Looking for a Feat

[kevin_video]

I know I've seen it in d20 Modern (not that I remember the name of it), but is there a feat that allows you to use ranged weapons within close combat, without provoking an AoO? Arrow Mind works wonders if you can cast spells, and are using a bow, because not only can you fire close range, you threaten all of the hexes around you. However, if you're not using a bow, and you can't use spells, you're kind of in trouble. Just saves you from having to always take that five foot step (especially if you're surrounded), or shooting over (or around) someone trying to get that last shot in when your buddy's about to be coup de graced.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

No. There are easily obtainable prestige class features from Order of the Bow Initiate and Exotic Weapon Master (would need an exotic bow like a great bow) to do so.

There are a bunch more prestige class features I can't recall at the moment specifically for thrown weapons not provoking.

There's a feat in Races of the Wild that's sort of like the "Mobility of ranged attacks." Which can be sort of helpful, but not much. It's usually easier to just be a ranger and use arrow mind or make sure you can 5 ft step out of the foe's reach.

 

[kevin_video]

The player (that's a Fighter) found a boomerang, and since he'll be leveling up soon (4th), he'll be taking the Exotic Weapon proficiency for it. The problem is that it's not a bow, so therefore Arrow Mind doesn't work. Exotic Weapon Master can't be obtained until 7th lvl, but I did see the special ability that they have.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

I wish I could remember more prestige classes...there's tons out there iirc that let you throw in melee without provoking. If you're the DM, you could just make it a feat. Thrown weapons are already oddly straddling the melee/ranged classification already, and don't tend to be that overpowered.

I do remember that Master Thrower had a thrown weapon trick to make a concentration check to avoid AoOs for throwing in melee, if that's available any sooner than EWM.
The Bloodstorm Blade prestige class from Tome of Battle almost certainly gets abilities to throw just fine in melee. But I doubt your player already happens to have Iron Heart maneuvers, and it'd be silly to suddenly go learn a new game system (martial maneuvers) just to throw in melee.

 

[kevin_video]

Aha! I found it. I knew it existed. It's from 3.0. I wonder why it's not in 3.5. The only problem is that it requires Dex 13, Dodge, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, and BAB +4. It's called Close Shot. It enables you to "fire" (I'll revise that to "use") a ranged weapon without provoking an attack of opportunity.

My player's only got Dodge, but he could probably retrain a couple of feats. He's still low enough level that it'd be okay. Well, he'd need Point Blank and Precise for his longbow, so this works out in every which way.

 

[Herobizkit]

Close Shot really isn't necessary for this character. As I have learned from my d20 Modern gaming, as long as the players can move, they are always free to "move back 5' and shoot".

A character can always take a 5 foot step before or after an attack. Moving back 5' takes the PC out of standard melee threat range. If he's close enough to be in melee, he should be able to thwack the guy next to him with the boomerang.

A boomerang is nothing more than a throwable club that may or may not return. If it does, it's a free non-magical Returning weapon. I'd permit him to make one out of Darkwood and allow him to beat people (ie melee) with it. I always take 'cool' over 'rules' when it comes to a lot of that stuff.