Can an axe be a good ranged weapon?

[333 Dave]

IIRC throwing axes get screwed. Use light hammers instead.

 

[Ave Rage]

IIRC throwing axes get screwed. Use light hammers instead.

1. how so

2. I'd think a hammer would be less effective than an axe. It being sharp and all.

3. Even if its not 'uber' i'm going to play the character, not the stats :/

 

[KB9JMQ]

Interesting Concept.
I think an axe would be just fine as a ranged weapon and I might even make the range increments a little larger.
Ever see those lumberjack games on ESPN2? You know with the finesse some of those guys have with axes they could toss them with accuracy quite a ways.

Just my 2 coins.

 

[Ave Rage]

Interesting Concept.
I think an axe would be just fine as a ranged weapon and I might even make the range increments a little larger.
Ever see those lumberjack games on ESPN2? You know with the finesse some of those guys have with axes they could toss them with accuracy quite a ways.

Just my 2 coins.

This was part of it. Also, In Diablo2, you were able to use throwing axes (small ones) but they sucked over all (even with double throw) and I thought it would travel better in the D&D setting.

I figure his attacking style (while in/near a forest)
a. Jump into tree, get to safe distance
b.throw main axe (i'd figure he'd have 2 big axes)
c.throw little axes
d. toss spells (bard spells, so weak. Maybe true strike for the dramatic effect of...)
e. jump down w/ axe and begin melee(w/ true strike so I hit em' on the way down).

I might even have him cast a light spell or something 'flashy' just for the effect. I'll have to see how this works in actual combat. If he's in a dungeon no dice. If there are archers, no dice too. Of course, him 'running up a tree' may not be the best thing for morale or to save face... he is a 'hero' after all.

Only downside I see is the fact that he'll donate all his gold to charity ('cept a few to get an inn and such)

 

[333 Dave]

Check out the range incriment (note, erretta might have fixed this, but according to the book) : Throwing axe 10ft, Light Hammer 20ft. Why a blunt hammer not designed for throwing can be thrown farther than an aerodynamicly sound axe designed specificly to be thrown is beyond me, but since the entries are ontop of one another it might just be a misteak. I also don't get why hammers can be thrown farther than daggers or shuriken for that matter. I guess John Tweet really liked the Hammer Brothers from Super Mario...

 

[Critter]

lumberjack /ax flinging

A lumberjack would be a "wood cutter" and would have a vested interest in conservation. The forest is his livleyhood. no way would he/she be an indiscriminate slayer of trees; probably get along fine with rangers.

as for axes: the lumberjacks double bitted felling ax throws like a dream in the real world as does the tomahawk. Recreation francesca and Saxon war axes also throw very well. we throw at a range of 50' in the real world competitions (Ranger/ Mountainman) but you can throw a whole lot farther with practice (i.e. proficiancy and specialization).

Your character idea sounds like fun. Try it and let me know how it works out.


Critter Out.

 

[Wormwood]

Rent The Vikings. There's a great scene where Vikings are charging a drawbridge on it's way up, so they hurl throwing axes at it forming an impromptu ladder!

Great scene, very cinematic.

 

[Ave Rage]

Check out the range incriment (note, erretta might have fixed this, but according to the book) : Throwing axe 10ft, Light Hammer 20ft. Why a blunt hammer not designed for throwing can be thrown farther than an aerodynamicly sound axe designed specificly to be thrown is beyond me, but since the entries are ontop of one another it might just be a misteak. I also don't get why hammers can be thrown farther than daggers or shuriken for that matter. I guess John Tweet really liked the Hammer Brothers from Super Mario...

Yeah, I guess the DM could just 'rule zero' some things. I mean, it's not like me throwing an axe 20 ft will end up throwing the whole system off.

Also, after re-reading the bardic spells i noticed they do -not- have true strike They do have "light" which'll make the axe look awsome.

Also, I want my skills in 'perform' to be in Dance but many bardic abilities say "sing" or "poetry". Would I still be able to dance and make use of such skills? Like inspire greatness, I want the character to dance (alah zorro) but him jumping up and down onthe field would be different then singing a song about how the hero's will live forever yadda yadda.

 

[Ave Rage]

Hmm. I'll probably have to go with the Fighter Class just to get the needed feats : /

He'll still dance, just not in battle.

 

[Jeremy Ackerman-Yost]

I know you've already got classes in mind, but it seems to me that a couple levels of Ranger or barbarian would help. Wilderness Lore as a class skill would fit the character concept. And additional hardiness would help with the whole lumberjack routine. Personally, I think 2 handaxe fighting (weapon finessed) would be a good idea since you're upping dex over strength. And if you want to switch weapons in melee you could always throw the lighter axes (precise shot?) and then go to town two-handed with a larger one.