Brawler Archive

I have been skilling up the brawling trees equally going from tree to the next starting with hand to hand and ending at pike. My question is this though, when you target a mob it gives you a numer to the left of the HAM bars that ranges from - to +. Now if I am not mistaken isn't this supposed to be a range modifier? If so, why is it when I am using a say a 2 handed curved sword that has +11 range to all three, 0, Ideal and Long I still have a negative range modifier? Is there something else that effects this number as well? Also, when you put on the /follow action does this keep you at the ideal range for Hand to hand or just in range to attack?