Rangers and splash weapons

[Patrick O'Duffy]

Does a ranger's favoured enemy damage bonus apply to splash weapon damage, such as alchemist's fire? The rule says 'weapon damage', so it's clearly not applied to spells, but are splash weapons considered 'weapons'?

If so, how does that affect multiple damaging effects? For instance, acidic fire (from the Eberron corebook) has five damage effects - 1d4 acid and 1d4 fire to the main target, 1pt acid and 1pt fire damage to nearby creatures, and 1d4 fire damage in the second round to the main target. Should the damage bonus be distributed among the effects or applied to each?

 

[Sound of Azure]

I'd say yes, but only for the primary target, and only if you actually hit them directly (that is, you didn't miss them and just damage them with the "splash" effect).

 

[frankthedm]

If so, how does that affect multiple damaging effects? For instance, acidic fire (from the Eberron corebook) has five damage effects - 1d4 acid and 1d4 fire to the main target, 1pt acid and 1pt fire damage to nearby creatures, and 1d4 fire damage in the second round to the main target. Should the damage bonus be distributed among the effects or applied to each?

Divide the bonus between the acid and fire for the primary impact only. Splash and aftereffects should not be modified.

 

[RigaMortus2]

If that tactic did work the way you wanted it to, it would be GREAT with Sneak Attacks as well

 

[Patrick O'Duffy]

If that tactic did work the way you wanted it to, it would be GREAT with Sneak Attacks as well

No, sneak attack's a bit clearer, as per the rulings on things like volleys of shuriken or casting multiple-damage-effect spells like orbs.

And it's not my tactic per se; it's just that one of my group plays a ranger with a taste for acidic fire. He doesn't know the rules well enough to powergame (nor does he seem inclined to do so), but the question's bound to come up sooner or later and I want to make a fair ruling.

 

[Patrick O'Duffy]

Divide the bonus between the acid and fire for the primary impact only. Splash and aftereffects should not be modified.

That's pretty much my gut feeling too.