets that follow you is pretty interesting.

[Hibou]

Did you get Dragonsbreath from the movie Constantine?

[Xathan]

Speaking of which, what does everyone think of making rockets tiny constructs with a fast fly speed but a manuverability of clumsy. (They'd be magically enhanced to seek out targets, and more expensive because of it.)

Interesting idea, but it might be more complicated than you need to get. If you'd posed the problem to me, I'd rather give magically-enhanced rockets a simple bonus to attack rolls, rather than worry about the location, vector, and maneuverability of large numbers of tiny projectiles.

Although, the idea of evasive maneuvering against rockets that follow you is pretty interesting.

Yeah, it is a bit more complicated, but as you mentioned, I love the idea of evasive maneuvering against the rockets. I'm really looking to create a fuctional set of ship to ship combat rules, unlike the utter dreck that is found in d20 Future, and the construct rockets fit this perfectly. It will probably be (for rockets) a single stat block that can be modified to increase the speed or add some special abilities (like a single "side booster", which allow the rocket to make a single 90 degree turn, or something similar.)

I really want to make ship combat fun, interesting, and exciting. I really thing the rockets-as-constructs fits this bill best. Plus, it also explains what happens when a rocket misses, which doesn't happen (or need to happen) with any other ranged weapon.