Using a flask of acid, alchemist's fire, holy water, or oil as a weapon requires an attack with a ranged improvised weapon. Other than taking Tavern Brawler, is there anything that applies you proficiency bonus to such weapons? (oh, and 'splashing' it at 5' means disadvantage, since it counts as a ranged attack).
I've allowed this in a past game with a character who wanted to make this part of their build from the start. They really wanted their character to be this bombardier type guy. I figured training to throw a flask as a ranged weapon wouldn't be any harder than learning to use, say, a crossbow. Mechanically it was fine. Damage wise it's comparable to other ranged weapons. It's a lot more expensive than regular ranged ammo though.
But for RAW, yeah, just the feat as far as I know too
I've allowed this in a past game with a character who wanted to make this part of their build from the start. They really wanted their character to be this bombardier type guy. I figured training to throw a flask as a ranged weapon wouldn't be any harder than learning to use, say, a crossbow. Mechanically it was fine. Damage wise it's comparable to other ranged weapons. It's a lot more expensive than regular ranged ammo though.
But for RAW, yeah, just the feat as far as I know too
It’s a lot easier to shoot a crossbow, then to, say: start throwing a fastball 100mph when you’ve never thrown harder than 74mph.
physical limitations that you can’t overcome in the flask throwing scenario. Where a crossbow is a tool, provided there’s no mental limitation to stop you. Or a physical one, but that physical one probably stops you from throwing a flask too.
If you're talking about weapon master feat, "Improvised" is not a weapon type you can take a proficiency in. "Improvised" is not a weapon type at all. That's kind of the point of it being improvised.
There are also physical limitations to using any kind of bow. It's why irl they are rated in pounds of pull. But as I mentioned. If someone is trained to throw flasks instead of something else I don't see the difference. If crossbow doesn't work as an example, how about a javelin, trident, light hammer, hand axe? A trident is 4lbs and you can throw it 20/60 ft
If you're talking about weapon master feat, "Improvised" is not a weapon type you can take a proficiency in. "Improvised" is not a weapon type at all. That's kind of the point of it being improvised.
While this is my reading of it too, there are some people on this forum who would say "an improvised weapon is a weapon, it has weapon right in the name."
If you're talking about weapon master feat, "Improvised" is not a weapon type you can take a proficiency in. "Improvised" is not a weapon type at all. That's kind of the point of it being improvised.
While this is my reading of it too, there are some people on this forum who would say "an improvised weapon is a weapon, it has weapon right in the name."
The problem is that it isn't a single weapon. You could probably take proficiency in any given improvised weapon.
If you're talking about weapon master feat, "Improvised" is not a weapon type you can take a proficiency in. "Improvised" is not a weapon type at all. That's kind of the point of it being improvised.
While this is my reading of it too, there are some people on this forum who would say "an improvised weapon is a weapon, it has weapon right in the name."
Even allowing that point, the feat explicitly says that the weapons you take proficiency in must be simple or martial. Plus, "improvised weapon" isn't a single thing, it's a classification. If you were going to allow it with the Weapon Master feat, you'd have to be a lot more specific than just "improvised weapons". It'd have to be something like "proficient in swinging a chair" or something similar. Weapon master doesn't let you take proficiency in "martial weapons", or even "simple ranged weapons", you have to pick the specific weapons aka "dagger", "longbow", etc.
If you're talking about weapon master feat, "Improvised" is not a weapon type you can take a proficiency in. "Improvised" is not a weapon type at all. That's kind of the point of it being improvised.
While this is my reading of it too, there are some people on this forum who would say "an improvised weapon is a weapon, it has weapon right in the name."
Even allowing that point, the feat explicitly says that the weapons you take proficiency in must be simple or martial. Plus, "improvised weapon" isn't a single thing, it's a classification. If you were going to allow it with the Weapon Master feat, you'd have to be a lot more specific than just "improvised weapons". It'd have to be something like "proficient in swinging a chair" or something similar. Weapon master doesn't let you take proficiency in "martial weapons", or even "simple ranged weapons", you have to pick the specific weapons aka "dagger", "longbow", etc.
I thought it was obvious we were talking about “flasks”.
but I do see where I lazily worded it as a “catchall”
Here's a couple observations. Under improvised weapons it says you can use it with a proficiency bonus if you are proficient with a weapon that the improvised weapon closely resembles.
My advice, find some orb shaped flasks and use the Sling proficiency. Apparently some heavy slings could hurl stones as large as a tennis ball. That's a big stone!
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
Using a flask of acid, alchemist's fire, holy water, or oil as a weapon requires an attack with a ranged improvised weapon. Other than taking Tavern Brawler, is there anything that applies you proficiency bonus to such weapons? (oh, and 'splashing' it at 5' means disadvantage, since it counts as a ranged attack).
I think Tavern Brawler is the only thing.
Canto alla vita
alla sua bellezza
ad ogni sua ferita
ogni sua carezza!
I sing to life and to its tragic beauty
To pain and to strife, but all that dances through me
The rise and the fall, I've lived through it all!
I've allowed this in a past game with a character who wanted to make this part of their build from the start. They really wanted their character to be this bombardier type guy. I figured training to throw a flask as a ranged weapon wouldn't be any harder than learning to use, say, a crossbow. Mechanically it was fine. Damage wise it's comparable to other ranged weapons. It's a lot more expensive than regular ranged ammo though.
But for RAW, yeah, just the feat as far as I know too
That's what happens when you wear a helmet your whole life!
My house rules
There is a feat where you can add weapon proficiencies. You could do improvised weapons as one.
It’s a lot easier to shoot a crossbow, then to, say: start throwing a fastball 100mph when you’ve never thrown harder than 74mph.
physical limitations that you can’t overcome in the flask throwing scenario. Where a crossbow is a tool, provided there’s no mental limitation to stop you. Or a physical one, but that physical one probably stops you from throwing a flask too.
Watch me on twitch
If you're talking about weapon master feat, "Improvised" is not a weapon type you can take a proficiency in. "Improvised" is not a weapon type at all. That's kind of the point of it being improvised.
There are also physical limitations to using any kind of bow. It's why irl they are rated in pounds of pull. But as I mentioned. If someone is trained to throw flasks instead of something else I don't see the difference. If crossbow doesn't work as an example, how about a javelin, trident, light hammer, hand axe? A trident is 4lbs and you can throw it 20/60 ft
That's what happens when you wear a helmet your whole life!
My house rules
While this is my reading of it too, there are some people on this forum who would say "an improvised weapon is a weapon, it has weapon right in the name."
The problem is that it isn't a single weapon. You could probably take proficiency in any given improvised weapon.
Even allowing that point, the feat explicitly says that the weapons you take proficiency in must be simple or martial. Plus, "improvised weapon" isn't a single thing, it's a classification. If you were going to allow it with the Weapon Master feat, you'd have to be a lot more specific than just "improvised weapons". It'd have to be something like "proficient in swinging a chair" or something similar. Weapon master doesn't let you take proficiency in "martial weapons", or even "simple ranged weapons", you have to pick the specific weapons aka "dagger", "longbow", etc.
I thought it was obvious we were talking about “flasks”.
but I do see where I lazily worded it as a “catchall”
Watch me on twitch
I would probably let an artificer with the alchemist specialization be proficient for free.
I'd look at the character's background.
Faction Agent, Gladiator, Sailor? Yeah, probably, I could imagine those people needing to throw things.
Acolyte, Sage? No, probably not.
Here's a couple observations. Under improvised weapons it says you can use it with a proficiency bonus if you are proficient with a weapon that the improvised weapon closely resembles.
My advice, find some orb shaped flasks and use the Sling proficiency. Apparently some heavy slings could hurl stones as large as a tennis ball. That's a big stone!