Thrown Weapons

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Thrown Weapons skill allows the user to HURL a weapon at a target. Most weapons can be hurled, but only a few types are ideal for throwing. Daggers, handaxes, war hammers, pila, and spears are effective in melee but are well suited for throwing, while javelins, nets, darts, bolas, quoits, and discus are specifically designed to be thrown. Many thrown weapons users carry a shield in one hand for defense, and maintain a supply of throwing weapons that they hurl at the enemy. It is a good idea to have multiple throwing weapons, as some may lodge in an opponent or fly too far off their mark to easily recover. There are some rare magical weapons of the thrown variety that can return to their user, and even rarer are some that produce a limitless supply of unstable thrown weapons for their owners.

Effectively using thrown weapons requires a more intensive training plan than other weapon styles. Many thrown weapons users carry a shield in one hand for defense, and additionally train in the melee weapon skill associated with the weapon type (for example, Edged Weapons for thrown handaxes or Polearms for thrown spears) as well as possibly Brawling for defense when the weapon has been thrown and they are left with an empty hand. Because of the difficulty in training and in acquiring specialized equipment, those proficient in thrown weapons are quite rare among adventurers.

While almost any weapon can be hurled, trying to hurl an extremely heavy weapon may cause physical injury to the hurler. Strength plays a role in determining how heavy of a weapon can be hurled.

Ranks and Training Costs

Type Square Semi Pure
Profession Rogue Warrior Monk Bard Paladin Ranger Cleric Empath Savant Sorcerer Wizard
Max Ranks Per Level 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 - 1 1
Training Point Cost 2/1 2/1 2/1 3/1 5/1 3/1 9/3 9/3 - 9/3 8/2

Mechanics

The calculation of a character's Attack Strength while using thrown weapons depends on a character's Dexterity, Thrown Weapons skill, Perception ranks, and Combat Maneuvers ranks.

Thrown AS =   [(STR Bonus + DEX Bonus) / 2]
            + Thrown Weapons Skill Bonus
            + [(Perception Ranks + Combat Maneuvers Ranks) / 4]
            + Weapon Enchantment

Note: If you train more than twice per level in perception ranks, they add no further benefit.

Thrown AS can be further increased with any spells or effects that provide generic AS benefits. However, note that certain AS-increasing spells only affect melee (for example, a Paladin's Zealot) and do not help with thrown weapons.

The Ambush and Combat Maneuvers skills factor into aimed hurled attacks from the open. Ambush skill alone is taken into account when aiming from hiding (see post).

As with ranged weapons, strength affects a character's roundtime when using thrown weapons. Unlike with Ranged Weapons, encumbrance severely affects the amount of roundtime one incurs when throwing.

Damage Factors and AvDs

This table only shows specialized throwing weapons. For other weapons that can be hurled, the DF/AvD is typically the same as their melee values.

Weapon AG Cloth Leather Scale Chain Plate RT Min RT Damage Type STR/DU
AsG 1 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20


Net DF .050 .050 .030 .040 .010 7 3 Unbalance 45/160
AvD 25 25 24 23 22 30 28 26 24 40 36 32 28 50 44 38 32
Dart DF .125 .100 .075 .055 .050 2 3 Puncture 10/85
AvD 35 30 29 28 27 25 23 21 19 20 16 12 8 10 4 -2 -8
Bola DF .200 .150 .100 .110 .060 5 3 Crush 12/75
AvD 25 20 19 18 17 30 28 26 24 25 21 17 13 35 29 23 17
Quoit DF .250 .225 .150 .100 .050 5 3 Slash 60/155
AvD 40 35 34 33 32 30 28 26 24 25 21 17 13 30 24 18 12
Discus DF .250 .225 .150 .175 .050 5 3 Crush 60/195
AvD 40 35 34 33 32 30 28 26 24 25 21 17 13 30 24 18 12
Javelin DF .400 .300 .250 .250 .100 4 3 Puncture 17/105
AvD 27 28 27 25 25 26 24 22 20 29 25 21 17 20 14 8 2

Please note that the minimum RT listed is for use when hurled; to determine the minimum RT for use in melee combat, please see the equivalent melee weapon as listed on the play.net Weapon Guide: Thrown Weapons.

Specialized Equipment

Certain rare items can make throwing weapons more effective as an option in combat. However, these tend to be difficult to find or expensive.

Resources

References