Throwing teammates (as a tactic vs flying enemies)

[StreamOfTheSky]

If we ran into several flying enemy encounters and she bought a ranged weapon afterwards because she had been unable to help in those fights, then sure that makes sense. For her to buy such a weapon because "Most consider it a necessity of equipment for each or most players to have a ranged weapon" seems like metagaming to me.

See, expecting every hostile creature you come across to be land-bound and no more than 60 ft away, preferably in some sort of tight dungeon-like cavern environment that restricts movement, especially on the vertical access, seems much more like metagaming to me...

 

[Noumenon]

Can anyone offer circumstances when the OP's tactic would be appropriate? Obviously in a Marvel Comics genre this would be awesome and much preferred to pulling out a crossbow. I do think something like a barbarian throwing a halfling rogue would be pretty cool. Or perhaps if the ranger was wearing something like a ring of feather falling to make him lighter. Or just set a DC of something like 25 + 5 per five feet and make it a Tumble check, like how cheerleaders are trained to be launched extra high?

 

[gamerprinter]

Can anyone offer circumstances when the OP's tactic would be appropriate? Obviously in a Marvel Comics genre this would be awesome and much preferred to pulling out a crossbow. I do think something like a barbarian throwing a halfling rogue would be pretty cool. Or perhaps if the ranger was wearing something like a ring of feather falling to make him lighter. Or just set a DC of something like 25 + 5 per five feet and make it a Tumble check, like how cheerleaders are trained to be launched extra high?

There are a couple 3pp supplements especially regarding giants as PCs that can throw a PC as a 'ranged weapon'. I believe some upcoming UC feats do a similar thing. Even though it would still not be a smart thing to do, or get done to your PC, you'd want to be high enough level to survive the inevitable miss and falling damage.

 

[IronWolf]

There are a couple 3pp supplements especially regarding giants as PCs that can throw a PC as a 'ranged weapon'. I believe some upcoming UC feats do a similar thing. Even though it would still not be a smart thing to do, or get done to your PC, you'd want to be high enough level to survive the inevitable miss and falling damage.

I think Races of Stone had something like Fling Ally or something like that.

 

[SnowleopardVK]

See, expecting every hostile creature you come across to be land-bound and no more than 60 ft away, preferably in some sort of tight dungeon-like cavern environment that restricts movement, especially on the vertical access, seems much more like metagaming to me...

Who said I'm expecting that? I said that's what my character is used to fighting against. Before now she hasn't been fighting anything that she couldn't deal with up close.

I'm aware that she'd be better off if I stuck her with a backup ranged weapon, but at the moment it would make no sense in character because she hasn't had enough experience with anything other than close combat to know better.

 

[gamerprinter]

Who said I'm expecting that? I said that's what my character is used to fighting against. Before now she hasn't been fighting anything that she couldn't deal with up close.

I'm aware that she'd be better off if I stuck her with a backup ranged weapon, but at the moment it would make no sense in character because she hasn't had enough experience with anything other than close combat to know better.

Rules-wise that's not true. A bow is a normal weapon that any Ranger has access to. A ranger has full BAB, so she can use it as effectively as using a sword. If you have a Dex of at least 13, you get a +1 to hit with a bow. If it is a composite bow and you have a Str of at least 13, you have +1 to damage. While feats like Weapon Focus: long bow and Point Blank Range is best for more effective ranged fighting, you're 2nd level so may not have access to those yet. Still from 1st level on you would be better at using a bow than the same level Bard will ever be.

Theoritically, your ranger received training before gaining first level, and concurrently while gaining levels. Bows are not an unknown factor for your ranger, as a ranger can always use a bow, and use it effectively.

 

[SnowleopardVK]

...What you quoted doesn't connect to the argument you're making. In that particular post you quoted I didn't actually say anything about which weapon she's better with, I said that the ones she's actually been using are her two melee weapons.

"Rules-wise" or not, the fact that she hasn't used a ranged weapon thus far is in fact true.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

"Rules-wise" or not, the fact that she hasn't used a ranged weapon thus far is in fact true.

So your Ranger is NOT proficient with the bow, sling, crossbow, club, throwing axe, light hammer...?

Because I'd think you'd need to have learned to use them, at least a little bit, in order to be proficient with them. Or at the very least, trained in a weapon using similar body mechanics, like any thrown weapon for daggers, clubs, and the like.

 

[gamerprinter]

...What you quoted doesn't connect to the argument you're making. In that particular post you quoted I didn't actually say anything about which weapon she's better with, I said that the ones she's actually been using are her two melee weapons.

"Rules-wise" or not, the fact that she hasn't used a ranged weapon thus far is in fact true.

Sure, but what your character has used in game does not trump over what any ranger is capable of doing. Using a bow is a standard proficiency that ALL rangers have, whether you've chosen to use one or not. Your background story and actual experience is in addition to what a ranger gets for basic skills. Using a bow is a basic skill, and doesn't require experience to be effective at using. (Maybe so in real life, but not so in Pathfinder...)

You could avoid using a bow for 10 levels of play, and then decide to use a bow, even without taking bow feats you will be better at using a bow than any 10th level bard - since the bard, as you've mentioned is the party 'ranged guy' based on BAB alone.

Edit: if you have a crappy Dex, vs. a Bard with a super Dex, this might not be so, but that would be the rare exception.

Edit2: I personally recommend your character to spare a few of those precious 2-weapon specialization feat slots toward Weapon Focus: Long Bow, Point Blank Range, and Rapid Shot or Precise shot, with your Combat style as 2 weapon, and most of your other slots probably feeding that chain, you could be an effective ranged combatant, and still focus on your 2-weapon preference.

 

[SnowleopardVK]

So your Ranger is NOT proficient with the bow, sling, crossbow, club, throwing axe, light hammer...?

She is (in terms of game mechanics) proficient with them, but has never used them. I would assume it's just a natural talent as a ranger that she doesn't know she's got yet.

Sure, but what your character has used in game does not trump over what any ranger is capable of doing. Using a bow is a standard proficiency that ALL rangers have, whether you've chosen to use one or not. Your background story and actual experience is in addition to what a ranger gets for basic skills. Using a bow is a basic skill, and doesn't require experience to be effective at using. (Maybe so in real life, but not so in Pathfinder...)

So I should just forget all her backstory and give her a bow because that's the smartest move to make and the rules allow it? Pass.

You could avoid using a bow for 10 levels of play, and then decide to use a bow, even without taking bow feats you will be better at using a bow than any 10th level bard - since the bard, as you've mentioned is the party 'ranged guy' based on BAB alone.

It's not based on BAB alone. He's already started specializing with his bow, and it's his main weapon. I however am not specialized towards ranged.

I personally recommend your character to spare a few of those precious 2-weapon specialization feat slots toward Weapon Focus: Long Bow, Point Blank Range, and Rapid Shot or Precise shot, with your Combat style as 2 weapon, and most of your other slots probably feeding that chain, you could be an effective ranged combatant, and still focus on your 2-weapon preference.

Thanks for the advice, but I'm not going to go that route unless something in-game changes my mind. We're already winning this combat anyways