What's so great about Shuriken?

[Vigilance]

There was an entire martial art in medieval Japan built around the Shuriken, it was called (wait for it) Shuriken-jutsu.

Shuriken could be poisoned, they were incredibly easy to hide (in a land where, for a time, commoners were forbidden weapons), could be concealed in the palm of your hand for a surprise attack, were cheap to make, and could be tossed against a rock for a distraction so you could hide.

All very useful qualities if you ask me.

If Shuriken are useless in the game then their statistics need to be altered.

Chuck

 

[Painfully]

Shurikens could also be held in the mouth and shot at a close opponent. I'd say that's a great way to surprise a grappling opponent.

The other big advantage is poison, but I think it is uncharacteristic of most monks to use them that way. Quite simply, shurikens are a back-up weapon for the right time and the right place. Most of the time there is a better weapon.

Shurikens are a weapon of concealment and stealth. It reminds me much more of ninjas than monks.

 

[Zappo]

Umm... well, if you're a normal monk, you can do flurry of blows with them, which could be pretty good if your friendly party cleric has appropriately enchanted them and you have a good Strength. At 11th, you could reasonably throw four +3 lawful shurikens with your 18 Strength and deal 1d2+1d6+7 damage each to a chaotic creature. I think that the only other flurry-capable ranged weapon is the sai, which deals more damage by itself but can't be enchanted as easily.

They are like all the other monk weapons. They are good for monks because they get the proficiency for free and can flurry with them, but they are useless for any other character.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Umm... well, if you're a normal monk, you can do flurry of blows with them, which could be pretty good if your friendly party cleric has appropriately enchanted them and you have a good Strength.

It works out to a total maximum of 11 per round by 20th level, using only Core Rules.

-Hyp.

 

[nHammer]

There have been a number of uses for shurikens mentioned, let me add one more.You can carry more shurikens than throwing knives.

 

[Hypersmurf]

There have been a number of uses for shurikens mentioned, let me add one more.You can carry more shurikens than throwing knives.

Unless you're the guy from Desperado

-Hyp.

 

[Zappo]

It works out to a total maximum of 11 per round by 20th level, using only Core Rules.

11 attacks per round? How?

 

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

If you want to make shurikens more effective, I think I might increase the throwing range and the crit range. Keep them exotic because their small size takes special training to hit vital areas with them.

 

[Hypersmurf]

11 attacks per round? How?

Four from BAB (multiclassed Monk).
Three from GTWF.
Two from FoB.
One from Rapid Shot.
One from Haste.

Eleven.

-Hyp.

 

[med stud]

Heh, I think Hypersmurf just showed a way for shuriken to be great
Add Greater magic weapon and some alignment- spell to it and the damage would be obscene ^^