[DnD 3.5] Question about the Flamer's Range

[theonesin]

In the Dungeon Master's Guide, there's a futuristic weapon called the Flamer. The table says it has a range increment of 20ft, but the text says "deals damage to every square in a 5-ft-wide stream extending out to the flamer's maximum range(200ft)".

Can anyone explain this?

[ericgrau]

Ranged weapons have a maximum range of 5 or 10 range increments (5 is for thrown weapons IIRC). You get a -2 penalty to attack rolls for every increment. What doesn't seem to make sense is whether or not the attack even involves an attack roll.

Alternative answer: forum flamers incite rage in those far outside the range of their discussion.