Shuriken vs. Hand Crossbow: What's the Point of Shuriken?

[DMZ2112]

Isn't a dagger a throwing knife? That's why its got a range

For what it's worth, a shuriken can be a throwing knife. There are straight shuriken just like there are star-shaped shuriken. I'm reasonably certain that the only requisite features of a shuriken are that it be sharp, aerodynamic, and concealable (like a dagger).

My problem with shuriken has nothing to do with image, although I've never been fond of mixing regional origins in a list of names for things. English/German/French, fine. Japanese/Chinese/Korean, fine. But when you've got one Asian word in a list of European ones, or vice versa, it's jarring.

The shuriken just isn't anywhere near as good as the other superior weapons, because in all but a very select set of circumstances, it is a dagger. In most cases, when I found a discrepancy in the weapon list, I just moved some numbers around to correct it, but I couldn't reconcile the shuriken without giving it some ridiculous buffs (or without making it a simple weapon, which would have turned it into... you guessed it, a dagger).

 

[AbdulAlhazred]

For what it's worth, a shuriken can be a throwing knife. There are straight shuriken just like there are star-shaped shuriken. I'm reasonably certain that the only requisite features of a shuriken are that it be sharp, aerodynamic, and concealable (like a dagger).

My problem with shuriken has nothing to do with image, although I've never been fond of mixing regional origins in a list of names for things. English/German/French, fine. Japanese/Chinese/Korean, fine. But when you've got one Asian word in a list of European ones, or vice versa, it's jarring.

The shuriken just isn't anywhere near as good as the other superior weapons, because in all but a very select set of circumstances, it is a dagger. In most cases, when I found a discrepancy in the weapon list, I just moved some numbers around to correct it, but I couldn't reconcile the shuriken without giving it some ridiculous buffs (or without making it a simple weapon, which would have turned it into... you guessed it, a dagger).

The problem is a weapon like that is highly useful in the real world where it can be used with surprise to deliver a lethal (or poisoned) wound followed by a quick escape. Tossing trick throwing knives just isn't much of a strategy in a melee. If you DO throw things then make them real knives (daggers) or a hand axe, javelin, or HCB. You aren't killing anything with one blow anyhow. If it was ALWAYS a d6 weapon AND it was Simple then MAYBE a few non-rogue characters might use it as a backup weapon.

 

[thalmin]

Isn't a dagger a throwing knife? That's why its got a range

While a dagger can be thrown, a throwing knife is generally lighter, more 2-dimensional, better balanced for throwing. The handle is usually flatter (no thicker than the flat blade) and poorly suited for melee use.

 

[Mad Hamish]

Isn't a dagger a throwing knife? That's why its got a range

A dagger can be thrown but can also be used as a melee weapon (largely for parrying in most combat styles that use one)
a throwing knife is a knife designed to be thrown with very little functionality in melee combat.

 

[RangerWickett]

You can never have enough knives.

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