A 5E PRIMER TO EXPLOSIVES

Mortars & Miniguns

Modern and Magical Weapons for Fifth Edition Games

A 5E Primer to
Explosives

One Dwarf Army Games

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 A 5E PRIMER TO EXPLOSIVES

WRITTEN BY GEORGIOS CHATZIPETROS

ONEDWARFARMY.COM
This e-book contains all the open game content from Zanes Guide to Explosives, a
sourcebook of modern and magical explosives for Fifth Edition Games. Get the
full guide for 20 magical explosives, new character options and, of course, Zanes
eccentric commentary.

About the Author

Zane Ironheart
Dwarf mercenary, explorer extraordinaire, lifetime adventurer. Zane became an exile from his
ancestral homeland at an early age, after he blew up half of his towns defensive fortifications
while experimenting with a new explosive mix, and he has never looked back ever since. He later
used a variation of the same recipe in the All-Planar Swig Banger, the most powerful cocktail in
the multiverse. A self-certified gun nut, Zane has shot half of the guns in the multiverse and been
on the receiving end of the other half. He is eager to share his wisdom and experience about life,
adventures and, above all, guns in his own particular idiom.

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 A 5E PRIMER TO EXPLOSIVES

Classic Explosives
You should first familiarize yourself with these basic Grenade launcher
explosives. No point in blowing yourself up with the I don't care how strong you are, there is just no way you
fancy stuff. can throw a grenade farther than this launcher here.
Sure it's an extra piece of equipment that you'll have to
Grenades carry around, but when you need the extra range you'll
No longer will area-of-effect be the spell-slingers' be glad it's there.
domain; these hand-sized wonders can turn anyone Weight: 6 lb.
with at least passable hand-eye coordination into a Value: 1500 gp
multi-kill machine. Pull the pin, throw, blow up stuff. In
that particular order. You can load a grenade in this launcher by using an
action. Once loaded, the launcher needs to be held
A grenade can be thrown up to 60 feet away by using with both hands and can be fired by using another
an action. action. It is capable of delivering a grenade up to 300
feet away.
Concussion grenade
Weight: 1 lb. Underbarrel grenade launcher
Value: 70 gp This mini-launcher is the answer to the ages-old
A concussion grenade does 4d6 bludgeoning damage dilemma of having to choose between carrying your
in a 10-foot radius. Creatures inside the area of effect rifle or a grenade launcher. Simply attach this under
take half damage with a successful DC 13 Dexterity your favourite large firearm and you get the best of
saving throw. both worlds.

Frag grenade Weight: 3lb.

Value: 1300 gp
Weight: 1lb.
Value: 70 gp This launcher is not a stand-alone weapon and must
A frag grenade does 4d6 piercing damage in a 20-foot be attached under the barrel of a two-handed firearm
radius. Creatures inside the area of effect take half before it can be used. You can attach or detach the
damage with a successful DC 13 Dexterity saving launcher from a suitable weapon by using an action.
throw. The launcher can be loaded with a grenade by using
an action. A loaded launcher can be fired at any point
Smoke grenade
you can see within 200 feet by using another action.
Weight: 1lb.
Value: 30 gp
Rockets
A smoke grenade releases a cloud of thick smoke one
Grenades are practical and easy to use, but nothing
round after it lands, which heavily obscures a 20-foot
beats the explosive power and blast radius of a rocket!
radius. The cloud lasts for 30 minutes or until a wind
They are horrendously expensive and require a
of moderate or greater speed (at least 10 miles per
separate launcher, so save them for when you truly
hour) disperses it.
need them.
Stun grenade A rocket must be fired from a rocket launcher.
Weight: 1 lb.
Value: 50 gp Armor-piercing rocket
Weight: 2 lb.
A stun grenade affects a 20-foot radius. Each creature
Value: 200 gp
in the area of effect must make a DC 13 Constitution
saving throw and is stunned for 1d6 rounds on a An armor-piercing rocket does 4d12 bludgeoning
failed save. damage in a 5-foot radius. Creatures in the affected

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 A 5E PRIMER TO EXPLOSIVES

area take half damage with a successful DC 13 Rocket launcher

Dexterity saving throw. It's large, it's heavy, it's pricey but it shoots rockets. No
serious adventuring party should be without one. Give
High explosive this to the biggest badass in your team and make sure
Weight: 2 lb.
you protect him long enough to set up and fire.
Value: 150 gp
Weight: 30 lb.
A high explosive rocket does 4d8 bludgeoning
Value: 3000 gp
damage in a 30-foot radius. Creatures in the affected
area take half damage with a successful DC 13 A rocket launcher can be loaded with a rocket by
Dexterity saving throw. using an action. A loaded launcher has to be held with
both hands and cannot be handled by Small or
Incendiary smaller creatures. It may be fired at any point you can
Weight: 2 lb. see up to 600 feet away by using another action.
Value: 150 gp
A team of two people working together can load and
An incendiary rocket does 2d8 fire damage in a 30-
fire a rocket launcher in a single round: the loader
foot radius. Each creature in the area of effect must
uses his action to load the rocket in the launcher,
make a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save,
while the designated gunner aims and fires the
the creature is ignited and takes 1d6 fire damage at
launcher after it is ready.
the start of each of its turns. An ignited creature can
use an action to make a new saving throw in order to
put out the flames.

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 A 5E PRIMER TO EXPLOSIVES

The Exotic Stuff

When you have a problem that requires some have disadvantage on attack rolls, Dexterity checks
additional persuasion, check out these items. They and saving throws, and their AC is reduced by 2.
may be expensive, but theyll get the job done.
Predator
Bad Medicine Imagine a magnificent eagle soaring in the sky,
Why stop at blowing up your enemies when you can swooping down to slash at your foes with sharp talons.
also steal their life force and use it to heal your Now replace said talons with machine guns and add a
buddies? Or even yourself - nothing wrong with a little rocket engine and you've got the Predator: a self-
selfishness from time to time. guided rocket drone that patrols an area and engages
hostiles before diving down for an explosive finale.
Grenade, rare
Value: 1,050 gp Rocket, very rare
Value: 15,000 gp
The Bad Medicine does 7d6 necrotic damage in a 20-
foot radius. Creatures in this area take half damage After it is launched, the Predator goes straight up to a
with a successful DC 15 Constitution saving throw; height of 50 feet and enters hunter mode. In this
undead and constructs are immune to the grenade's mode, the Predator is considered a creature with the
damage. Additionally, the grenade heals 4d6 lost hit following statistics:
points on friendly creatures within 50 feet equal to
Small construct, unaligned
the number of creatures that failed their saves.
Armor Class 16 (natural armor)
The Duke Hit Points 52 (8d6+24)
Speed fly 120 ft.
If you ever find yourself against an invading army,
STR 12(+1) DEX 16(+3) CON 16(+3) INT 3(-4) WIS
always bet on The Duke to save the day! This rocket 10 (+0) CHA 1(-5)
does a ton of damage in a ridiculously large blast Damage immunities poison, psychic
radius. Major Kong would approve. Yeehaw! Condition immunities charmed, exhaustion,
frightened, paralysed, petrified, poisoned
Rocket, legendary Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 10
Value: 45,000 gp
Special traits
The Duke does 15d8 radiant damage in a 200-foot Exploder: When destroyed, the Predator
radius. Creatures in the area of effect take half detonates in a 30-foot radius doing 8d8
damage with a successful DC 17 Dexterity saving bludgeoning damage. Creatures in this area
throw. take half damage with a successful DC15
Dexterity saving throw.
Frosty Welcome
Actions
Invading orcs? Trespassing ogres? Illegal gnome Multiattack: The Predator makes two
labourers? Show them they're not welcome with this ranged attacks.
freezing grenade. It will be received very coldly. Burst fire: Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit,
range 200/800, one target. Hit: 13 (3d6+3)
Rocket, uncommon piercing damage.
Value: 750 gp Self-destruct: The Predator explodes, doing
The Frosty Welcome does 4d6 cold damage in a 20- damage as detailed in its Exploder special
foot radius. Creatures in this area take half damage trait above.
with a successful DC 14 Dexterity saving throw. Those The Predator has an Initiative score equal to your
failing their save must also make a DC 14 Constitution own. Its fuel reserves allow it to fly and attack
saving throw to avoid being slowed for 1d6 rounds. enemies under your command for 20 rounds, falling
Slowed creatures move at half their normal speed, to the ground and detonating afterwards.

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 A 5E PRIMER TO EXPLOSIVES

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Content that you Use. No terms may be added to or subtracted from this System Reference Document 5.0 Copyright 2016, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.;
License except as described by the License itself. No other terms or Authors Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Chris Perkins, Rodney Thompson,
conditions may be applied to any Open Game Content distributed using this Peter Lee, James Wyatt, Robert J. Schwalb, Bruce R. Cordell, Chris Sims, and
License. Steve Townshend, based on original material by E. Gary Gygax and Dave
Arneson.
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