Crowbar
Item Details
Weight: 5 lb.
Cost: 2 GP
Category: Tool
Special: Advantage on Strength checks where leverage applies
Description
A crowbar is a heavy iron rod with one end flattened and curved into a wedge shape. This versatile tool provides mechanical advantage through leverage, making it indispensable for prying, breaking, and forcing entry into secured areas.
Usage
Using a Crowbar gives you Advantage on Strength checks where the Crowbar's leverage can be applied.
Common Applications
Breaking and Entering
- Doors: Prying open locked or barred doors
- Windows: Breaking window frames or shutters
- Containers: Opening locked chests, crates, or boxes
- Hatches: Forcing open trap doors or cellar entrances
Demolition
- Wall Sections: Breaking through thin walls
- Floorboards: Prying up planks to access spaces below
- Stone Blocks: Shifting or dislodging masonry
- Metal Barriers: Bending bars or gates
Utility Functions
- Digging: Can serve as an improvised pick for hard soil
- Anchor Point: Heavy enough to secure ropes
- Weapon: Improvised club in desperate situations
- Measuring: Exactly 2 feet long for rough measurements
Mechanical Advantage
The crowbar's design multiplies the force you can apply:
- Leverage Ratio: Approximately 4:1 force multiplication
- Fulcrum Positioning: Closer fulcrum increases force
- Material Strength: Iron construction resists bending
- Grip Design: Textured surface prevents slipping
Limitations
- Noise: Prying creates loud sounds that may alert enemies
- Time: Some applications require several minutes
- Space: Requires room to maneuver the full length
- Material Limits: Cannot break enchanted or extremely strong materials
Stealth Considerations
While effective, crowbars are not subtle tools:
- Sound carries: Breaking wood or metal is loud
- Evidence: Leaves obvious signs of forced entry
- Time pressure: Rushed work reduces effectiveness
- Alternative methods: Sometimes lockpicks are more appropriate