Concerning reach weapons... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Concerning reach weapons... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
oxbear
09-14-05, 05:21 PM Hi all. I'm sure this question has been posed somewhere, though I can't find a search functionality for the forum. I'm a DM with a PC that uses a reach weapon as her primary means of inflicting pain on everything in the Monster Manual. It's relatively early in the campaign and this hasn't come up all that much, but I'd like to get a definitive answer. I couldn't find anything in any of the core books.

Using a weapon with a reach of 10 feet, such as a polearm, you threaten a range of 10 feet, but not 5 feet (only those 16 squares that are 2 away from you). Can you use the weapon if there is another character (friendly or hostile) between you and the squares you threaten? For example, you are standing in a room behind a fighter that is taking on a bad guy. Can you both strike him? Or you're taking on 2 ranks of bad guys. Can you strike the 2nd row? Granted, this latter situation is not favorable, but then unfavorable situations tend to come up in play.

Anyway, what I have been saying is that is possible for piercing type weapons only, but I really have no published data to back that up. Is there a rule on this somewhere? Thanks for your help.
pres_man
09-14-05, 05:26 PM If there is someone between a reach weapon holder and their target, then the target gets a cover bonus of +4 to their AC. It is under the cover rules in the PHB.
Colmarr
09-15-05, 02:25 AM Presman is correct.

More specifically, from the cover section of the SRD:

When making a melee attack against a target that isn’t adjacent to you (such as with a reach weapon), use the rules for determining cover from ranged attacks.

...

Soft Cover: Creatures, even your enemies, can provide you with cover against ranged attacks, giving you a +4 bonus to AC. However, such soft cover provides no bonus on Reflex saves, nor does soft cover allow you to make a Hide check.
oxbear
09-16-05, 01:01 PM Thanks. I knew there was a rule on it somewhere. Would the rule for firing into melee (another -4 penalty) apply as well? In such a case, the feats Precise Shot and Improved Precise Shot would be useful. Any thoughts?
makeshiftwings
09-16-05, 01:14 PM Thanks. I knew there was a rule on it somewhere. Would the rule for firing into melee (another -4 penalty) apply as well? In such a case, the feats Precise Shot and Improved Precise Shot would be useful. Any thoughts?

No, the only thing that the rules say to "borrow" from the ranged combat rules are the rules for cover. You wouldn't take a penalty for firing into melee. Attacking with a reach weapon is still a melee attack.
Fanged Fremont
09-16-05, 01:19 PM No, the only thing that the rules say to "borrow" from the ranged combat rules are the rules for cover. You wouldn't take a penalty for firing into melee. Attacking with a reach weapon is still a melee attack.

I think what he was asking was would the soft cover provided from a person between you and your target giving the target a +4 to ac stack with the -4 to miss because your target was in melee with an ally when you use a ranged weapon. I'd assume so but I don't know.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
oxbear 09-14-05, 05:21 PM	Hi all. I'm sure this question has been posed somewhere, though I can't find a search functionality for the forum. I'm a DM with a PC that uses a reach weapon as her primary means of inflicting pain on everything in the Monster Manual. It's relatively early in the campaign and this hasn't come up all that much, but I'd like to get a definitive answer. I couldn't find anything in any of the core books. Using a weapon with a reach of 10 feet, such as a polearm, you threaten a range of 10 feet, but not 5 feet (only those 16 squares that are 2 away from you). Can you use the weapon if there is another character (friendly or hostile) between you and the squares you threaten? For example, you are standing in a room behind a fighter that is taking on a bad guy. Can you both strike him? Or you're taking on 2 ranks of bad guys. Can you strike the 2nd row? Granted, this latter situation is not favorable, but then unfavorable situations tend to come up in play. Anyway, what I have been saying is that is possible for piercing type weapons only, but I really have no published data to back that up. Is there a rule on this somewhere? Thanks for your help.
pres_man 09-14-05, 05:26 PM	If there is someone between a reach weapon holder and their target, then the target gets a cover bonus of +4 to their AC. It is under the cover rules in the PHB.
Colmarr 09-15-05, 02:25 AM	Presman is correct. More specifically, from the cover section of the SRD: When making a melee attack against a target that isn’t adjacent to you (such as with a reach weapon), use the rules for determining cover from ranged attacks. ... Soft Cover: Creatures, even your enemies, can provide you with cover against ranged attacks, giving you a +4 bonus to AC. However, such soft cover provides no bonus on Reflex saves, nor does soft cover allow you to make a Hide check.
oxbear 09-16-05, 01:01 PM	Thanks. I knew there was a rule on it somewhere. Would the rule for firing into melee (another -4 penalty) apply as well? In such a case, the feats Precise Shot and Improved Precise Shot would be useful. Any thoughts?
makeshiftwings 09-16-05, 01:14 PM	Thanks. I knew there was a rule on it somewhere. Would the rule for firing into melee (another -4 penalty) apply as well? In such a case, the feats Precise Shot and Improved Precise Shot would be useful. Any thoughts? No, the only thing that the rules say to "borrow" from the ranged combat rules are the rules for cover. You wouldn't take a penalty for firing into melee. Attacking with a reach weapon is still a melee attack.
Fanged Fremont 09-16-05, 01:19 PM	No, the only thing that the rules say to "borrow" from the ranged combat rules are the rules for cover. You wouldn't take a penalty for firing into melee. Attacking with a reach weapon is still a melee attack. I think what he was asking was would the soft cover provided from a person between you and your target giving the target a +4 to ac stack with the -4 to miss because your target was in melee with an ally when you use a ranged weapon. I'd assume so but I don't know.