Thrown Weapon Trait, Shooting Starknives, and The Meaning Of A Gun

[Sasha Laranoa Harving]

I thought this was a particularly funny interaction that I don't think was intentional.

Thrown weapon trait, SF Playtest Rulebook pg. 176 wrote:

You can throw this weapon as a ranged attack; it is a ranged weapon when thrown. You add your Strength modifier to damage as you would for a melee weapon. When this trait appears on a melee weapon, it also includes the range increment. Ranged weapons with this trait use the range increment in the weapon’s Range entry.

Emphasis mine.

Gun key term, SF Playtest Rulebook pg. 90 wrote:

Any ranged weapon with the analog or tech trait.

Shooting Starknife Traits list, SF Playtest Rulebook pg. 180 wrote:

Agile, analog, deadly d6, finesse, thrown 20 ft., versatile S

My operative player and I agreed that while a shooting starknife, when thrown, is a ranged weapon with the analog trait, it probably shouldn't count as a gun for operative proficiency... But we did get a laugh out of it, and I figured this would be a good place to point it out.

[moosher12]

I was musing about that. The Crossbolter is also a gun. Starfinder 1E had an Analog Bow, which means if it's ported to Starfinder 2E, it'd be considered a gun. Then as you brought up. Is a Starknife a Gun? It's a thrown melee weapon. Even if it isn't a gun. A Shuriken is excluvely a ranged weapon. Is an analog shuriken a gun?

Really at this point, I feel Operator might as well have Expert Proficiency with Simple and Martial Ranged Weapons, and Trained Proficiency with Advanced Ranged Weapons. (If a starknife for example is a gun, I fail to see why an Analog Starknife would get training when thrown, but an Ancient one wouldn't)

[Finoan]

Definitely worth pointing out.

I think the problem is with the definition of 'Gun' key term. It shouldn't be quite that broad. I don't think it should include thrown weapons. Whether those weapons are permanently thrown weapons or melee weapons with the Thrown trait.

[ElementalofCuteness]

Thrown weapons aren't super great so this interaction is hella funny. However what is a gun anyways?

[moosher12]

Yeah, it is weird that "Gun" could include an analog javelin, but not a dwarven clan pistol.