Keep in mind that every action in combat has a reaction, and that reaction needs to make sense in the narrative. So a far weapon would stop them from being harmed by a monster that only does up close damage if that's what you want as the GM. Alternatively, the monster could choose to move to the person with a ranged weapon and hit, thus pulling it away from something else. Or the monster could hit someone closer like another hero or someone who is in danger. With clash, the player inflicts damage and the monster responds with damage in a way that makes narrative sense, and it doesn't have to be to the person who fired the far weapon. Does that help?