Is there any way to not drop a weapon on the ground as a "switch hitter"?

[setzer9999]

So, is there?

If it needs any clarification, a character has two two-handed weapons, and they want to switch between them for one reason or another during combat. One typical type for this is an archer that switches to a two-handed melee weapon.

In order to switch quickly, there is the Quick Draw feat, but to avoid an AOO or to get a full attack on the same turn as switching, even this means you have to drop the weapon you were holding onto the ground. I tried looking at magical enhancements for the weapon that might help, but wasn't sure if any of them really could... also looked at weapon cord, but it has to remain tied to your weapon hand, and specifically says you can't use another weapon while its tied to your hand with the weapon cord...

It's OK if a low level character couldn't do it or afford it, but is there any way at any point in level progression where you can get around having to drop a weapon on the ground to be an effective switch hitter?

[Gauss]

Glove of Storing CRB p515 10,000gp

- Gauss

[setzer9999]

Ok, I was confused by that one because it says you can't use another item in that hands slot... I thought this was just for sneakily getting a weaopn into and out of a place, I didn't think you could wield a weapon in the same hand as the glove of storing.

[Gauss]

Hand slot is not a weapon. Hand slot is what you are wearing on your hand. IE: Gloves or gauntlets. Note: rings are finger slots.

- Gauss

[setzer9999]

Thanks!

I'm assuming that is it? There isn't a way to tie the weapon to a cord around your waist or a weapon that magically sheathes itself?

[The Sleeping Dragon]

Actually a weapon cord is available. Check it out on the d20pfsrd. Its a non magical common thing.

[Gauss]

Sleeping Dragon: As Setzer9999 stated in his OP, you cannot use another weapon while a weapon is hanging from your hand via a weapon cord.

- Gauss

[Silent Saturn]

My personal favorite method is the halfling sling staff-- a single two-handed weapon that is both a melee and ranged weapon. No switching necessary!

The drawback is, of course, you pretty much have to be a halfling or burn a ton of feats, and there's the whole "loading a sling" thing. The upside is that you only have to take Weapon Focus once.

[Jack Spellsword]

in 3.5 there was the swordbow, it could switch between the 2(forget what type of action it is tho) they also had a light version (representing a rapier and shortbow) and a great version (representing a greatsword and composite longbow)

Edit: Just found it,
SWORDBOW
Price: 6,375 gp

This +1 longbow changes into a +1 longsword (or vice versa) when activated. You can interchange bow and sword attacks as part of the same
full attack action.

Prerequisites: Craft Magic Arms and Armor, shrink item, elf.
Cost to Create: 3,000 gp (plus 375 gp for masterwork longbow), 240 XP, 6 days.

This is for a standard Swordbow, a Great Swordbow, would be made of a greatsword and a composite longbow

[Anonymous Visitor 163 576]

You could fight sword and dagger, and throw when needed.

[Bertious]

Throw Chakram you can also use them in melee at -1 to hit but it's best to be in heavy armor if you do.

[Greycloak of Bowness]

Javelins work wonders for switch hitting too, especially for switching back to ranged, just hold your melee weapon with one hand and chuck another stick at your problems.

[Orc Boyz]

my issue with gloves of storing , is that they become useless when you hit level 5 and get gloves of dueling assuming you're playing a fighter.

[Gauss]

Orc Boyz, add Gloves of Dueling to the Gloves of Storing. costs 50% extra. (CRB p553, Adding New Abilities)

- Gauss

[Orc Boyz]

IF your gm allows that, mine doesn't.technically item creation is supposed to be a gm only table, but in pathfinder they put it in the CRB to make things easier.

[Gauss]

Item Creation is not GM only. The custom item table is. Thankfully, this is not part of that table. It is part of the general rules on creating magic items. It is even represented by several magic items that combine abilities. (Headbands and Belts for example.)

- Gauss

[PSY850]

most switch hitters I've seen running are rangers for the feats without prereqs for the archery. This may just be my group demographics tendencies, but it seems to make sense also.

Asta
PSY

P.S. Forgot to add my solution for not dropping a weapon for switch hitting. glove of storing is involved, but for the oddball need to shoot in the middle of a fight situation instead of just dropping the weapon my DM has let me lose one attack out of a full to basically stab the sword into the ground while popping the bow back out of the glove. picking it up is then just a swift action, which for most rangers/fighters isn't a problem =)/

Asta again
PSY

[Ryu Kaijitsu]

^^
As Gauss said, talk the item creation over with the GM.

[Kat Tenser]

Use a longsword, and hold your bow in hand (preferably with a buckler) and longsword in the other.

[Umbranus]

Silent Saturn wrote:

My personal favorite method is the halfling sling staff-- a single two-handed weapon that is both a melee and ranged weapon. No switching necessary!

The drawback is, of course, you pretty much have to be a halfling or burn a ton of feats, and there's the whole "loading a sling" thing. The upside is that you only have to take Weapon Focus once.

It's not really a twohanded weapon.

The description clearly states, that you can fire it onehanded.

SRD wrote:

You can fire, but not load, a halfling sling staff with one hand

And in melee it works like a club, a onehanded weapon, too.