D&D 5E Looking for homebrew bolas or boomerang...

[Shardstone]

In my book SCAVENGER, I added both bladed boomerangs and bolas.

When you throw a bola, it deals 1d4 + str bludgeoning damage and grapple/restrain the target if it is Medium or smaller. Escape DC = attack throw. Can also just cut the bola. So far, having ran 5 playtest campaigns in this world and a lot of one-shots, this hasn't caused any issues.

Bladed boomerang returns to you at the end of your turn, deals 1d10 slashing damage. Can only make one attack with it, so I'm not super happy with this one. Will probably change it soon.

I think the bolas are ready for use though, so hopefully you find these helpful. Range is 15/30 btw. They're basically just good nets.

 

[Bayushi_seikuro]

For boomerangs, I don't know how complicated they need to be, mechanicswise - either club damage or dagger damage, that basically Returns. I do like the option of forgoing the Returning ability to hit another target.

For bolas, I might consider it as an attack that you roll to hit, they get a Dex save to avoid, and if they fail, they are Grappled until they take an action to undo the bola.

In my frozen post-apocalyptic game, the party fought a miniboss who was a demon-worshipping wood elf barbarian with a hound. The wood elf had a special attack where he used a bear trap attached to a 10' chain. If he hit, he'd do damage and basically grapple you, keeping you within melee range of him where... being a barbarian, it got ugly quick.

 

[aco175]

What makes you consider it as overly powerful?

Any time you can hit more targets, you are getting what are basically more attacks. This makes the weapon more desirable for PCs to get and when you create something that everyone wants, I think it is overpowered. Even though it only deal 1d4 damage, then you get to add STR or DEX to damage and now you kill 3-4 kobolds each round. At some point you have Captain America's shield and not a boomerang.

 

[MatthewJHanson]

For what it's worth I stated up bolas in a mini-book I wrote called Rope and Chain.

They are as follows:
Bola 2 gp 1d4 bludgeoning 2 lb. Finesse, special, thrown (range 20/60)

A Large or smaller creature hit by a bola is restrained until it escapes. A creature can use its action to make a Dexterity (Acrobatics) or Strength (Athletics) check, freeing itself or another creature within its reach on a success. The DC equals 8 plus the attacker’s Strength or Dexterity modifier plus their proficiency bonus. Dealing 5 slashing damage to the bola (AC 10) also frees the creature without harming it, ending the effect and destroying the bola.

 

[Ancalagon]

a boomerang is simply a thrown club - I am sure that in at least one edition, clubs were throwable.

 

[Azzy]

Anyone got homebrew stats for bolas or boomerang?

There are stats for boomerangs on D&D Beyond:

Boomerang
Weapon, common
Attack Type: Ranged
Range: 60ft./120ft.
Damage: 1d4 Bludgeoning
Weight: --
Cost: --
Properties: Range

The boomerang is a ranged weapon, and any creature proficient with the javelin is also proficient with this weapon.

On a miss, a boomerang returns to the thrower's hand.