Carrying Crossbows loaded?

[theoremtank]

Do you allow your PC's to carry their crossbows loaded while adventuring outside of combat?

What they are trying to do is avoid the move-equivalent action to load it before firing (thus buying themselves an additional action in the first round) in case an encounter happens. Also, they would get to shoot the crossbow in the surprise round if it were loaded.

Is there an official rule that governs how this should be handled?

Thank you

 

[Wippit Guud]

Outside of adventuring? Such as riding across terrain or something? I disallow it, it would ruin the crossbow if left loaded a long period of time.

However, if they don't take the hint, have them hit a bump and it goes off accidentally, hitting a friend

 

[Kershek]

Realistically, it's not good for a crossbow to keep it cocked and loaded.

For a fantasy game, it should be just fine. Just keep in mind they need to keep the crossbow horizontal and keep their hands away from the trigger bar. Unless it's a different crossbow than the normal western Europe variety, they can't set the crossbow on the ground without the trigger bar firing.

 

[kreynolds]

Do you allow your PC's to carry their crossbows loaded while adventuring outside of combat?

Sure, but unless they carry it upright at all times, there's a really good chance that the bolt might fall out. In S&S, you can find the Covered Hand Crossbow. It is the only crossbow in D&D that mentions bolts falling out when normal crossbows are not held in the proper position. It is specifically the only crossbow that can be fired from any position without the bolt falling out.

So in my games, unless they have a covered hand crossbow, that bolt is no doubt falling out.

Is there an official rule that governs how this should be handled?

I'm not aware of anything specific. However, with the addition of the covered hand crossbow, its apparent that it can do something that the other crossbows cannot.

 

[mikebr99]

Re: Re: Carrying Crossbows loaded?

Sure<snip>

What kr said... if that is the weapon in their hands... let then walk around or ride around with it ready to fire.

Mike

 

[Zad]

Sure, but unless they carry it upright at all times, there's a really good chance that the bolt might fall out.

It's not an unusual thing for a crossbow to have a metal clip reaching over the firing mechanism that holds the bolt in place, so holding it totally upright is not completely necessary.

If they're riding along with no indication of trouble, I'd go with the others and say "no".

If they're crawling through a dungeon waiting for trouble around the next corner, then sure.

I think the key here is that it's a fantasy game, and getting bogged down on small details (what Wulf called "torch lighting" issues) is just not a lot of fun for anyone.

 

[Li Shenron]

Do you allow your PC's to carry their crossbows loaded while adventuring outside of combat?

Yes, as long as they carry it with 2 hands*, I make no problem out of it. Quite typical they are moving with caution when entering my dungeons, and everyone else has basically his weapon ready; I don't think it's too much an advantage for the crossbowman, he skips loading only in the first round.

When they are outside exploration, they usually don't even have the weapons in hands, such when they are travelling or strolling in town streets.

There is no rule on this on the PHB, the covered xbow from S&S suggests you can't keep a normal crossbow loaded without the chance of losing the bolt (or worse, shot it inadvertently), but if you don't own S&S...

*you can add details on the case, considering that a character of appropriate size can shoot a light/heavy xbow with one hand, you may decide they can also carry it loaded without problems, at least until they do something else than just walking...

 

[Li Shenron]

BTW, I just thought that IN COMBAT there's no rule which prevents you to load a crossbow, and not shooting until some rounds later.

A DM may rule that since nothing says you can't keep it loaded while you are fighting, it would be even easier to keep it loaded while you do something that requires less moving, dodging and maybe even tumbling

 

[kreynolds]

It's not an unusual thing for a crossbow to have a metal clip reaching over the firing mechanism that holds the bolt in place, so holding it totally upright is not completely necessary.

No, its not unusual. Unfortunately, core crossbows do not have such a clip. It took a supplement to come out to change that.

I think the key here is that it's a fantasy game, and getting bogged down on small details (what Wulf called "torch lighting" issues) is just not a lot of fun for anyone.

What you call "small details", I call rules. Light crossbows don't hold their bolts. Covered hand crossbows do. However, you need more money and an Exotic Weapon Proficiency feat to best use one. So, obviously, there is a huge rules difference between the two. That's no "small detail".

 

[Henry]

There's another "common sense" reason that crossbows do not stay loaded at all times, that people forget about: Tension.

A bow-weapon needs tension to hurl the bolt with enough force to do damage. I don't know the specifics of modern crossbows, but I do know that fantasy-style crossbows made of oak, sinew, metal, etc. would lose their tension fairly quickly (matter of a day or two) if they were loaded at all times.

If you want to encourage it, do nothing to the rules.

If you want to discourage it, institute a rule that every hour it stays cocked and loaded, the crossbow gets a -1 to hit and damage, until it is repaired. This represents the lesser force that the warped wood/sinew/steel of the crossbow gives you. The time interval can be adjusted to suit your game.