are all characters proficient in all thrown weapons? [2003 Thread]

[Particle_Man]

Do thrown weapons require any proficiency in that weapon? On p. 158 of the 3.5 PHB (in the section marked Thrown Splash Weapons) I read "Thrown weapons require no weapon proficiency, so you don't take the -4 nonproficiency penalty". I know that meelee weapons not designed to be thrown take a -4 nonproficiency penalty (3.5 PHB p.113), but what about thrown weapons that are designed to be thrown? Was the quoted sentence meant to apply only to thrown splash weapons, or to all weapons that are designed to be thrown?

 

[TheAntiSummit]

I don't have the 3.5 PHB but I have to assume thats a mistake. Because consider the example of the shuriken, an exotic weapon which you should have to take a feat to use. Under that ruling everyone would be able to use it and there would be no point in making it an exotic weapon. The same goes for halfling skiprocks or any exotic thrown weapons.

 

[Tellerve]

It is meant to mean for splash weapons such as acid, alchemist's fire etc. It obviously doesn't mean bolas and sai and such or martial thrown weapons.

Tellerve

 

[James McMurray]

I aggree with Tellerve. Its placement under the Splash Weapons sections seems to clearly indicate that it is intended for those types of weapons only.

 

[howandwhy99]

I just spotted this while reading. It looks misleading, but even if the sentence quoted only refers to thrown "splash" weapons, isn't that a little strange when everything else thrown requires a -4 or proficiency to hit?

I suppose this is an easy fix by allowing all characters proficiency in rock-like, vial-like, or flask-like objects. But it still makes me wonder when things like club or spear require training.

Are there any ideas for understanding this?

 

[irishfast]

yes, there is a reason. it's game balance. don't forget that this is a fantasy setting; not everything is going to have a real-life component.

 

[Piratecat]

I think this is a case where throwing burning oil is just cool, and it's fun to encourage cool maneuvers.

 

[domino]

I don't think it's really that important to worry about. You only need to hit an AC of 10 to get it where you want it, right?

 

[Particle_Man]

Holy Necromancy, Batman! I can't believe a thread I started 3 years ago has resurfaced.

 

[howandwhy99]

I don't think it's really that important to worry about. You only need to hit an AC of 10 to get it where you want it, right?

Ahh... Thank you. That makes sense. So it's a lot easier to make solely ranged touch attacks against creatures or even static objects. Learning how to attack with a thrown weapon to deal normal damage would take practice. Splash weapons would be like water balloons - all they need to do is hit. I do appreciate it.

Sorry about the threadnomancy. I didn't want to start a new thread with a topic that came up once before.