Dual weilding javelins?

[mcgeedis]

I have been looking at the ranger lately and when it came time to choose a weapon, the javelin just seems to make too much sense. Especially with quick draw.

Here is what I am thinking. The powers that allow either a ranged weapon or two weapons to be armed (forgive me, I don't have a PHB handy and don't have it memorized yet), dual wielding javelins fulfills this requirement for both melee and ranged, right?. I guess axes would too, but javelins have superior range, so I envision a ranger running around stabbing at things with his two javelins, and when he has to, he can chuck two javelin's at a target(s) if he has to.

Another question that I had: most of the ranger powers where you need to either have two weapons armed or a ranged weapon and you have the opportunity to have two attacks... the power descriptions state that you would use strength for the two melee attacks (one each hand), or use dexterity for two ranged attacks. My question is, do you still use the dexterity if you were throwing two javelins, or strength? Because thrown weapons are supposed to be strength base, right?

Thanks all.

 

[MarkB]

My question is, do you still use the dexterity if you were throwing two javelins, or strength? Because thrown weapons are supposed to be strength base, right?

That only applies to basic attacks. Actual powers override those rules - use whichever ability the power specifies.

 

[Majushi]

My question is, do you still use the dexterity if you were throwing two javelins, or strength? Because thrown weapons are supposed to be strength base, right?

Thanks all.

Javelins are "Heavy Thrown", which means you use your strength for them.

Daggers for instance are "Light Thrown", so you use your dex with them.

If however, a Ranger power is "Melee/Ranged" you would use Str when wielding the Javelins in melee and Dex when throwing them.

 

[Gort]

I had this same idea a few weeks back - I figured a dwarf ranger dual-wielding throwing axes would be an awesome character to play, but unfortunately the dex requirement of the ranged powers trumps the "heavy thrown" property of the weapons, so you'd have to have high dex and high strength, which is often unfeasible.

 

[Nifft]

I've been thinking of a "Skirmisher" fighting style that is exactly like the Two-Blade Style, except:
- You don't get to use any one-handed weapon in your off-hand, it has to be an off-hand weapon; and
- You can choose to apply either Strength or Dexterity to your Ranged or Melee attack powers which normally work with either a bow or two weapons.

The weapon damage dice would be smaller, but you'd have more flexibility in power use.

I'm not done crunching numbers though, so I can't say if it'd be balanced or not.

Cheers, -- N

 

[FredWulfram]

I had a 3.5 character, fighter-skirmisher with point blank shot and a mix of spears, javelins and buckler. It was a great class and point blank shot negated the penalty for slightly lower str and higher dex.

At low levels i was nasty, slaying orcs left right and centre whether they were next to me or across the room. At high levels , i became more balanced compared to the 'stand next to them and thump them' types.

If this character translates into 4th Ed i'd be well pleased.

 

[Syrsuro]

Javelins are "Heavy Thrown", which means you use your strength for them.

Daggers for instance are "Light Thrown", so you use your dex with them.

If however, a Ranger power is "Melee/Ranged" you would use Str when wielding the Javelins in melee and Dex when throwing them.

Not for powers. As MarkB already noted, it specifies that for powers you use whatever ability the power specifies, so if the power says Dexterity, you would use Dexterity - even if you are using a Heavy Thrown Weapon. You only use strength for heavy thrown weapons when making basic attacks.

Page 216, in the box: Strength or Dexterity"
"When you use a power, the power tells you whether you're making a Strength attack, a Dexterity attack, or an attack based on a different ability. When you make a basic attack, though, the ability you use depends on the weapon you are wielding."

On the other hand, as a DM I'd be willing to consider house-ruling that a character could go that route. But I'd add the caveat that if I this leads to some absurdity I will make whatever changes are necessary to fix the absurdity.

Carl

 

[Mr. Teapot]

I like the idea of an Eladrin Ranger wielding a longsword in one hand and javelins in the other. (Take Quick draw until you acquire a magic javelin, then note the rule about how thrown weapons automatically return to your hand. And obviously benefit from the Eladrin racial feat.)


As others stated, you use whatever stat the power says, regardless of what you would use for a basic attack with the weapon. For comparison, see how Rogue melee powers use daggers but are Dex based instead of Str. Or how Wizards of the Spiral Tower (and Swordmages) wield Longswords with Int based attacks.

 

[Nareau]

On the other hand, as a DM I'd be willing to consider house-ruling that a character could go that route. But I'd add the caveat that if I this leads to some absurdity I will make whatever changes are necessary to fix the absurdity.

Our DM has allowed this change, and it hasn't resulted in absurdity. I could see it being more of an issue for someone with a very low Dex and very high Strength, though.

Nareau

 

[TarionzCousin]

"Dual Wielding Javelins?"

You would look like a double-baton twirler at the front of the marching band.

At least, that's the image that popped into my mind's eye when I first read the title of this thread.