COM: Punch Guns and Range Incriments

[Sparrowhawk_92]

Because punch guns are treated as ranged weapons, can you fire a punch gun beyond the range increment of "reach?"

Ranged weapons can usually fire x10 their range increment. Which means a punch gun can fire up to 10x your character's natural reach.

For reference:

COM wrote:

Punch Gun: A punch gun weapon is a small ranged weapon outfitted with a pressure-sensitive firing mechanism that is affixed to a glove or a similar item. Unlike most ranged weapons, which discharge when a trigger is pulled, a punch gun fires when sufficient pressure is placed upon its barrel. All punch gun projectile weapons have a range equal to their wielder’s natural reach. Although these are ranged attacks, they do not provoke attacks of opportunity.

My argument is that RAI is that they can only be used to attack enemies within reach, but the classification as ranged instead of melee weapons (like shell knuckles) does carry the implication that they follow all other rules that apply to ranged weapons, such as being able to fire beyond their range increment.

[Ravien999]

I'd appreciate the clarification. I know many people see this as a tribute to characters like Yang from RWBY who use an inertia driven mechanism to apply pressure as the fist is extended to strike the primer on the shells, albeit with a short distance and inaccurately due to the short barrel.

I think RAI may have intended them to be an allusion to this character (or similar ideas), as many people thought of this character when talking about Shell Knuckles which didn't quite fit, and this is essentially a different version of that weapon, and if not usable at distance, carries no meaningful distinction to the shell knuckles.

[The Penecontemporaneous One]

Liking and FAQ'ing for the good argument and the RWBY reference.

I'm a full season behind...I need to catch up if I ever get a breather from GMing so many roll20 games...

[Pantshandshake]

It literally says it needs pressure against the barrel to fire, rather than a trigger pull. How could you pull that off from a range greater than melee?

@Ravien999: The differences are somewhat minor, but are very pronounced. First and foremost, Punch Gun is a weapon special property, whereas Shell Knuckles are an actual weapon. Secondly, Punch Gun is very specifically a Ranged Attack (that does not provoke), as opposed to Shell Knuckles, which are a melee weapon. Granted, these two attacks happen in the same way, but a Ranged attack even at melee range is a world of difference than a melee attack.