Thrown blades vs pistol?

[Theblazeuk]

So, I'm playing a swordmage. I can throw my sword and call it back Skywalker-style, or I have a pair of daggers for disposable throwing.

However as I'm a martial scientist, I could use pistols if I wanted. And it seems like it would be a cool addition - fire one, move closer, mark, fight with the blade... Just play up to the setting a bit more given my party is small and all arcane in nature.

But as a complete noob to 4e, it seems like a pistol only has the same close-range as my thrown weapons? Am I missing some benefits?

 

[RangerWickett]

Pistols are high-crit. Basically we designed them to encourage the "shoot it once, maybe" style, where the gun is a tool that might be useful in some situations, not a primary weapon.

 

[Theblazeuk]

Thanks Ryan. Good design, I think I will maybe try it out (though all my 20s roll on skill checks...)

 

[Elfshire]

Also I'm pretty sure that a thrown dagger has a range of 5/10, and a pistol has 10/20. Pistols also have a d6 damage die, where daggers are a d4.