Weapons Description

Crossbow, winch

The winch crossbow fires a rope and pulley attached to a special crossbow bolt. The bolt is split down the head and center of the shaft, with the split head bending away from the shaft like a two-headed snake. A thin rope secured to each tip slows the bolt in flight (hence the reduced range increment). On a successful hit, the bolt snaps apart like a wishbone, taking the attached ropes past the target to wrap around and entangle it. if the target is a movable object of your size category or smaller, you can use the ropes to pull it toward you.
An entangled creature suffers a -2 penalty on attack rolls and a -4 penalty to Dexterity. It can move only at half speed and cannot charge or run. If you control the trailing rope by succeeding at an opposed Strength check while holding it, the entangled creature can move only within the limits that the rope allows. Casting a spell while entangled requires a successful Concentration check (DC 15).
The entangled creature can escape the ropes with an Escape Artist check (DC 20), which is a full-round action. The rope has 5 hit points and can be burst with a Strength check (DC 25, also a full-round action).
A winch crossbow's entangling effect is useful only against creatures between Tiny and Large size, inclusive. The subdual damage can affect any creature.
A winch crossbow requires two hands for effective use, regardless of the user's size. Loading a winch crossbow is a full-round action that provokes attacks of opportunity.
A Medium-size or larger creature can shoot, but not load, a winch crossbow with one hand at a -4 penalty. A Medium-size or larger character can shoot a winch crossbow with each hand but you take a penalty on attack rolls as if attacking with two one-handed weapons (see Two weapon fighting. This penalty is cumulative with one-handed fighting.

Preferred weapon of: No known deity.