Segev
2022-09-10, 01:40 AM
"As an action, you can splash the oil in this flask onto a creature within 5 feet of you or throw it up to 20 feet, shattering it on impact. Make a ranged attack against a target creature or object, treating the oil as an improvised weapon. On a hit, the target is covered in oil," say the rules on dousing enemies.
The rules on improvised weapons say, "In many cases, an improvised weapon is similar to an actual weapon and can be treated as such. For example, a table leg is akin to a club. At the DM's option, a character proficient with a weapon can use a similar object as if it were that weapon and use his or her proficiency bonus.
"An object that bears no resemblance to a weapon deals 1d4 damage (the DM assigns a damage type appropriate to the object)."
Is the five foot splash still a ranged attack? If so, that means it is at disadvantage due to being within five feet. And, since it isn't being treated like an existing weapon, most people will not get their proficiency bonus to hit, either. Does the splash do 1d4 damage?
Does the flask shattering do 1d4? Probably. Maybe you could argue for it counting as a "light hammer," which would at least let you use proficiency. A light hammer can also be used in a bonus action off-hand attack, being a light weapon.
It is an improvised weapon, so unless you can get it to count as equivalent to a ranged or finesse weapon, there is no sneak attack. However, if you tie a short length of rope to it, could you qualify it as a sling? You're releasing the whole thing rather than a strap to unleash a bullet, but the aiming principle is the same. It still would have only the twenty foot range, but doing 1d4 bludgeoning as it's hurled with the force to shatter it over you makes sense, there, and a sling is a ranged weapon with which rogues are proficient: they could add their proficiency bonus to hit and add sneak attack damage if the conditions for an attack to add that damage are otherwise met (advantage, ally within five feet of target, etc.).
Particularly funny if a way to get sneak attack damage onto the splash version is found.
Sadly, while a thief's Fast Hands or an Arcane Trickster's Mage Hand Legerdemain could pour the oil out onto a square, it couldn't pour it out/splash it onto a creature; those can't "attack." Similarly, the need to make an attack roll forbids a familiar using its action to splash or break the flask on a creature.
But a rogue hurling "sling loaded" flasks of oil could really aid a firebolt-slinging ally or few, without sacrificing his own damage too badly (d4 is low, but it still carries sneak dice).
Any other thoughts on how to use these items?
The rules on improvised weapons say, "In many cases, an improvised weapon is similar to an actual weapon and can be treated as such. For example, a table leg is akin to a club. At the DM's option, a character proficient with a weapon can use a similar object as if it were that weapon and use his or her proficiency bonus.
"An object that bears no resemblance to a weapon deals 1d4 damage (the DM assigns a damage type appropriate to the object)."
Is the five foot splash still a ranged attack? If so, that means it is at disadvantage due to being within five feet. And, since it isn't being treated like an existing weapon, most people will not get their proficiency bonus to hit, either. Does the splash do 1d4 damage?
Does the flask shattering do 1d4? Probably. Maybe you could argue for it counting as a "light hammer," which would at least let you use proficiency. A light hammer can also be used in a bonus action off-hand attack, being a light weapon.
It is an improvised weapon, so unless you can get it to count as equivalent to a ranged or finesse weapon, there is no sneak attack. However, if you tie a short length of rope to it, could you qualify it as a sling? You're releasing the whole thing rather than a strap to unleash a bullet, but the aiming principle is the same. It still would have only the twenty foot range, but doing 1d4 bludgeoning as it's hurled with the force to shatter it over you makes sense, there, and a sling is a ranged weapon with which rogues are proficient: they could add their proficiency bonus to hit and add sneak attack damage if the conditions for an attack to add that damage are otherwise met (advantage, ally within five feet of target, etc.).
Particularly funny if a way to get sneak attack damage onto the splash version is found.
Sadly, while a thief's Fast Hands or an Arcane Trickster's Mage Hand Legerdemain could pour the oil out onto a square, it couldn't pour it out/splash it onto a creature; those can't "attack." Similarly, the need to make an attack roll forbids a familiar using its action to splash or break the flask on a creature.
But a rogue hurling "sling loaded" flasks of oil could really aid a firebolt-slinging ally or few, without sacrificing his own damage too badly (d4 is low, but it still carries sneak dice).
Any other thoughts on how to use these items?