4e Bolas

[Kalzazz]

What are the precise effects of bolas when thrown at arms or weapons? in game mechanics terms?

It says 'quick contest or you drop your weapon', but are there any additional effects?

[Bruno]

I've had a quick look through my PDFs and haven't found anything. I think anything else might have to be pretty situational - take a Wait action and then try to pin their hand to something if it gets close, sort of thing?

[seasong]

On an arm hit, the bolas (a) wrap around the ar,, and (b) cause the Quick Contest to not drop a weapon. So... they add to the target's encumbrance, but not much else. Aim for the legs.

[vierasmarius]

In cinematic games and films, a bola is typically used to wrap around the target's torso, pinning his arms to his sides. I suspect it's not so simple in real life. Do the game mechanics allow such a stunt using equipment+skills, or only by the Binding power?

[starslayer]

Case in question was that rather strong PC was using two rifles.

A bolas hit the extended rifle (causing ST check or drop which the PC passed with ease); I decided that the straight immobile rifles were much like legs (get one, get the other), and that the bolas effectively tied around both rifles.

I had the game effect of this be that one rifle was effectively useless, and the other one got a -2 to skill due to awkwardness.

Compared to lasso, and nets it almost seems as if bolas are missing a paragraph for what the effect of having one wrapped around you IS.