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Dwarven Thrower

Dwarven Thrower
  • Category: Weapon (Warhammer)
  • Rarity: Very Rare (Requires Attunement by a Dwarf or a Creature Attuned to a Belt of Dwarvenkind)

You gain a +3 bonus to attack rolls and damage rolls made with this magic weapon. It has the Thrown property with a normal range of 20 feet and a long range of 60 feet. When you hit with a ranged attack using this weapon, it deals an extra 1d8 Force damage, or an extra 2d8 Force damage if the target is a Giant. Immediately after hitting or missing, the weapon flies back to your hand.

Tactical Applications​

Combat Strategy: Versatile weapon that functions as both melee and ranged option. Returns automatically when thrown and gains bonuses against giants. Excellent for hit-and-run tactics.

Class Synergies:

  • Fighters: Multiple attacks make the returning property extremely valuable
  • Rangers: Perfect for switching between ranged and melee as needed
  • Barbarians: Giant-slaying bonuses complement rage damage against large foes
  • Any Class: The versatility benefits all martial character builds

Build Considerations: Requires Strength to maximize effectiveness. The giant-slaying property makes it situationally devastating in giant-heavy campaigns.

Acquisition Methods​

Crafting Requirements: Requires master dwarven smiths, giant-bane enchantments, and aerodynamic balancing. Creation cost 30,000-50,000 gp and takes 3 months.

Common Sources:

  • Ancient dwarven armories and weapon vaults
  • Rewards from dwarven military orders for giant-slaying deeds
  • Inheritance from legendary dwarven giant-hunters
  • Trophy rooms of defeated giant chieftains
  • Commission from master dwarven weaponsmiths

Alternative Acquisition: Sometimes found embedded in the skulls of ancient giant skeletons or discovered in giant-hunting lodge collections.

Value & Trade​

Estimated Value: 40,000-80,000 gp, with premium pricing in regions plagued by giant threats.

Trade Considerations: Highly sought after by giant-hunters and military forces facing large enemy threats. Dwarven communities may offer cultural context.

Character Integration​

Roleplay Elements: Suggests experience hunting giants, connections to dwarven military traditions, or specialized combat training against large foes.

Character Concepts:

  • Professional giant-hunter or bounty hunter
  • Veteran of wars against giant tribes
  • Member of a dwarven giant-slaying order
  • Character trained in anti-giant combat tactics

Adventure Hooks​

The Giant Threat: Giants have been raiding settlements, requiring specialized weapons to effectively combat their superior reach and strength.

The Clan Honor: A dwarven clan needs champions to reclaim ancestral lands from giant occupiers using traditional weapons.

The Weapon's History: Tracing the weapon's previous owners leads to uncovering ancient conflicts between dwarves and giants.

The Trophy Hunt: Legendary giants carry bounties that can only be claimed with proof of specific weapon kills.

Variants & Customization​

Legendary Dwarven Thrower (Legendary): +3 bonus, deals double damage to giants, and gains additional returning distance.

Storm Giant Thrower (Very Rare): Enhanced against storm giants specifically, with lightning damage on thrown attacks.

Fire Giant Bane (Very Rare): Deals additional fire damage and provides resistance to fire when wielded.

Specialized Variants:

  • Clan Weapon: Bears specific dwarven clan markings and history
  • Dragon Thrower: Adapted for use against draconic threats
  • Siege Breaker: Enhanced for destroying giant-built fortifications

Lore & History​

Origins: Forged during the ancient wars between dwarven kingdoms and giant tribes, representing dwarven ingenuity in asymmetric warfare.

Historical Significance: These weapons turned the tide in numerous battles by allowing dwarven warriors to engage giants at range while maintaining melee capability.

Cultural Impact: Symbols of dwarven resistance against giant oppression and the importance of specialized tools for specialized threats.

Magical Craft: Combines traditional dwarven smithing with enchantments specifically designed to counter giant advantages in reach and strength.

Balancing Notes​

Introduction Timing: Appropriate for levels 8-14 when giant threats become common and the weapon's specialized nature provides clear value.

Campaign Impact: Particularly valuable in campaigns featuring giants. The returning property eliminates ammunition concerns for thrown weapons.

Situational Power: Devastating against giants but balanced against other enemy types by being 'just' a +1 weapon otherwise.

Encounter Design​

Recommended Challenges:

  • Combat encounters with giants and other large creatures
  • Scenarios requiring both ranged and melee capabilities
  • Situations where weapon retrieval would normally be problematic
  • Cultural encounters with dwarven giant-hunting traditions

Tactical Adjustments: Giants may prioritize disarming or destroying the weapon if they recognize its threat.

Giant-Slaying Equipment: Giant Slayer sword and other items specifically designed to combat oversized foes.

Dwarven Weapons:

  • Dwarven Plate
  • Belt of Dwarvenkind
  • Other culturally significant dwarven magical items

Complementary Equipment: Items that enhance throwing accuracy or provide additional bonuses against large creatures.

Roleplay Opportunities​

Cultural Heritage: The weapon connects characters to dwarven military traditions and giant-hunting culture.

Tactical Expertise: Characters develop specialized knowledge of fighting large creatures and asymmetric combat.

Historical Connection: Each weapon carries stories of previous wielders and their battles against giant-kind.