Screaming Flask Fun
So, it's a one use item, therefore it's ammunition. So to make 50 masterwork screaming flasks is 2,300 gp. Now we add +1 EB, which is useless, but requires by the rules. Then we add flying (+1 bonus), so they are now move 30' animated objects that follow your commands like a skeleton would. Just to be able to carry this around we add hideaway (2,000 gp) which makes the ammunition 2 size classes smaller then me.
Total cost: 12,300 gp
Now you have 50 flying Screaming flasks you can deploy to full size as a swift action. Or keep them shrunk, because nothing about hideaway states that it prevents the weapon from operating in it's shrunken state. Energy damage is not size dependant.
The 15' cone of 1d8 sonic damage (No save on the damage, but fort DC 15 save to negate being deaf.) is going to ruin someone's day, unless you have 8 points of sonic energy resistance. Because without resistance, you could be sucking 50d8 sonic.
Personally, I'd state that the flasks, being animated objects, cannot occupy more then 1 to a square. They need the flying room or they'll crash into one another. Unfortunately with the hideaway, you could justify having all fifty in the same square, but I'd disallow that on principle. It's more a game balance thing then a rules thing.
If a flask catches another flask in the cone, I would rule it destroys the other flask, so you have to be careful about over lapping field's of fire. That would stop it from getting out of hand, but you could still drop them behind you as you flee an enemy. Paint little smiles on the flasks and the words, "Have a nice day."
There are other things you can use. floating flasks of aboleth mucus comes to mind, but they have to make to hit rolls, and animated objects are not well known for high BABs, you know? You'd be better sticking with area effect and splash damage flasks.
I'm seeing these things used in mass combat, like something out of the Great War of Eberron's setting. A solder opens up a crate of Buzz Flasks and orders them to spread out and attack the enemy. They advance in a line, popping off when someone approaches within 15 feet.
