So, I am going to be playing a Switch Hitter ranger who uses a Scimitar in melee. Here is my question: after drawing the scimitar can I hold it in my mouth instead of throwing it down to shoot my bow again?
Reasoning:
I don't have to put the Bow away, instead I can just hold it in the off hand.
Scimitar are 1-handed, but can be wielded 2-handed like any other non-light weapon. Therefore having the bow in the off-hand offers no penalty.
To fire the bow I need two-hands. I can put the scimitar away (move), but that wont work when I eventually get Rapid-Shot (full), instead can I move it to be held by something else (free)?
Firing the bow is sub-optimal, because it is a Masterwork Composite 8 Longbow that cannot be fired without penalty until level 12 when level up attribute bonuses and belt of Giants Strength brings the str up to where it needs to be.
Mwk C8LW +2[+4-2](1d8+4/x3)
VS
Mwk Scimitar [2-handed] {Power attack} +6{+5} (1d6+4{6}[6][{9}] 18-20/x2)
I don't want to invest in Quick Draw due to eventually investing in Gloves of Storing for the Scimitar. However using the scimitar is by far the more optimal fighting style due to lack of penalties.
I was looking if there was something that lets a bow be a melee weapon, but I didn't find anything. There do no appear to be Blade Bows in Pathfinder, which is nice in its own way.
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Uhhhhhhhhhh......well, uh....
Let's go with no. The number of rules necessary to make that actually work is really large. And most of them don't exist in the game.
I guess it's something that would be a good candidate for a feat.
I was looking around and found that instead of a scimitar I can just use a Cestus and always be considered armed.
A scimitar is several feet of steel. It is, thus, reasonably heavy and unwieldy for the mouth. Furthermore, having a foot and a half of edged metal sticking out from each side of your face while raising and drawing a bow would be bad for the bow.
Not to mention the various game rules about picking things up and putting them away (move actions, though you can drop the item as a free... so that's an option).
I think I like the idea of always being armed for melee even while firing a bow. Eventually the bow will outshine the Cestus as we get much higher in level, but I find the idea of the enemy running up to kill the Ranger only to get his head imploded by a +6(5) 1d4+4(6) punch.
I tend to make characters that are simply better than the other members of the party--hence while my character for Second Darkness is now a crafter, and this character is a sub-optimal ranger who uses his grandfather's bow that he had to pay for--so this is an attempt to not be the one who massacres everything.
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I think I like the idea of always being armed for melee even while firing a bow. Eventually the bow will outshine the Cestus as we get much higher in level, but I find the idea of the enemy running up to kill the Ranger only to get his head imploded by a +6(5) 1d4+4(6) punch.
"Ha stupid archer I have you....oh CRAP!"
As a GM, I'd allow it with a light weapon (see the pirate trope of a dagger/knife clenched in your teeth while climbing). For a one-handed or two-handed weapon, no.
One (slightly creepy) option would be to take two levels in alchemist for the tentacle or vestigial limb discovery, which would let you hold a melee weapon while firing your bow. You lose a point of BAB, but can use a mutagen to boost your Dex or Str by +4.
A scimitar is quite a bit too large to hold easily in your teeth, let alone running around in combat and shooting a bow.
You could ask your GM about the possibility of taking Quick Draw now and retraining it later. It makes sense, as your character transitions to a dedicated archer he "switch-hits" less and less often, until he isn't as fast on the weapon switch as he used to be. Or, once he gets his Gloves of Storing, he slowly loses his knack for that trick as he comes to rely on his magic item. Meanwhile, his increased use of the bow grants him another ranged combat feat.
You could then be using your Scimitar with the usual "Drop bow, Quick Draw sword" shtick, and use a Spiked Gauntlet as backup. You lose high crit and the ability to two-hand it, but you can switch to it with ease and avoid all these problems altogether. That'll tide you over until you get your Gloves of Storing.
I feel like there was a feat somewhere that let you hold a weapon along with the bow while shooting...but cant remember if it was 3pp or not....
Even if you could hold a scimitar in your mouth, what makes you think you could effectively wield it that way? o.O
Go with the cestus, gauntlet, spiked gauntlet, or armor spikes. Or Stabbing Shot.
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Actually in that situation, why not just hold the bow in your mouth while you swing the scimitar?
I hate to be a downer here...but would quickdraw even do much in this situation? It lets you draw weapons as a free action, not put them back away.
I know this does not seem like much of a distinction, but generally, I would imagine sheathing a weapon properly would slower and take more concentration compared to drawing it. I mean, it is much easier to dump out a barrel of apples than it is to pick up each one manually and put them back in.
And the fact that the RAW of the feat only mentions 'draw' and not 'sheath' can be viewed as supporting this idea. They are distinct actions in the rules, with different circumstances (for example, sheathing a weapon can draw an AoO while drawing doesn't).
But, just so we won't people saying that I only criticize, I have a suggestion: how about taking catch off guard if you are willing to spend a feat. And since drawing an arrow is considered a nonaction, you could use it instead. It certainly has a certain sense of style when the enemy thinks they caught you with your pants down and they still get an arrow through the throat anyway. Obviously this idea is not as great mechanically...but again, I've thoroughly enjoyed every time I've seen things like this media (oddly, I mostly only see it in manga set in ancient China on certain villainous burly types)
I would allow a knife to be held in your mouth, but not a scimitar.
Reminds me of in GURPS there is a skill Fast-Draw (Knife from Teeth) which is why I say I'd allow a knife, but not a scimitar or other bigger blade.
If you are looking for guidelines on house rules, the d20 Conan rpg had this as an ability for certain classes. Barbarians could do it at second level. Pirates could do it at 7th.
Bite Sword: The barbarian often finds it useful to carry his
sword in his teeth, such as when he is suddenly plunged
into icy water, clutching at a crumbling cliff-face or leaping
over a palisade. When he finds he has no time to replace
his blade in its scabbard he can instead hold it in his strong
jaw. Up to once per round, as a free action, a barbarian
of 2nd level or higher can place any light weapon or any
one-handed slashing weapon in his mouth and carry it
securely there for up to 3 + Strength modifier rounds,
or 3 + Strength modifier minutes if it is a light weapon,
before taking it back into his hand as a free action once
more. While carrying his weapon in his mouth in this
manner, the barbarian can act normally, though he may
not attack with the weapon in his mouth and his speech
is somewhat muffled.