TOPIC: Pilum of Lightning

OK, I've a question about the pilum.  It says, "Adds 2 pts shock damage to all foes (One use)."  Does the one use refer to the shock effect or to the use of the weapon (like an arrow, bolt, or bullet)?  And if it refers to the shock effect, does that mean once ever or once per combat?<br /><br />I might be reading too much into the text, but I want to make sure I understand how this weapon works before I start sending tokens in for trade tokens.

I have a question about the token too.  I'm assuming it is a one use item.  Does it do the 2 points of shock damage to all opponents only if you hit the enemy, or regardless of whether your slide hits the enemy? 

Woo hoo!  One of the big dogs had a question similar to mine!  It makes me happy I raised my hand to ask teacher. 

I am too confused (but no sunrise). Is it a spear and therefore meant to be thrown?

<br />Woo hoo!  One of the big dogs had a question similar to mine!  It makes me happy I raised my hand to ask teacher.   <br />

<br /><br />Jeff & Dave are the Big Dogs, I'm just one of the people that have been around longer than most.  I guess that makes me an Old Dog  =)

<br />I am too confused (but no sunrise). Is it a spear and therefore meant to be thrown? <br />

<br /><br />I think it can be used either as a thrown or as a melee weapon, as these were the traditional methods of combat for which pila were used in the Roman empire.

The pilum was designed to be used once.  In the traditional sense the end of the pilum would break off when imbedded in a foe rendering the rest of the weapon essentially a staff.  In the case of this token it truly is a one time "successful" use.  So you can continue to use it until you make a successful strike, the weapon is then turned in.  My read on the token was that the additonal shock damage would be to every monster in the room, not just the one who had been physically hit, kind of like a chained lighting spell.<br /><br />Here is the draft text from the guide:<br /><br />Pilum of Lightning: This weapon will cause an additional two (+2) points of damage from electrical shock above the physical damage shown on the damage indicator to any monster in the room, in addition to the one that was physically hit.  The point of a pilum is designed to break off upon impact, however, remaining in a foe.  This will render the weapon useless after one successful attack.

Thanks, Dave!  <br /><br />How about this for revised wording?<br /><br />Pilum of Lightning:  After a successful attack, this weapon will do an additional two (+2) points of damage from electrical shock to all monsters in the room, in addition to the the physical damage shown on the damage indicator to the monster that was physically hit.  The point of a pilum is designed to break off upon impact, however, remaining in a foe.  This will render the weapon useless after one successful attack, when it should be turned in to the DM.  <br />

Thank you for clearing that up.  I can see this being useful in certain circumstances (e.g. last year's stirge room, although missing the stirge and hitting a party member would still use up the weapon and probably zap the whole party).  For those of you who did True Grind, would the multizap have been useful?  Right now I'm still leaning toward pounding these into Aragonite.

<br />Thank you for clearing that up.  I can see this being useful in certain circumstances (e.g. last year's stirge room, although missing the stirge and hitting a party member would still use up the weapon and probably zap the whole party).  For those of you who did True Grind, would the multizap have been useful?  Right now I'm still leaning toward pounding these into Aragonite.<br />

<br />For True Grind at True Realm, there were many monsters but they came at you one at a time, only the final battle did you have to deal with multiple foes.

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<br />Thank you for clearing that up.  I can see this being useful in certain circumstances (e.g. last year's stirge room, although missing the stirge and hitting a party member would still use up the weapon and probably zap the whole party).  For those of you who did True Grind, would the multizap have been useful?  Right now I'm still leaning toward pounding these into Aragonite.<br />

<br />For True Grind at True Realm, there were many monsters but they came at you one at a time, only the final battle did you have to deal with multiple foes.<br />

<br /><br />uh, how about those stirges?  if i understand correctly, one person hitting a stirge with the pilum will hit them all.

That would have worked.