Is it worth making a Str-based Thrower? Over a Dex based one.


Advice

Lantern Lodge

I have been eyeing the Ulfen Guard PC for a while and thought of making him a Thrower/Switch Fighter that specializes in axes. Range attacking using Str at later levels using a belt of the mighty hauler

However, the more I read up the feat options, the more it seems that it would be much more better to pull off a Dex based axe thrower instead.

There just don't seems to be much incentive to play a Str-based thrower over a pure dex-based one, given that feats like slashing grace allows dex to be used to add to damage.

Is there any reason I'm overlooking that makes a Str build on par with a Dex build?


What is important? What is starting level and what kind of stats Can you expect?

Lantern Lodge

Its a 20 point buy and I have to be a human (Ulfen) to qualify for Ulfen Guard. I could also add a flat +2 to any one stat after racials via a boon.
This is a PFS character.

Starting level is likely 2, but it could be higher if I add more GM credit to the character.

I was thinking going with a barb for a lv or two then 5 levels of fighter for weapon and armor training before heading into Ulfen Guard around lv 7 or 8.

As for what is important... I guess the character concept takes a higher priority, but I don't want to feel under optimized or end up regretting not going the other route.


Secane wrote:

I have been eyeing the Ulfen Guard PC for a while and thought of making him a Thrower/Switch Fighter that specializes in axes. Range attacking using Str at later levels using a belt of the mighty hauler

However, the more I read up the feat options, the more it seems that it would be much more better to pull off a Dex based axe thrower instead.

There just don't seems to be much incentive to play a Str-based thrower over a pure dex-based one, given that feats like slashing grace allows dex to be used to add to damage.

Is there any reason I'm overlooking that makes a Str build on par with a Dex build?

I believe slashing grace only adds dex to dmg for melee attacks, not for thrown weapons.


Not getting con for your belt slot sucks a lot, which makes that belt pretty sad. You could just be a switch hitter. All you need is precise shot, point blank shot, and quick draw, and you can throw as many axes as you need to


If you go UG. Str based with good dex is the Way. If you just want a thrower UG is not really the Best way and a balanced approch(but with dex focus) seem to be the Best.
But since UG is the Way this is pointing i suggest a reach weapon and combat reflexes at level 1 along with QuickDraw. That Way you Can Throw stuff at folks and when they close in you get a extra attack.

Lantern Lodge

Mhordekai wrote:
Secane wrote:

I have been eyeing the Ulfen Guard PC for a while and thought of making him a Thrower/Switch Fighter that specializes in axes. Range attacking using Str at later levels using a belt of the mighty hauler

However, the more I read up the feat options, the more it seems that it would be much more better to pull off a Dex based axe thrower instead.

There just don't seems to be much incentive to play a Str-based thrower over a pure dex-based one, given that feats like slashing grace allows dex to be used to add to damage.

Is there any reason I'm overlooking that makes a Str build on par with a Dex build?

I believe slashing grace only adds dex to dmg for melee attacks, not for thrown weapons.

Well... its a little confusing, but most people seems to read it as it does give dex to thrown weapons... so... I'm just going with the majority view?

Cap. Darling wrote:

If you go UG. Str based with good dex is the Way. If you just want a thrower UG is not really the Best way and a balanced approch(but with dex focus) seem to be the Best.

But since UG is the Way this is pointing i suggest a reach weapon and combat reflexes at level 1 along with QuickDraw. That Way you Can Throw stuff at folks and when they close in you get a extra attack.

I did thought of going with a mix Str+Dex build, but there just don't seems to be enough points to go around. Every version I came up to get more dex, seems to call for a 777 build, aka 7 Int, Wis and Cha, to get more points for dex and str.


If you decide to go with a str build, then a belt of the mighty hurler is a must have.
However, if you decide to go with a dex build, you might want to considered using a blinkback belt?
Extremely cost efficient (5k), then you only need one really good magical axe that instantly teleports back to the belt allowing you to throw it (quick draw) as many times as needed round after round, instead of having several (4,5,6 etc...) masterwork axes.

Lantern Lodge

The blinkback belt was definitely in serious consideration. In fact one of my fellow players uses it for his flying blade swashbuckler.

Only issue is that it is a BELT slot... which makes it compete with all the +2/4/6 belts.

Making a throwing build seems just so much lesser clear cut, then say an archer build.

Is there any other PC or builds for throwing that I'm missing out?
The basic ideal is just a Ulfen or Ulfen-like character.


With all the $$$ you'll save with a blinkback you can always stock up on potions of bull's strength, bear's endurance or cat's grace, your choice.

Scarab Sages

You can also get a Snakeskin tunic. It somewhat compensates the loss of a dex belt with a +2 enhancement bonus to dex.


Secane wrote:

...

Is there any other PC or builds for throwing that I'm missing out?
The basic ideal is just a Ulfen or Ulfen-like character.

Both the throwing monk(far side or somthing?) and the flying blade Can be decent throwing weapon guys. IMOP. For a barbarian like guy throwing Will have to be a side job. But with a reach weapon, combat reflexes and power attack is all you need and all the other feats Can be dedicatet to throwing, it wont be the King of the World but in many situations it May be worth it. Unchained barbarian with str 16, dex and con 14 wis 12 int 8 cha 10 pehaps is not bad and Can do this just fine.


Just as the Rock Thrower if his high strength helps him. :)


You could go Monk flurry shuriken, then invest in feats that make shuriken better.

Slashing Grace:

Choose one kind of one-handed slashing weapon (such as the longsword). When wielding your chosen weapon one-handed, you can treat it as a one-handed piercing melee weapon for all feats and class abilities that require such a weapon (such as a swashbuckler's or a duelist's precise strike) and you can add your Dexterity modifier instead of your Strength modifier to that weapon's damage. The weapon must be one appropriate for your size.

If you are using the one-handed weapon for throwing, I don't see why it wouldn't work...

Lantern Lodge

Cap. Darling wrote:
Secane wrote:

...

Is there any other PC or builds for throwing that I'm missing out?
The basic ideal is just a Ulfen or Ulfen-like character.

Both the throwing monk(far side or somthing?) and the flying blade Can be decent throwing weapon guys. IMOP. For a barbarian like guy throwing Will have to be a side job. But with a reach weapon, combat reflexes and power attack is all you need and all the other feats Can be dedicatet to throwing, it wont be the King of the World but in many situations it May be worth it. Unchained barbarian with str 16, dex and con 14 wis 12 int 8 cha 10 pehaps is not bad and Can do this just fine.

Hummm.... your right... I just tried again to make my str-based axe-throwing ulfen build work and the feat requirements alone makes it really hard to pull it off.

I may just have to switch to a switch fighter build based off weapons that where actually used by real life vikings nobles. A Sword-Archer build.

IQuarent wrote:

You could go Monk flurry shuriken, then invest in feats that make shuriken better.

Slashing Grace:

Choose one kind of one-handed slashing weapon (such as the longsword). When wielding your chosen weapon one-handed, you can treat it as a one-handed piercing melee weapon for all feats and class abilities that require such a weapon (such as a swashbuckler's or a duelist's precise strike) and you can add your Dexterity modifier instead of your Strength modifier to that weapon's damage. The weapon must be one appropriate for your size.

If you are using the one-handed weapon for throwing, I don't see why it wouldn't work...

Slashing Grace has been discussed with my local venture captain and the ruling is that it only works with One-Handed Weapons in melee. The online discussions have been back and forth, but since this is for PFS, I will go with my VC's ruling.

While not what I have in mind, the ideal of a shuriken throwing monk would be a very fun build tho!

Community / Forums / Pathfinder / Pathfinder First Edition / Advice / Is it worth making a Str-based Thrower? Over a Dex based one. All Messageboards

Want to post a reply? Sign in.