Ranged touch and melee [Archive] - Wizards Community

Ranged touch and melee [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
crotalus8
05-20-07, 11:40 AM Does a ranged touch attack get the same penalties if fired into melee as a typical ranged attack? One of my players wanted to disrupt undead and was arguing that he shouldn't be penalized for trying to avoid hitting his teammate.

I looked for an answer, but I have a -3 to my Spot check and -5 to Search.
Optimized_Commoner
05-20-07, 12:15 PM Yes.

Complete Arcane, page 73.
Raveni
05-20-07, 02:14 PM That's why my blaster sorcerer has Precise Shot. The others in my party really appreciate it when I weaken or kill things that are about to pound on them in melee with my ray spells.

If you're looking for core references, check out the PHB p.175 for aiming ray spells like a ranged weapon and p.140 for shooting ranged weapons into melee.
MarkB
05-20-07, 02:51 PM Yes, the -4 for firing into melee applies. So does the +4 cover bonus to the target's AC if someone is partially blocking line-of-sight between him and the caster, whether an ally or an opponent. That combination can give an opponent a pretty high effective touch AC, so the experienced caster should be careful of it.
goawayugh
05-21-07, 09:38 AM A ranged touch attack is a ranged attack and subject to any bonuses/penalties that any other normal ranged attack would be. The "touch" part only describes which AC you need to hit.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
crotalus8 05-20-07, 11:40 AM	Does a ranged touch attack get the same penalties if fired into melee as a typical ranged attack? One of my players wanted to disrupt undead and was arguing that he shouldn't be penalized for trying to avoid hitting his teammate. I looked for an answer, but I have a -3 to my Spot check and -5 to Search.
Optimized_Commoner 05-20-07, 12:15 PM	Yes. Complete Arcane, page 73.
Raveni 05-20-07, 02:14 PM	That's why my blaster sorcerer has Precise Shot. The others in my party really appreciate it when I weaken or kill things that are about to pound on them in melee with my ray spells. If you're looking for core references, check out the PHB p.175 for aiming ray spells like a ranged weapon and p.140 for shooting ranged weapons into melee.
MarkB 05-20-07, 02:51 PM	Yes, the -4 for firing into melee applies. So does the +4 cover bonus to the target's AC if someone is partially blocking line-of-sight between him and the caster, whether an ally or an opponent. That combination can give an opponent a pretty high effective touch AC, so the experienced caster should be careful of it.
goawayugh 05-21-07, 09:38 AM	A ranged touch attack is a ranged attack and subject to any bonuses/penalties that any other normal ranged attack would be. The "touch" part only describes which AC you need to hit.