Previously in my campaign I would not allow the throw anything feat to be used on Nets which were a 'Weapon' as opposed to an 'Improvised' weapon.
"Improvised Weapons: Sometimes objects not crafted to be weapons nonetheless see use in combat. Because such objects are not designed for this use, any creature that uses an improvised weapon in combat is considered to be nonproficient with it and takes a –4 penalty on attack rolls made with that object. "
I've now reversed my decision based on two factors.
1. While the feat "Martial Weapon Proficiency" applies to a single weapon, the feat "Simple Weapon Proficiency" applies to all simple weapons.
2. It would be reasonable to argue that a normal 'Fishing' net, a clearly non-weapon item, could be used to entangle, and that a bed sheet could entangle or temporarily blind an opponent, where the Escape Artist check for a bedsheet would be much less as there are no holes/gaps to catch on anything like a net is apt to do.
3.
If I reverse myself, then Bolas, Nets, Grappling hooks, and anything that is thrown becomes useable, as if the person had gotten "Simple Weapon Proficiency" for anything that is thrown. I'm starting to think that this is reasonable, considering how many classes don't even have simple weapon proficiency, and how much of an impact this would have.
That having been said, I would not allow for "Net Adept" which requires proficiency in Net, to be available to someone who simply removes their non-proficiency penalty.
Am I wrong in reversing my previous ruling?
You do not suffer any penalties for using an improvised ranged weapon.
Alternatively, one could argue that a lasso, a bola, and a net require a specific skill set.
If you're looking for RAW, you're mostly right.
It's entirely accurate to say that you can throw a bedsheet or a fishing net at no penalty with throw anything. Then, according to the improvised weapon rules, we look for the most similar weapon to determine damage.
The most similar weapon is a net.
The net deals no damage.
There are no provisions for capturing a weapon's special abilities through improvised weapons or throw anything.
So, "phasers have no effect, captain".
Now if you wanted to use a bedsheet or a fishing net via throw anything and the Dirty Trick maneuver, that's how you'd go about doing what your players are trying to do.
Not as good as actual net proficiency + net. But it isn't actual net proficiency + net.
While your point regarding a weapon's special abilities is good, the truth is that a fishing net should probably have 'entangle' but take less HP of damage to destroy, or have a lower escape artist DC. While a sheet might take a move action to remove.
I'm going to have to think about the 'special ability' use with the feat.
HOWEVER, you would still be able to use a 'boomerang' (exotic weapon) as if you were proficient. (They do not have the 'return' special ability.) It is an example of an Exotic Weapon that might be usable under the "Throw Anything" feat. Also, a thrown 'club' would count.
If a character wants to use Throw Anything to throw actual weapons that they don't have a proficiency for and not get the non-proficiency penalty then those weapons need to be treated as "improvised weapons" meaning threat range of natural 20, x2 critical, range increment of 10 ft and no special abilities. If you want to keep the weapon's normal stats then you need to keep the non-proficiency penalty.
While your point regarding a weapon's special abilities is good, the truth is that a fishing net should probably have 'entangle' but take less HP of damage to destroy, or have a lower escape artist DC. While a sheet might take a move action to remove.
That's fine if you want to treat them as cheap nets, and use your skill with nets to use them. But improvised weapons is a game mechanic with it's own rules. And they don't include special weapon abilities.
HOWEVER, you would still be able to use a 'boomerang' (exotic weapon) as if you were proficient. (They do not have the 'return' special ability.) It is an example of an Exotic Weapon that might be usable under the "Throw Anything" feat. Also, a thrown 'club' would count.
Throw anything gives you the ability to use improvised thrown weapons without a penalty. Improvised weapons are defined as "objects not crafted to be weapons." A boomerang does not fall under that definition and cannot be treated as an improvised weapon.
Catch-off guard/throw anything do not give you proficiency with all weapons.
