Cover question. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Cover question. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Arcezzu
07-24-06, 07:45 PM Just a quick question...does the AC bonus for the target for cover stack with the BAB penalty for shooting into melee? Makes sense that it would, but there's a lot of rules based on game balancing and not logic, so i'm not entirely sure.

So to clarify: If you're 'A', your buddy's 'B' and the enemy you're shooting at is 'C' (and you don't have precise shot) would you take -4, or -8.

A BC

Thanks in advance.
Maesto
07-24-06, 07:53 PM Yup, you take -8 to hit. Yeah, sucks to be an archer. That's why precise shot is so useful. Improved Precise Shot is even better - you don't take the -4 ;-)

Cheers,

Jolyon
Arcezzu
07-24-06, 08:21 PM There will always be a special place in my heart for people who hide in the back, taking potshots at their foes.

Besides, knowing the problems they face, they can then take actions (and feats) to counter them. Knowing is half the battle and all that.

Thanks for your prompt responce.
pedr
07-25-06, 03:50 AM Technically speaking - and sometime's it's important to be precise when playing or DMing as combat can be complicated and details can get missed - cover adds to the defender's AC. So you are at -4 to hit and the defender is at +4 to AC. While that has the effect of being a -8 penalty to hit, there is a danger that this will be double-counted if the attacter subtracts 8 from the normal result andthe defender adds four to the AC needed to hit.

So this is one place - probably the place where it is very important to make clear what you're subtracting or adding and what you expect the other person (player or DM) to be adding or subtracting.
copper_wyrmling
07-25-06, 10:12 AM In any case where the attacker or defender has situational modifiers to attacks and AC (from invisibility, being prone, squeezing etc), it's important to make sure that someone's counting the modifier, but it's not being counted twice. I normally just explain what I'm taking into account when I give the AC: "I hit AC 15, taking cover into account," or "I hit touch AC 11, but I'm invisible so he's denied his Dex", or "I hit AC 21, I've counted that I'm flanking, I haven't counted that he's prone." This also helps when the NPC may have an ability that the player doesn't know about, like Improved Uncanny Dodge, Blind-Fight or Prone Attack, that negates some of the modifiers.

If you're a spellcasting archer, the Guided Shot spell from the Spell Compendium is a swift action to cast and negates cover and concealment for the rest of the round.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Arcezzu 07-24-06, 07:45 PM	Just a quick question...does the AC bonus for the target for cover stack with the BAB penalty for shooting into melee? Makes sense that it would, but there's a lot of rules based on game balancing and not logic, so i'm not entirely sure. So to clarify: If you're 'A', your buddy's 'B' and the enemy you're shooting at is 'C' (and you don't have precise shot) would you take -4, or -8. A BC Thanks in advance.
Maesto 07-24-06, 07:53 PM	Yup, you take -8 to hit. Yeah, sucks to be an archer. That's why precise shot is so useful. Improved Precise Shot is even better - you don't take the -4 ;-) Cheers, Jolyon
Arcezzu 07-24-06, 08:21 PM	There will always be a special place in my heart for people who hide in the back, taking potshots at their foes. Besides, knowing the problems they face, they can then take actions (and feats) to counter them. Knowing is half the battle and all that. Thanks for your prompt responce.
pedr 07-25-06, 03:50 AM	Technically speaking - and sometime's it's important to be precise when playing or DMing as combat can be complicated and details can get missed - cover adds to the defender's AC. So you are at -4 to hit and the defender is at +4 to AC. While that has the effect of being a -8 penalty to hit, there is a danger that this will be double-counted if the attacter subtracts 8 from the normal result andthe defender adds four to the AC needed to hit. So this is one place - probably the place where it is very important to make clear what you're subtracting or adding and what you expect the other person (player or DM) to be adding or subtracting.
copper_wyrmling 07-25-06, 10:12 AM	In any case where the attacker or defender has situational modifiers to attacks and AC (from invisibility, being prone, squeezing etc), it's important to make sure that someone's counting the modifier, but it's not being counted twice. I normally just explain what I'm taking into account when I give the AC: "I hit AC 15, taking cover into account," or "I hit touch AC 11, but I'm invisible so he's denied his Dex", or "I hit AC 21, I've counted that I'm flanking, I haven't counted that he's prone." This also helps when the NPC may have an ability that the player doesn't know about, like Improved Uncanny Dodge, Blind-Fight or Prone Attack, that negates some of the modifiers. If you're a spellcasting archer, the Guided Shot spell from the Spell Compendium is a swift action to cast and negates cover and concealment for the rest of the round.