Mix and Matched attacks. Ranged and Melee.

[Neopopulas]

Heyo everybody.

So, recently a subject has come up in our group and i figured this was a good place to come to get some knowledgeable input, even if it is a matter of 'this is a stupid argument' (something else i wouldn't mind).

Anyway, basically, i don't think it is, but it is at all possible to mix a ranged attack with a melee. For example, say you are holding two axes, but only using one (since you don't have TWF), and you have three attacks.

Could you, for example, use one of your attacks to hack a guy, and another attack to throw the axe (either the one you just attacked with, or the other, since mechanically it doesn't matter so long as you're not getting another attack which weapon you use, its all fluff at this point)

Since you have three attacks, do they all have to be melee OR ranged, or can you make two melee attacks and then throw your weapon with the last?

[Adamantine Dragon]

If you are using the same weapon for the melee and thrown attack, you can do both, so long as you do the melee attack first since even a magical returning thrown weapon won't return until the start of your next round. Making the ranged attack would open you up for an attack of opportunity though.

[FuelDrop]

as far as i know you can mix and match.

[wraithstrike]

Yes you can do that.

[blackbloodtroll]

You can even quick draw a weapon, throw it, quick draw another, make a melee attack, then drop it, quick draw another weapon, take a 5ft step, and make a melee attack. Also, you never take two weapon fighting penalties unless you gain the extra attack from two weapon fighting.

[Litchfield]

I have actually played a rogue who did something very similar to the above. Carried four or five daggers which I used and mixed in with Quick Draw. I would make a ranged attack with the dagger, quick draw another and finish off anyone in melee (or make the second throw).

You could also mix this up with a one-handed crossbow too as you could fire it, drop and quick draw and then make the attack with a melee weapon.

[Neopopulas]

Excellent. Essentially the idea in question was for a character who had two axes, but not TWF. Basically they would attack with one, and then throw the other, now visually it would be a throw with the 'off' hand, but its not an extra attack, since its in the same set of base attacks they get. Mechanically its just having two sets of numbers, one of which you throw and then quickdraw lets you use the other in the next attack.

It basically came down to 'does that mean its mechanically TWF or outside the normal attacks if you throw the axe in your offhand after you attack with the other.'

Mechanically though - as it seems - its just a matter of attacking with one, and then throw and then quickdraw to get the offhand weapon into your main hand.

So while you may chop an orc with your right hand and throw with the one in your left its really just all the same numbers so long as you aren't getting an extra attack