Rangers and dual throwing weapons

[Starfox]

Generally, you do not need to use two throwing axes to use the ranged powers. Using one is all right, as it is only melee weapons that require you to double up. This allows a combo like Longsword/Dagger to work both at range and in melee; either attack with both weapons, or throw two daggers. This is pretty cool.


That said, you can of course use two weapons if you like.

Also note that you do not need to draw a new throwing weapon after throeing it; that is included in the throwing action.

 

[Torchlyte]

Should work fine until level 9 "spray of arrows" - close blast 3. Even if you assume a quick draw-like effect, I'm not sure how you'd wear up to 9 hand axes for easy grabbing and throwing. At that point I'd allow cinematic license and say you are only throwing maybe 3 axes into the crowd, and they are bouncing around in trick shots to whack everyone.

Ideally you'd have magical axes by level 9 - and magical thrown weapons return to you.

 

[Zurai]

It mentions in the equipment chapter that "If a power allows you to hit multiple targets, the additional load time is already accounted for by the power". That's under the Load entry, so it doesn't directly apply to thrown weapons, but considering crossbows require the same action to load that thrown weapons do to draw, I don't see a balance problem with extending it to thrown weapons.

 

[Xzylvador]

Heavy thrown using str instead of dex only works on basic ranged attacks, right? So any ranged power would use whatever the power says... (usually dex)
Right?

 

[Gradine]

You always use the power's statblock, as powers are far more specific than the very general weapon rules.

It seems as if the rules were designed specifically to discourage Rangers from relying on Heavy Thrown weapons for their ranged powers (at least the rangers powers that grant more than one hit.)

My question is how this would apply to magical Heavy Thrown weapons. The rules seem essentially clear that you can throw a magic dagger nine times in one action.

I would also believe that because of the text regarding Light Thrown weapons that Heavy Thrown weapons can only be thrown once per action regardless of power or magic status... what do you guys think?

 

[mattdm]

The one odd spot we've run into is that the ranged powers specify that the attack is Dex vs AC, while hand-axes, as heavy thrown, are usually strength vs AC. We decided the power description takes precedent, so I use Str for melee w/ the axes, and Dex for ranged.

As noted in this thread over here, I'm quite certain you're right about the rules as written. However, I think house-ruling that you can use heavy thrown weapons with Str for powers which say "Str for melee, Dex for ranged" is completely reasonable.

As for the issue with drawing more: ceases to be a problem as soon as you can get magic ones, because those automatically return to your hand as soon as the attack is resolved.

 

[hamishspence]

magic thrown

I think there is a ruling that "returns when attack is resolved": means Returns when whole power is resolved. So you need multiple magic throwing weapons. Would that mean hand is over-full when all of them have returned?

It may only be a CustServe ruling.

 

[Mezzer]

In case anyone was still wondering, customer support says you can dual-throw stuff, as any normal ranged attack would be used of course.

 

[Gradine]

In case anyone was still wondering, customer support says you can dual-throw stuff, as any normal ranged attack would be used of course.

The rules on this are absolutely clear on light thrown weapons... it just also seems heavily implied that you cannot dual throw a heavy thrown weapon.

 

[Mort_Q]

Heavy thrown using str instead of dex only works on basic ranged attacks, right? So any ranged power would use whatever the power says... (usually dex)
Right?

That'd be RAW. You'd need both good STR and DEX.