Thrown weapons and Ranges


Pathfinder First Edition General Discussion

Shadow Lodge

Why do thrown weapons have a static range increment? Doesnt matter what strength you have, everyone can throw the same distances.

Personally I think thrown weapon ranges should be modified by str. Example 10' +/- 5' per str bonus (or lack there of).


Probably aerodynamics and balance. That's why things not made for throwing have the worst range increment possible. Throwing extra hard doesn't help it fly better, just farther. It might make sense to add +1 range increments possible for higher strength, but a larger range increment does not. Higher dex would better represent your ability to throw it better, but that's taken care of by the bonus to hit.

Shadow Lodge

Bob Bob Bob wrote:
Probably aerodynamics and balance. That's why things not made for throwing have the worst range increment possible. Throwing extra hard doesn't help it fly better, just farther. It might make sense to add +1 range increments possible for higher strength, but a larger range increment does not. Higher dex would better represent your ability to throw it better, but that's taken care of by the bonus to hit.

Not talking about things not made to be thrown. I'm talking weapons designed to be thrown (throwing axe, chakram, spear, throwing dagger, etc.).


Probably just simplicity. It's the same for slings and mighty bows.

As a simple house rule, you could work on the basis that 10 Str is average, so each +1 point is +10% range. So a Str 16 fighter with a javelin (normal increment 30') gets a range increment of 30'x1.6=48'. Round up (50') or down (45') as you wish.

Doing this would go some way to making thrown weapons viable, though my halfling rogue would cry as his daggers get even worse.

The alternative is to keep the accuracy but increase the maximum range, as Bob3 suggests: each +2 Str (+1 mod) gives 1 more range increment. So the fighter above can throw it 8x30' = 240', though even barn doors are quite safe at that range, with -16 to hit.

Sovereign Court

But of course - if you go the logical method of increasing the max range increments - why bother? Even with far shot, the chanced of you hitting anything starts to become so low you'd really only be doing it for fluff reasons.


My first sentence had nothing to do with inappropriate weapons. I was just using them as an example of why I think range increments represent balance and aerodynamics. A weapon not made for throwing (unbalanced and bulky) has the worst range increment possible.

The reason weapons have fixed range increments is because there is no further balancing/streamlining you can do to most weapons without fundamentally changing what the weapon is. A dagger with less hilt and no guard is probably closer to a shuriken. An axe with less hilt is probably a chakram.

If you want to complain that they don't have enough variety in weapons made for throwing, I absolutely agree. You're all set if you want a pointy thing on the end of a stick but most of the rest are stuck at 10 feet. The pattern seems to be that larger (spears) or heavier (hammer) things have better ranges. I guess this means you should be able to make a "heavy dagger" or something similar that has a better range increment.

Community / Forums / Pathfinder / Pathfinder First Edition / General Discussion / Thrown weapons and Ranges All Messageboards

Want to post a reply? Sign in.
Recent threads in General Discussion