Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - Technical & Gameplay Problems Nature's Snare - Fly Trap

The effect is not triggered in ranged combat (throwing weapon) only in melee combat, but the description does not say otherwise:
https://baldursgate3.wiki.fextralife.com/Fly+Trap

Either the effect is buggy or the description must explicitly mention that Fly Trap is only available in melee combat.

In general, all melee weapons with effects should have a note in the description that the effect is also only available for melee and not as a throwing weapon if it is intended to be so...

Last time I used this the Fly Trap ability even triggered on a miss. Super crazy weapon can restrain on any attack, even a miss.

I agree on hit effects should apply when thrown, as long as the weapon has the "Thrown" property. My assumption has always been that if a weapon isn't a throwing one, then its on hit effects, along with its normal attack stats, don't apply. But I guess there could be an argument that they should. Hmm, I could be persuaded either way I think. Is this something 5e has a ruling on?


Did it? It's a while since I used it, but it does seem that the fly trap effect should only apply if your attack hits!

Indeed they dont't have the thrown property, but it's illogical. Imagine a melee spear whose magical thorns poison. Now you throw this spear and suddenly the thorns and / or the poison disappear or whatever happens just to not apply an effect... I'd like it better if they also used their effects as a throwing weapon and inflict.

Ok I just found out that there is probably a Feat http://dnd5e.wikidot.com/feat:thrown-arms-master for this, but as of now you can't test it.

But that should not be a reason for a lack of concrete description. At the very least, a better description should avoid confusion, and there simply isn't any.

I can't find an official ruling other than reading the description of existing wands/staves/rods (https://www.aidedd.org/dnd-filters/magic-items.php).
Those descriptions always seem to indicate "while holding" before explaining the magical effect(s) of those "weapons".

Which, sounds logical to me : not only are those items probably the arcane focus (which needs to be held to cast spells) of the character trying to throw it, but they would most probably be the focus of the magic they hold.

However, it indeed would be great if they updated the description for this staff (and many other objects) to be more accurate and avoid confusion.

Thanks for doing the research, both!

And I also agree that item descriptions generally, and on this point specifically, could be a lot clearer.