One problem with making a character who specializes in thrown weapons is that at high level, you need to purchase a lot of magic weapons. An 11th level fighter could throw eight knives in a full attack: 3 from iterative attacks, 3 from the TWF tree, 1 from rapid shot and 1 from haste. Even if you are only expecting combat to last three rounds, that requires 24 weapons, so if the two-handed fighter can afford a +5 weapon, you can only afford 25 +1 weapons.
The returning enchantment helps with this some. However, it means that you cannot move and would still need 8 weapons. Also, arguably, you can only catch two of them when they return, which makes it even less effective. Essentially, it is a +1 price tax on all your weapons so that you can sort of use the style. (This is on top of the feat tax for Quick Draw).
To resolve this, it seemed that someone would develop an item that lets thrown weapons actually work at high levels. The basic idea is a sheath places an enchantment on the weapon, and causes it to return to the sheath immediately after it is thrown. This allows you to only need a single magic item, much like the other fighting styles.
Master Thrower's Sheath
This sheath adjusts to hold any thrown weapon. The sheath can be enchanted as if it was a thrown weapon. If it is enchanted, the enchantment is granted to any weapon that is placed in it, but fades after one round or when another weapon is placed in the sheath. The enchantment from the sheath replaces any existing enchantment on the weapon. If the weapon is thrown while it holds the enchantment, the weapon returns to the sheath immediately after the attack is resolved. This refreshes the enchantment and allows the wearer to immediately draw the weapon and throw it again.
Price: 1000 gp plus the cost of any weapon enchantments
Slot: None
Weight: 1 lb
Aura: Conjuration plus any aura from the weapon enchantments
CL: 5 (or minimum required for the weapon enchantments)
Construction: Arcane mark, Instant Summons plus any for the weapon enhancements.
I expect this to be a must-have item for a throwing build, but I still want it to be fairly cheap, since IMHO the current rules don't work for a throwing build. That is also why it is slotless: I don't want to impose a slot tax on throwers.
How does this look?
Thematically, I can't figure out how this would work with spears, javelins, shuriken, or other thrown weapons that don't have sheathes. But it's a good idea, and I'm 100% behind this sort of weapon for thrown builds.
This is pretty similar to what I came up with for the game I'm currently running. It's a pair of gloves that cost 2000 gp, plus the cost of weapon enchantments. It bestows the enchantments on any masterwork weapons you throw. (The enchantments do not stack with existing magic weapons, of course - you pick whichever enchantment is best.) The "slot tax" is a problem, though. Maybe it would be better off as some other, non-slot item.
Thematically, I can't figure out how this would work with spears, javelins, shuriken, or other thrown weapons that don't have sheathes. But it's a good idea, and I'm 100% behind this sort of weapon for thrown builds.
This is pretty similar to what I came up with for the game I'm currently running. It's a pair of gloves that cost 2000 gp, plus the cost of weapon enchantments. It bestows the enchantments on any masterwork weapons you throw. (The enchantments do not stack with existing magic weapons, of course - you pick whichever enchantment is best.) The "slot tax" is a problem, though. Maybe it would be better off as some other, non-slot item.
For shuriken, you need a 2 layer leather bracer, with slits sized for the stars in the outer layer. You could put at least 8 stars in one bracer. Javelins would go in a quiver. A sheath is simply where a weapon goes. Spears are big, so the holder would have to be a mega capacity device. A sort of Epic backpack of polearms.
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I just make a version of Bracers of Mighty Fists that affect only thrown weapons instead of unarmed attacks. It's as simple as that. Same cost, etc. Same cost and everything. Essentially every nonmagical weapon you throw is imbued with the properties on the bracers, just as if you were firing a mundane arrow from a magical bow.
Of course, the specific weapon enchantments allowed are going to be different but common sense arbitrates that easily.
For shuriken, you need a 2 layer leather bracer, with slits sized for the stars in the outer layer. You could put at least 8 stars in one bracer. Javelins would go in a quiver. A sheath is simply where a weapon goes. Spears are big, so the holder would have to be a mega capacity device. A sort of Epic backpack of polearms.
I can picture that. As for spears, I suppose they aren't terribly commonly used in pure thrower builds; more often they're good for flexible "throw or not" combat.
I just make a version of Bracers of Mighty Fists that affect only thrown weapons instead of unarmed attacks. It's as simple as that. Same cost, etc. Same cost and everything. Essentially every nonmagical weapon you throw is imbued with the properties on the bracers, just as if you were firing a mundane arrow from a magical bow.
Of course, the specific weapon enchantments allowed are going to be different but common sense arbitrates that easily.
This is basically what I did, only I brought the price down to a more reasonable level. I also offer monk tattoos that are basically an amulet of mighty fists, but for 2,000 gp + cost of enchantment.