Do alchemical weapons count as ammunition?

Question

This amazing answer has inspired me to ask a very multi-faceted question. I considered breaking it up into multiple questions, but then I realized each question was really just a part of a big question, and asking them individually might not give the comprehensive answer they deserve. Without further ado...

Can thrown and single-use projectile alchemical weapons be enchanted as though they were ammunition? And if so, how does that work? Many (maybe most) of those items do splash damage... Does a +1 flaming alchemist's fire do the bonus 1d6 to every target struck, or only the direct target? For that matter, what about the extra damage from the +1?

What about "single-use projectile" alchemical weapons that hit multiple times before their single use is spent, like some of the fireworks that damage a line, a spread, or a target once per round for X rounds? What about "single-use melee" alchemical weapons like the liquid blade? Can we enchant a stack of fifty liquid blades for the cost of one magic item?

What about non-damaging ranged alchemical items? They're still listed in the alchemical weapons table. Should flash powder and tanglefoot bags be made corrosive? Would the tanglefoot bag then do its acid per round the target remains entangled, or only on impact?

I realize the most common use for enchanting alchemical weapons will be to enchant some sort of launcher and let it bestow the benefits, instead of directly enchanting the alchemical weapons, but the answers to all these facets of the core question matter quite a bit to the end result.

I'm primarily interested in Pathfinder answers, but as Pathfinder is 3.5-compatible, those rules sources are good too. "Rules-as-written" are best, but I imagine you won't find much; official FAQs and errata and developer comments are excellent; anything is helpful. One special note: actual play experience with/as a player who used enchanted alchemical weapons would be very informative. Thanks in advance, everyone.

Answer 1

This post assumes Pathfinder rules. It also makes some (hopefully) logical assumptions.

This forum post seems to indicate by RAW that it is possible. These threads also argue this point.

As far as RAW is concerned, it is possible to make an alchemical weapon masterwork, and therefore enchant it. Where RAW is less clear (if it states at all, really) is what effect that has. What we're left with now is trying to infer how they would work based on other examples in the system.

Take the Alchemist's bombs for example. They are splash weapons that can be enhanced for better damage (+INT to damage, splash is minimum damage). How exactly this happens in universe is up to the GM, and probably whatever James Jacobs has in his head. But we can assume that they are being enhanced in some magical way, as the alchemist is a magical class:

Rather than cast magic like a spellcaster, the alchemist captures his own magic potential within liquids and extracts he creates, infusing his chemicals with virulent power to grant him impressive skill with poisons, explosives, and all manner of self-transformative magic.

So, from that we could infer that enhancing a splash weapon magically would indeed increase its splash damage.

The non-damaging items aren't as bad to work though, actually. Pathfinder by default has a few non-damaging weapons (the lasso and the net), and by RAW, these are totally enchantable. They can also deal damage via magical weapon effects, as the flaming ability states "on a successful hit". As these weapons require touch attacks to strike, they are valid for dealing damage.

What's more tricky is the enhancement bonus. By RAW, the enhancement bonus from a magical weapon applies to attack and damage rolls. However, the net deals no damage. It has no entry in its damage column in the rulebook, and you don't add STR or other bonuses to damage, as it traditionally does not deal damage.

So, in summary: alchemical weapons CAN be made masterwork and magical, splash weapons should get magical damage to both direct and splash, and non-damaging alchemical weapons get on-hit effects, but not enhancement damage (weird by RAW).

Of course, all of this is subject to GM as usual, but more so in this case as this is a very grey area of RAW.

Answer 2

Note: All my sources are DnD 3.5e, as I have never played Pathfinder. Also, remember that the primary reason that these RPG's exist is to have fun. If someone here comes up with the perfect answer, great. However, even if no-one does, use the method that will provide the most enjoyment for your players, and yourself.

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I think the first thing you would have to do is classify the particular item. I will use for an example, Alchemist's fire.

You could or could not classify Alch. Fire as "ammunition", though nowhere in any book I have read have I seen it referred to as such. On the other hand, the following links would indicate that they qualify, at least in a general sense.

dictionary.reference.com/browse/ammunition
www.thefreedictionary.com/ammunition

Personally, I would never classify any of the alchemical items from PHB 128 or A&E Guide 32 as "weapons", but opinions will differ on this.

Third, you could classify as just an "item", which coincides the best with their category in both aforementioned tables. However, the method in dealing with this, at least in my experience is the most complicated.

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The rules for "ammunition" and "weapons" are in the Dungeon Master's Guide 221 - 226

The rules for "items", which would become "wondrous items" after being enchanted are in the Dungeon Master's Guide, pages 284 - 288.

I would imagine that the pathfinder books also have sections for creating Magic Weapons/Wondrous Items. If anyone has additional info, which I realise I am lacking in somewhat, please add a comment or edit.