just wondering if the throwing skill in any way effects flasks/bombs or are they just skill neutral items? I keep trying to find a rogue build that doesn't die horribly fighting zoos and doesn't constantly run out of bolt ammo. I know the key to both will likely be a tinker/alchemist built for tons of traps, flasks and bombs... but for the ranges side should i take bows for the bigass damage of crafted bolts on a crafted bow... or will throwing give the flasks/bombs some extra punch? Overall looking at something like: Tinker / Alchemist / Sword / Dual Wield / Burglar / Assassin / Throwing or Crossbow. Not taking artful dodger mainly because dual sword will give me crazy counter chance and dodge supersedes that.
The hit effects of items don't scale, only the hit on a target (well they may scale with magic power, but most don't). That said all throwing items scale their hit damage with melee power, and crit much much better than crossbows, because they mostly do mundane damage which scales with crit, unlike bows' piercing damage which does not. As far as procs go crossbows are better though because bows can be kronged, and more bows have procs for shooting than gloves do for throwing. Dodging has a few benefits over counter in that it's more effective versus counter-heavy foes as far as defense goes as they can't counter back. Also artful dodger allows you to blink and stay at a decent range (hopefully).