BOLA


 
- Price Weight (#) Rate of fire S M L S-M L 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
Bola * 3 gp 2.5 1 2" 4" 6" 2-5 2-5 +2 +1 +2 +1 0 0 +1 0 +1

* This weapon will entangle and fell an opponent unless the victim successfully saves vs. breath weapon.


 

BOLA: The bola consists of two or three weighted and spiked
balls connected by a light barbed chain. The bola is thrown at
an opponent’s legs in such a manner that the victim (if the
weapon hits) must save vs. breath weapon or be tangled by the
barbed cords and felled. Entanglement lasts for 1 round,
during which (while untangling himself) the victim will be incapable
of defense, and persons attacking the toppled creature
will receive +2 “to hit.” The bola will, of course, only topple
bipedal creatures with man-sized or smaller legs set relatively
close to one another. At the DM’s option, the bola may be
allowed to fell quadrupedal creatures whose leg movement
brings two legs close enough together in such a way that the
bola can entangle both at once. The bola was historically used
to hunt ostriches, and in adapting it for use as a weapon against
other men, it became necessary to for the wielder to wear a
glove of some type to protect the throwing hand from the
barbed chain, (Boiled leather is ample protection for this
purpose.)

by Randy Bowman
 
New Weapons Equipment Dragon #61 Dragon magazine