[3.5] Boomerang - Which one is better?

[Another_Poet]

Which seems better, this:

Spoiler

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Light 1-handed martial weapon (thrown)
Weight: 1 lb
Damage: 1d4 (x2)
Range Increment: 10'

A boomerang is a specialised throwing weapon that can return to the hand of the wielder when it is thrown and misses. If the boomerang successfully hits a target it does not return to the thrower, nor does it return to any thrower who is not proficient with the boomerang. Likewise, if a boomerang hits any obstacle (a column or tree, for example) it does not return.

Boomerangs make poor melee weapons and impose a -4 nonproficiency penalty if used as such.

or this:

Spoiler

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Light 1-handed exotic weapon (thrown)
Weight: 1 lb
Damage: 1d6 (x2)
Range Increment: 10'

A boomerang is a specialised throwing weapon that can return to the hand of the wielder when it is thrown and misses. If the boomerang successfully hits a target it does not return to the thrower, nor does it return to any thrower who is not proficient with the boomerang. Likewise, if a boomerang hits any obstacle (a column or tree, for example) it does not return.

Boomerangs make poor melee weapons and impose a -4 nonproficiency penalty if used as such.

[Fax Celestis]

Lemme put it this way: I'd use it if it were martial, but I wouldn't spend a feat on it to get it if it were exotic.

[martyboy74]

Why would one increase in (a low) damage die change the type from martial to exotic? The martial one is far, far better. Maybe if the exotic form had something else, along the lines of a tripping bonus.

[Tengu_temp]

Why would one increase in damage die change the type from martial to exotic?

Because that's the case with most other exotic weapons?

And I like the martial boomerang much better as well.

[FinalJustice]

Unless there are shenanigans to be pulled by PrCs like Exotic Weapon Master, the Martial is far better.

[Lert, A.]

Martial +1.

[TempusCCK]

the nature of the boomerang itself is an exotic weapon, unless of course you're a fighter from a culture that uses them regularly.

But lets face it, this weapon isn't for damage, or even using, it's so that you can put Returning, Burst (Reflavored to Wind Damage), and a homebrew item grabbing property and call it the Gale Boomerang, which is by far the coolest thing in the universe.

[Egiam]

The Eberron Campaign setting introduced the talenta boomerang. It was Exotic, but martial if you were a halfling from the Talenta Plains.

[Zeful]

the nature of the boomerang itself is an exotic weapon, unless of course you're a fighter from a culture that uses them regularly.

But lets face it, this weapon isn't for damage, or even using, it's so that you can put Returning, Burst (Reflavored to Wind Damage), and a homebrew item grabbing property and call it the Gale Boomerang, which is by far the coolest thing in the universe.

Throwing, Returning, Icy Burst Kuhkri= Gale Boomerang

[TengYt]

If the exotic boomerang returned if it hit something, it'd be a reasonably decent choice.

[Shpadoinkle]

If the exotic boomerang returned if it hit something, it'd be a reasonably decent choice.

I second this. Otherwise I'd go with the martial version every time.

[Corlis]

I second this. Otherwise I'd go with the martial version every time.

It is, of course, rather unrealistic for a boomerang to return after hitting a foe, so this is pretty much a matter of how realistic (verisimilitudinistic?) you like your games. For brutal realism, I'd go with an exotic weapon that only returns on misses. For more butt-kicking fantasy, I'd go with an exotic weapon that returns even on hits.

[TempusCCK]

The Bloodstorm Blade Prestige would mimic what you're talking about adequately.

Also, how can you have Icy Burst on the Gale Boomerang? Just reflavor corrosive to deal wind damage, including the visual, and have have to have a grabbing property.

[LibraryOgre]

(verisimilitudinistic?)

I like to say "verisimilitudinous".

[Starscream]

I for one would not waste a feat on getting it if it were exotic, but I can't really imagine that most typical fighters know how to use one.

I'd guess I'd make it exotic, but have certain races and cultures treat it as martial, like with gnomes and their hooked hammers.

[Lemur]

It is, of course, rather unrealistic for a boomerang to return after hitting a foe, so this is pretty much a matter of how realistic (verisimilitudinistic?) you like your games. For brutal realism, I'd go with an exotic weapon that only returns on misses. For more butt-kicking fantasy, I'd go with an exotic weapon that returns even on hits.

For brutal realism, you'd have to face the fact that boomerangs were never meant to be used as ranged weapons in real world history.

[Kyace]

There is such a thing as a hunting boomerang which didn't return to the thrower. Apparently King Tut had a collection of both returning and non-returning boomerangs three thousands years ago.

It doesn't greatly bother me someone using a returning boomerang as a weapon, even if they weren't meant as such. I mean, that's hardly any worse than someone firing six arrows in six seconds.

[Myou]

For brutal realism, you'd have to face the fact that boomerangs were never meant to be used as ranged weapons in real world history.

And that they don't come back. But hey, if a peasant can flood the universe with chickens and a kobold is the most powerful being in all creation, I think we can make a stick return when thrown. xD

[FMArthur]

Would a Brilliant Energy boomerang return even when it hits? Could you catch it or would you have to dodge it?

[Siosilvar]

I'm not sure what people think of this weapon balancing system, but you could take either of the options in the OP and give them a 20ft increment and work out to 100%. I definitely would not shell out a feat for an exotic version unless my entire concept revolved around it (Master Thrower/Exotic Weapon Master?).

[AslanCross]

The Eberron Campaign setting introduced the talenta boomerang. It was Exotic, but martial if you were a halfling from the Talenta Plains.

There's the Xen'Drik Boomerang too, which also requires EWP, but is martial if you're native to the region. The Talenta one deals less damage but goes further. Both return on a miss and require an attack roll against AC 10 to catch.

[Bonecrusher Doc]

What about a boomerang that you can use to deliver Touch Attack spells? Gets close enough to skim the target and deliver the spell, then returns to your hand.

[Malacode]

There are many types of boomerangs in, you know, real life that would be fine in D&D. Australian Aboriginals used many different ones for various purposes, but the best for this purpose was the hunting boomerang. It was more like a curved club than anything lse, and was hurled at whatever animal was being hunted to break its legs. And the range increment of a well made boomerang is well over 10 feet. More like 50/60 (Though that would be one specifically designed for throwing, rather than one used as a weapon)

Edit: Lemur, sorry, you were wrong.

[Shpadoinkle]

There are many types of boomerangs in, you know, real life that would be fine in D&D. Australian Aboriginals used many different ones for various purposes, but the best for this purpose was the hunting boomerang. It was more like a curved club than anything lse, and was hurled at whatever animal was being hunted to break its legs. And the range increment of a well made boomerang is well over 10 feet. More like 50/60 (Though that would be one specifically designed for throwing, rather than one used as a weapon)

Edit: Lemur, sorry, you were wrong.

You do know that the range increment isn't the maximum range of the weapn, right? The maximum range of the weapon is five (for thrown) or ten (for fired) times it's range increment.

[Attilargh]

To be honest, if I ever had to model a boomerang, I'd just take the club and use that. It's blunt, it's made of wood and it can be thrown. Hey presto.

[tcrudisi]

And that they don't come back. But hey, if a peasant can flood the universe with chickens and a kobold is the most powerful being in all creation, I think we can make a stick return when thrown. xD

That's why I always play a Fighter when there's a Druid in the group.

"Fetch the stick for me, boy. Who's a good boy? You are. Yes, you are! Here's a treat!"

[Myou]

That's why I always play a Fighter when there's a Druid in the group.

"Fetch the stick for me, boy. Who's a good boy? You are. Yes, you are! Here's a treat!"

Lol.

Perhaps they could be trained to run out onto the battlefield to retrieve spent arrows as well? :o

[only1doug]

as my call of cthulhu group is fond of saying:

"if i wanted that stick i wouldn't of thrown it away"

[Lemur]

There are many types of boomerangs in, you know, real life that would be fine in D&D. Australian Aboriginals used many different ones for various purposes, but the best for this purpose was the hunting boomerang. It was more like a curved club than anything lse, and was hurled at whatever animal was being hunted to break its legs. And the range increment of a well made boomerang is well over 10 feet. More like 50/60 (Though that would be one specifically designed for throwing, rather than one used as a weapon)

Edit: Lemur, sorry, you were wrong.

Perhaps I should have specified the returning boomerang, since I always thought of the non-returning sort as having a different name, as well as a somewhat different shape.

Note that I have no problem with the use of the returning boomerang as a fantasy weapon, I just wanted to make a point about trying to be realistic about something that's not supposed to be a weapon.

[Another_Poet]

Thanks everyone. I figured the exotic version wasn't worth a feat but it's good to have some support. I'll go with martial and d4.

Hehe... heh heh heh... wait till my players meet these goblins....

*cackle*