Best Knife/Dagger/Dart Thrower

[Erock]

I'm trying to figure out a build for a knife thrower a la Chavez in Young Guns. Obviously Dexterity is going to be big, but what Feats might the character want? What would the best class/prestige class/race be?

[_ThePrestige]

As for prestige classes try Master Thrower from CW and Bloodstorm Blade from ToB.
I know halflings get thrown weapon bonuses. Look into their variants in unearthed arcana for extra throwing perks.

[Mr. Mason]

As _ThePrestige mentioned, Master Thrower should be a good choice. With the feats, All Range specific should be good. If you're using Throwing Knives exclusively, you might pick up Weapon Focus: Throwing Knife. Scout and Ranger both come to mind as a base class. Ranger has an alternative class feature that will let you have any Arcane creature for your favored enemy. Either of these classes should make excellent springboards for your character.

Race choice won't make much of a difference, but avoid races with Dex penalties. An elf might be a good choice.

Don't forget that you can poison and enchant the Knives for a little extra damage.

Here is a link to a handbook on scouts... http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75882/19872250/The_Scouts_Handbook

Here is a link to the only Rogue handbook I could find... http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75882/19871666/The_3.5_Rogue_Handbook

I hope this helps!

[Lightlawbliss]

If you are focusing on a thrown weapon, quickdraw might be a good idea (depending on factors like how high of level you are going). If you go dagger, swordsage dip with shadow blade feat is something to consider (and talk with your dm about since the feat doesn't say whether it does or doesn't work with throwing the dagger).

[Beleron]

Whisperknife from Races of the Wild (p.135) is another decent option. I like something like Rogue 1 / Swashbuckler 1 (for Weapon Finesse) Fighter 1 for an extra feat / Rogue +3 / Master Thrower 1 / Whisperknife 1 etc. on a strongheart halfling.

[Feytalist]

If you're specifically going with daggers, check out Invisible Blade. Dagger sneak aggack, some feinting options, wounding strike, and a sup-par Int-to-AC (no-one says you have to use that, though). Could be nice with one or two thrown weapon tricks from Master Thrower. Only works with daggers, though (and punching daggers and kukris, but throwing those is less easy).

[Prince Raven]

I'm with Beleron here, Whisperknives are great. For an optimised dagger throwing specialist I'd recommend a Strongheart Halfling with Rogue 3 / Swashbuckler 3 / Master Thrower 5 / Whisperknife 9. Take the Halfling Rogue racial substitution from Races of the wild to give an extra d6 to ranged sneak attacks and get the Deadeye Shot feat to SA reliably.

[Hytheter]

Whisperknife from Races of the Wild (p.135) is another decent option. I like something like Rogue 1 / Swashbuckler 1 (for Weapon Finesse) Fighter 1 for an extra feat / Rogue +3 / Master Thrower 1 / Whisperknife 1 etc. on a strongheart halfling.

Wait, why Weapon Finesse? Don't you already use DEX for the attack rolls anyway? A thrown weapon counts as a ranged attack after all.

[Prince Raven]

Wait, why Weapon Finesse? Don't you already use DEX for the attack rolls anyway? A thrown weapon counts as a ranged attack after all.

a) Helps you out when you need to go melee.
b) Requirement for Whisperknife.

[Hytheter]

a) Helps you out when you need to go melee.
b) Requirement for Whisperknife.

a) but you still need STR for damage anyway, unless you wanna take the extra 2 levels in swahbuckler for Insightful Strike
b) is fair enough though :smallbiggrin:

[Psyren]

If you were in Pathfinder, The Agile (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic-items/magic-weapons/magic-weapon-special-abilities/agile) weapon property gives you Dex to damage, and you can also grab Piranha Strike (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/piranha-strike-combat) which is basically Power Attack for dextrous melee. You can further pick up Agile Maneuvers (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/agile-maneuvers-combat), letting you add your Dex mod to grapple/trip/etc.

The PF Soulknife (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/psionics-unleashed/classes/soulknife) is useful for a thrower build since you never run out of daggers and can enchant them all without costing a dime. The Nimble Blade (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/psionics-unleashed/classes/soulknife/archetypes/dreamscarred-press/nimble-blade) archetype gets most of the above bonuses for free, plus you can either use your psychic strikes for bonus damage, or swap them out for Gifted Blade, getting some very useful powers in the process.

[Joe the Rat]

I've been dabbling with some simple knife nut builds, mostly coming off of ranger, scout, and/or rogue. Two-weapon fighting should translate into two-weapon throwing for added flinginess. Combining Invisible Blade and Master Thrower does seem to scream "Hi. Daggers."

[Rebel7284]

Is dagger a shadow hand weapon? If yes, Shadow Blade to add dex to damage is good.

[Fax Celestis]

The PF Soulknife (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/psionics-unleashed/classes/soulknife) is useful for a thrower build since you never run out of daggers and can enchant them all without costing a dime. The Nimble Blade (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/psionics-unleashed/classes/soulknife/archetypes/dreamscarred-press/nimble-blade) archetype gets most of the above bonuses for free, plus you can either use your psychic strikes for bonus damage, or swap them out for Gifted Blade, getting some very useful powers in the process.

With the right feat and ability selection, you can end up with infinitely throwable daggers that have an 80' range increment, can attack with both as a standard action, and can ricochet around corners. An example: http://www.dndsheets.net/view.php?id=30925

[Feytalist]

Is dagger a shadow hand weapon? If yes, Shadow Blade to add dex to damage is good.

Yes, and yes. As a bonus, Shadow Blade counts as Weapon Finesse for prerequisite purposes.

[Beleron]

Is dagger a shadow hand weapon? If yes, Shadow Blade to add dex to damage is good.

Dagger is a shadow hand weapon, but Shadow Blade only works for melee. OTOH, it can also sub for Weapon Finesse to qualify for Whisperknife, allowing for Swordsage goodness.

Edit: However, its not free like WF is for Swashbuckler, and costs a point of BAB, so entry to the PrCs is slower.

[IronFist]

If you were in Pathfinder, The Agile (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic-items/magic-weapons/magic-weapon-special-abilities/agile) weapon property gives you Dex to damage, and you can also grab Piranha Strike (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/piranha-strike-combat) which is basically Power Attack for dextrous melee. You can further pick up Agile Maneuvers (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/agile-maneuvers-combat), letting you add your Dex mod to grapple/trip/etc.

The PF Soulknife (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/psionics-unleashed/classes/soulknife) is useful for a thrower build since you never run out of daggers and can enchant them all without costing a dime. The Nimble Blade (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/psionics-unleashed/classes/soulknife/archetypes/dreamscarred-press/nimble-blade) archetype gets most of the above bonuses for free, plus you can either use your psychic strikes for bonus damage, or swap them out for Gifted Blade, getting some very useful powers in the process.

Dude, your Soulknife handbook is badass, please add the feats section soon :smallbiggrin:

[kulosle]

I feel like bloodstorm blade is strictly better than whisperknife. It lets you have automatic returning so you can throw as many daggers as your BAB lets you. Also lets you use power attack with your knifes.

Just so you know invisible blade was nerfed in errata, but it's not broken as it was so my group just plays with the one in the book. Feint as a free action lets you ignore dex and one of the skill tricks lets you ignore armor for creatures bigger than you, and as a halfing thats most of them. So essentially all your attacks will be flat footed touch attacks. So you don't really even need to up your to hit. It's best just to up the number of daggers you can throw in a round. An extra set of arms is a good way. There is also an enhancement that spilts your knifes, but that's expensive to enchant all your daggers with. Now you need some source of extra damage, sneak attack works but i feel that using bard as your base class is better. DFI can add a lot of damage.

[gorfnab]

One build I've used previously:
Strongheart Halfling or Human
1. Rogue - Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Craven, Far Shot, 2x Flaws
2. Swashbuckler - B: Weapon Finesse
3. Rogue - Two Weapon Fighting
4. Rogue - Penetrating Strike ACF(DS)
5. Swashbuckler
6. Swordsage - B: Weapon Focus: Shadow Hand weapons, Shadowblade
7. Swashbuckler
8. Fighter - Hit-and-Run Tactics ACF (DotU - if your DM is lenient), Targeteer ACF (DragMag 310)- Vital Aim
9. Fighter - Targeteer ACF - Rapid Shot, Improved Two Weapon Fighting
10. Swordsage
11. Master Thrower - B: Quick Draw
12. Master Thrower - Dead Eye (DragMag 304)
13. Master Thrower
14. Master Thrower - B: Snatch Arrows
15. Master Thrower - B: Improved Critical, Greater Two Weapon Fighting
16. Invisible Blade
17. Invisible Blade
18. Invisible Blade - Improved Precise Shot
19. Invisible Blade
20. Invisible Blade

Some ideas for getting infinite daggers to throw:
Gauntlet of Infinite Blades (MIC) -ask the DM if you can change it to Free action activation instead of Swift. That way you can get more than one dagger per round.
Glove of Endless Javelins (MIC) - ask the DM if you can change the javelin part to daggers if you also reduce the damage from 1d6+1 to 1d4+1
Quiver of Anariel - ask the DM if you can change the "Quiver" to "Bandoleer" and arrow(s) to dagger(s).
Quiver of Anariel



Quiver of Anariel:Quivers of Anariel appear to be typical arrow containers capable of holding a score of arrows. However, the quivers automatically replenish themselves with standard or magical arrows, such that they are always full. Some quivers also create arrows made of special materials, such as adamantine, cold iron, or alchemical silver.

Once an arrow it taken from the quiver, it must be used within 1 round or it vanishes.

Moderate conjuration; CL 7th; Craft Wondrous Item, magic weapon, minor creation; Price 28,000 gp (standard arrows), 29,000 gp (masterwork arrows), 32,000 gp (+1 arrows), 44,000 gp (+2 arrows), 64,000 gp (+3 arrows), 92,000 gp (+4 arrows), 128,000 gp (+5 arrows); Add an additional +6,000 gp for adamantine arrows, +4,005 gp for cold iron arrows, or +200 gp for alchemical silver arrows; Weight 1 lb.
Thankfully someone saved this article here (http://web.archive.org/web/20070401150041/http:/ww2.wizards.com/Books/Wizards/?doc=fr_lonedrowstats) since WOTC decided to delete the original posting.

Other items to consider:
Rogue's Vest (MIC)
Collar of Umbral Metamorphosis (ToM)
Bracers of the Hunter (SoX)

[Lightlawbliss]

Dagger is a shadow hand weapon, but Shadow Blade only works for melee. OTOH, it can also sub for Weapon Finesse to qualify for Whisperknife, allowing for Swordsage goodness.
...
Assuming your DM isn't willing to give such a low power character a boost by ignoring a technicality (TOB + distance combat = not much to work with).

[Aegis013]

Factotum makes a great base class for a thrower. That Cunning Surge ability and those SLAs can really help a lot. The all skills are class skills and high skill points can really help toward the stat requirements for PrCs too.