Ranger's Archery Combat Style too restrictive?

[Legildur]

Is it just me, or is anyone else disappointed by the Ranger's ranged combat style being restricted to archery? I guess, technically, it isn't, but the virtual Manyshot feat (gained with Improved Combat Style at 6th level) is explicit that it only applies to arrows.

I had visions of dwarven cave warders and the like using throwing axes to good effect (ala Gimli) before wading in with a dwarven waraxe, or something not dissimilar to Daniel Day Lewis' portrayal of a woodsmen in The Last of the Mohicans.

I guess that Precise Shot would have been a more logical inclusion given that a Ranger receives Improved Precise Shot as the bonus virtual feat at 11th level with Combat Style Mastery.

So, is it best to stop whinging about it and just go the two-weapon combat style and take the ranged feats when possible? Or go the archery combat style and just write off Manyshot as a loss?

 

[Crothian]

I'd get together with the DM and come up with another option for the ranger feats fitting what you want to do.

 

[Legildur]

That's an easy solution to implement with a reasonable DM, but it doesn't explain WotC's narrowness in its approach.

The two-weapon combat style works equally with any range of two-weapon fighting - including double-weapons. So, why didn't they take a similar approach to the ranged combat style rather than effectively locking characters into archery only?

 

[Crothian]

Because there are only two types of rangers: those that us ea bow and those that use two weapons

 

[Legildur]

Because there are only two types of rangers: those that us ea bow and those that use two weapons

<laugh> Yeah, okay, okay. I get it. Stupid WotC......

Maybe I should just ask Wizard's Customer Service whether Manyshot works with throwing axes.... I reckon there's a 50/50 chance they'll say yes.....

 

[LordAO]

As far as I know, ranged combat feats, including Manyshot, work with any ranged weapon, including thrown weapons.

 

[Legildur]

As far as I know, ranged combat feats, including Manyshot, work with any ranged weapon, including thrown weapons.

I wish it did.....

From the 3.5 SRD (bold my emphasis):

MANYSHOT [GENERAL]
Prerequisites: Dex 17, Point Blank Shot, Rapid Shot, base attack bonus +6
Benefit: As a standard action, you may fire two arrows at a single opponent within 30 feet. Both arrows use the same attack roll (with a –4 penalty) to determine success and deal damage normally (but see Special).
For every five points of base attack bonus you have above +6, you may add one additional arrow to this attack, to a maximum of four arrows at a base attack bonus of +16. However, each arrow after the second adds a cumulative –2 penalty on the attack roll (for a total penalty of –6 for three arrows and –8 for four).
Damage reduction and other resistances apply separately against each arrow fired.
Special: Regardless of the number of arrows you fire, you apply precision-based damage only once. If you score a critical hit, only the first arrow fired deals critical damage; all others deal regular damage.
A fighter may select Manyshot as one of his fighter bonus feats.
A 6th-level ranger who has chosen the archery combat style is treated as having Manyshot even if he does not have the prerequisites for it, but only when he is wearing light or no armor.

 

[pawsplay]

This has become a problem for me as a game designer, because I'm trying to avoid monkeying with the core classes too much, but I've got a Large race of greatclub-wielding tree-huggers who produce more than a few Rangers. I don't seem them as TWF types, and they don't use bows, but javelins and throwing sticks. If anyone has some good suggestions, I'd love to steal them.

 

[Unseelie]

Because there are only two types of rangers: those that us ea bow and those that use two weapons

Right, anything else is an alt.ranger, of which there are myriads...

 

[Darklone]

Well. WotC still thinks every ranged combatant in D&D uses a mighty composite longbow because everything else is not as good.

I'd let a throwing specialist choose between Far Shot and Quickdraw at level 6.