Does anyone ever throw Daggers?

[Count Mohawk]

Much like opening a door with the Genie spell, throwing a Dagger at a distant enemy seems like one of those game mechanics that nobody uses.
Most Heroes would much rather buy a Crossbow. Even the Wizard, whose options at the Armory are horribly anemic, won't waste his gold on them, except occasionally as raw materials to convert to gold with random Oils of Alchemy.

So the question then becomes: is the fact that nobody throws Daggers a bug or a feature?
If it's a bug, then the correct solution is the same as it is for every other aspect of Hero Quest: add an item that encourages the desired behavior. For example:

Lightning Pouch
This luxurious velvet-lined pouch is prone to static discharge.
Whenever you throw a Dagger to attack a monster, roll two combat dice instead of one.

Admittedly, Dagger-throwing is an activity that more befits the archetype of a Thief or Ninja than a Wizard, but those would already be custom Heroes, so there.

for those curious, this thread was inspired by recent discussion in the HQ25 Artifacts thread, regarding what options to give the Wizard

[Anderas]

I have never seen it. I mean. For two daggers you get a scout.

No, never.

My last group also had all the gold in a big pot and decided centrally what to buy next, so there was never any "left over" money that the Wizard didn't know how to spend.

[clmckay]

I only see it in the base game, really. Maybe once or twice in KK or RotWL. Never in the other expansions where the gold can be spent on better things for the Wizard.

[Thor-in]

Nope, can't say that I have.

I normally hang onto it and sell it back to the GM for a portion of the price because it's a "used weapon" (if the house rules allow for that).

Now maybe the Wizard could have some special ability or magic spell(s) that let's him/her a way to enchant the dagger. Where if it was to be thrown it comes back to the Wizard like the Glaive.

[The Admiral]

Very rare. I have decreased the cost of my daggers to 20gc. This also avoids the silly half gc leftover if you sell one. If this really is a problem, then why not reduce the cost to 10 gold coins? If the base game is where the Wizard uses them the most, then let him get a few more for his hard earned gold.

[mitchiemasha]

Daggers are lost so no... Adding 'Lost weapons are found if the area it was thrown in is searched' increases chance of use. Wording it this way keeps the original rule intact as weapons are still lost, but, until searched.

My Assassin skill: Equipped daggers thrown for free. That would make for 2 weak attacks in 1 turn or 1 normal attack after a thrown attack. Once equipped with the Bandolier: Daggers are equipped off hand, max 4. Makes for max 6 (although most would go 4 daggers and a sword)... And no, Searching with your remaining Action doesn't get to attack all over again. Even if the Hero has the thief skill: Search in the presence of monsters.

[torilen]

Throwing daggers needs a few adjustments to the game, which many are opposed to.

Decrease the cost.

Make it so they can be picked back up, with a small chance of it being damaged when thrown (Phoenix's idea that I stole).

Allow "upgrades" for drawing and throwing more daggers at a time in the future.

Create new magical weapons - daggers - that do more when thrown.

[lestodante]

Magical Throwing Dagger is an artifact from the NA Kellar's Keep pack.
What do you think about making some dagger tiles to place on the floor where a monster is hit by the dagger? So any player (and maybe monster too) stepping on that tile can collect and reuse the dagger.

[Pancho]

I'm of the opinion that daggers are essential for a good wizard.
It might be rare that a wizard actually throws a dagger, but I like them as a safety net. The wizard can't use other missile weapons, and he only has a limited number of spells that can take down a monster or be used to escape from a tricky situation - so a thrown dagger just might kill that foe that would otherwise attack on Morcar's turn and finish off the wizard hero. The wizard will need to throw a skull (50/50), and then get lucky with the monsters defence roll, but it has been known to save lives in a few games I have played. Heck, there's no harm in stock-piling a few daggers anyway, there's not much else he'll be able to spend money on anyway in the base game.

[mitchiemasha]

Make it so they can be picked back up, with a small chance of it being damaged when thrown (Phoenix's idea that I stole).

If using Black Shields for damage it automatically includes this. As Daggers are a 1Cd6 weapon, rolling 1 black shield in attack and you've lost it for good.