So I just now realized that throwing a splash weapon is a Full-Round Action, or rather "Preparing" to throw a splash weapon is a Full-Round Action. What exactly does it mean by "prepare"? Is it assumed that you're carrying your alchemist fire in your backpack? Do you need to fiddle with the flask before throwing it? Is there no way to make this take less time?
I was going to make an alchemist who planned to use alchemical thrown splash weapons to supplement his bombs (at least at lower levels), but this revelation seems to have killed that tactic.
Thanks in advance for your responses.
P.S. Bonus rules question: Does an alchemist add his strength modifier to damage rolls with bombs as he would with a normal thrown splash weapon? Or do thrown splash weapons (of any kind) not count as "thrown weapons" with regards to strength?
Strength is never added to splash weapons. To quote:
"Thrown Weapons: The wielder applies his Strength modifier to damage dealt by thrown weapons (except for splash weapons). It is possible to throw a weapon that isn't designed to be thrown (that is, a melee weapon that doesn't have a numeric entry in the Range column on Table: Weapons), and a character who does so takes a –4 penalty on the attack roll. Throwing a light or one-handed weapon is a standard action, while throwing a two-handed weapon is a full-round action. Regardless of the type of weapon, such an attack scores a threat only on a natural 20 and deals double damage on a critical hit. Such a weapon has a range increment of 10 feet."
As for the preparing to throw, I would assume that this is your stuff isn't in a quickly useful place (but this is my opinion). A bandolier may help you get this to a standard action to get and throw (as that's what I allow the alchemist in my group to do).
EDIT: found the official bandolier rules which makes getting a stored item a "Retrieve a stored item" action which is a move action.
"Prepare to throw splash weapon" as a full round action is new to me. I would assume that this is preparing a flask of oil into something that will explode and burn once thrown.
As for the alchemist question: An alchemist does add his INT mod on damage from splash weapons, not all thrown weapons.
Throw Anything (Ex): All alchemists gain the Throw Anything feat as a bonus feat at 1st level. An alchemist adds his Intelligence modifier to damage done with splash weapons, including the splash damage if any. This bonus damage is already included in the bomb class feature.
Thanks for your input guys!
Strength is never added to splash weapons. To quote:
"Thrown Weapons: The wielder applies his Strength modifier to damage dealt by thrown weapons (except for splash weapons). It is possible to throw a weapon that isn't designed to be thrown (that is, a melee weapon that doesn't have a numeric entry in the Range column on Table: Weapons), and a character who does so takes a –4 penalty on the attack roll. Throwing a light or one-handed weapon is a standard action, while throwing a two-handed weapon is a full-round action. Regardless of the type of weapon, such an attack scores a threat only on a natural 20 and deals double damage on a critical hit. Such a weapon has a range increment of 10 feet."As for the preparing to throw, I would assume that this is your stuff isn't in a quickly useful place (but this is my opinion). A bandolier may help you get this to a standard action to get and throw (as that's what I allow the alchemist in my group to do).
EDIT: found the official bandolier rules which makes getting a stored item a "Retrieve a stored item" action which is a move action.
Thanks, didn't think to look in the Equipment chapter, so I didn't see it originally (though I should know by now that no rule is ever written in its entirety in one place, one of the things that really bugs me about the game).
As for the bandolier and retrieving a stored item, would that help with splash weapons? Meaning break the Full-Round action into one Move and one Standard?
That line about "preparing to throw a splash weapon" is in regards to this item:
Oil: A pint of oil burns for 6 hours in a lantern or lamp. You can also use a flask of oil as a splash weapon. Use the rules for alchemist's fire (see Special Substances and Items on Table: Goods and Services), except that it takes a full-round action to prepare a flask with a fuse. Once it is thrown, there is a 50% chance of the flask igniting successfully.
You also require an ignition source to light the fuse.
Otherwise, it's simply a move action to draw a bomb or vial of alchemist's fire from someplace readily accessible such as a bandolier, a belt pouch, or a haversack and a standard to throw it
That line about "preparing to throw a splash weapon" is in regards to this item:
Oil: A pint of oil burns for 6 hours in a lantern or lamp. You can also use a flask of oil as a splash weapon. Use the rules for alchemist's fire (see Special Substances and Items on Table: Goods and Services), except that it takes a full-round action to prepare a flask with a fuse. Once it is thrown, there is a 50% chance of the flask igniting successfully.You also require an ignition source to light the fuse.
Otherwise, it's simply a move action to draw a bomb or vial of alchemist's fire from someplace readily accessible such as a bandolier, a belt pouch, or a haversack and a standard to throw it
Thank you! That clears things up nicely.
Thanks for the follow up Ansel; I knew that the preparing was in a strange place, I just got distracted and didn't finish finding it.
Otherwise, it's simply a move action to draw a bomb or vial of alchemist's fire from someplace readily accessible such as a bandolier, a belt pouch, or a haversack and a standard to throw it
Actually, at least in regards to throwing a bomb an Alchemist can include both retrieving and throwing a bomb as part of a standard action. This was clarified in the FAQ:
Alchemist: What kind of action is it to use an extract, mutagen, or throw a bomb?
It is a standard action to use an extract, mutagen, or throw a bomb. This action includes retrieving the necessary materials from the alchemist's supplies, in the same manner as retrieving a material component is included in the act of spellcasting.
—Sean K Reynolds, 08/31/10
Now, for other splash weapons like Alchemist Fires, Acid vials, etc. I am guessing those would be a move action to retrieve and standard action to throw.
Alchemical items are splash weapons. They are not ammunition.
Drawing a weapon so that you can use it in combat, or putting it away so that you have a free hand, requires a move action. This action also applies to weapon-like objects carried in easy reach, such as wands. If your weapon or weapon-like object is stored in a pack or otherwise out of easy reach, treat this action as retrieving a stored item.
Drawing ammunition for use with a ranged weapon (such as arrows, bolts, sling bullets, or shuriken) is a free action.
So it is a move action for anyone to draw a splash weapon. It does not need to be "prepared" because alchemical splash weapons (not oil flasks) are volatile and burst when thrown (while oil flasks need to be "prepared" by opening them, inserting a rag, and lighting the rag).
Once you use your move action to draw the splash weapon, you can throw it with a standard action.
Sadly, Quick Draw cannot be used with splash weapons, so you're pretty much stuck with always having it be a move action (well, ok, a few spells or items or other tricks might help, if you find the right trick).
Side notes:
If you have BAB 1 or higher, you can draw one splash weapon as a free action during a move action - it's still a move action, but it's kind-of like a two-for-one deal, you get to move and draw a weapon.
If you don't use a bandoleer or other similar item to keep them very accessible, then you cannot draw them as weapons but must "retrieve a stored item" instead. This is still a move action, but cannot be done for free as part of a move and also this provokes, while drawing a weapon does not.
Edit: Now I am not so sure. If having them in a bandoleer still requires "Retrieve an Item" rather than "Draw a weapon", then maybe they are never considered "weapon like objects carried in easy reach" and can never be drawn with a "Draw a weapon" action.
Seems to be a conflict. They are called weapons. The draw a weapon action includes the gray area "weapon-like objects". So it seems they can be "drawn", but the rules for the bandoleer seem to suggest that they cannot.
In any case, drawing or retrieving, it's still a move action. The only question is one of provoking and of doing it for free while you move.
What ranged weapon uses shurikens as it's ammunition?
Your hand.
;)
This rule is here to let you treat shuriken like ammunition for purposes of enchanting them (2,000 gp makes 50 +1 shuriken or one +1 throwing dagger) but also makes them destroyed like arrows when they're used.
I might not have done it that way, but Paizo did (I don't remember if it was that way in 3.5 or not, never did use oriental stuff much).