Ranger w/ Twin Strike and Warhammers

[Reaper Steve]

This is one of those questions where the answer is already obvious per the RAW, but I feel compelled to ask it anyway.

Let's say I want to make a Dwarf Ranger who likes throwing warhammers or throwing axes. He takes Twin Attack.
Ordinarily, warhammers and throwing axes use Str vs. AC since they are heavy thrown weapons. But Twin Strike states Dex vs. AC. This carries over to every Ranger power involving ranged attacks.

It's clear to me that the rules were written assuming that the Ranger is an Archer Ranger using a bow. But the rules also acknowledge that rare archer rangers master the crossbow, sling, or a thrown weapon.

I wonder, were heavy thrown weapons not considered when those ranger powers were written? I think it would be cool to let a ranger using heavy throwns to continue to use Str vs. AC for the ranger powers even when making ranged attacks.

But then again, that would effectively create a hybrid archer/TWF ranger that only needs a high Str and no Dex.

 

[Gulgrim]

I believe that if they had not intended to include thrown weapons in the deal, they could have easily specified the type of weapons allowed for the attacks. See the rogue "light blade" restrictions for an example.

 

[Reaper Steve]

I'm sure that thrown weapons are included, but I just wonder if the fact that havey thrown weapons use Str for a basic ranged attack but use Dex for the ranger powers was noticed (and intended) in the design.

 

[Tale]

I'm sure that thrown weapons are included, but I just wonder if the fact that havey thrown weapons use Str for a basic ranged attack but use Dex for the ranger powers was noticed (and intended) in the design.

I presume they don't want Rangers using the same stat for both Archery and Melee. Thus, they only use Dex for ranged.

 

[PHGraves]

I'm sure that thrown weapons are included, but I just wonder if the fact that havey thrown weapons use Str for a basic ranged attack but use Dex for the ranger powers was noticed (and intended) in the design.

As intended as using Dex for the Rogue's melee attacks.

Yes, you use Dex when throwing hammers/axes/goblins for any of the Ranger exploits.

 

[ki11erDM]

This is an example of one of my little issues with 4e. WHICH specific rules over rides which specific rule? Does it say any were that specific power rule over rides a specific weapon rule? In this situation I would let the player decide if they want to use STR or DEX, just no reason to let the ambiguity of all that to get in the way of the players fun.

 

[Tale]

This is an example of one of my little issues with 4e. WHICH specific rules over rides which specific rule? Does it say any were that specific power rule over rides a specific weapon rule? In this situation I would let the player decide if they want to use STR or DEX, just no reason to let the ambiguity of all that to get in the way of the players fun.

There's no ambiguity here. The only specific rule being overriden is taht strength is used for basic ranged attacks. That's the entire thing. Ranger powers are not basic ranged attacks. There's no "specific weapon rule" here to override the rules of the powers.

 

[Belphanior]

This is an example of one of my little issues with 4e. WHICH specific rules over rides which specific rule? Does it say any were that specific power rule over rides a specific weapon rule? In this situation I would let the player decide if they want to use STR or DEX, just no reason to let the ambiguity of all that to get in the way of the players fun.

What ambiguity?

When you make a basic attack you use the Ranged Basic Attack power from page 287, which every character knows.
When you use a ranger exploit you use that instead.

Just pick one and do what it says. It's really, really simple. The 'heavy thrown' tag even explicitly states that you can only replace Dex with Str on BASIC ranged attacks. The specific weapon rule and the specific power rules don't overlap eachother in the slightest.

 

[Andor]

This is an example of one of my little issues with 4e. WHICH specific rules over rides which specific rule? Does it say any were that specific power rule over rides a specific weapon rule? In this situation I would let the player decide if they want to use STR or DEX, just no reason to let the ambiguity of all that to get in the way of the players fun.

Actually I would think it's pretty clear that the weapon stats are the general rule, and an individual power is more specific. Are you also to let a Paladin change all of his cha vs ac powers to str vs ac?

That having been said I would absolutely let a ranger change some of his ranged powers to str based if he was also willing to only have them work with thrown weapons.

 

[Jack the Red]

I'm having the same problem.

My group has a Dragonborn Ranger, he once choose to use twin strike to hit once melee (killing the target) and throw a javelin at another. Is that allowed by RAW?