Ranged Attacking a Prone Character [Archive] - Wizards Community

Ranged Attacking a Prone Character [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
gstg
12-17-07, 02:57 AM I'm looking to reduce the -4 for attacking a prone character with a ranged weapon. Is there any feats or skills that lend themselves to this? I have Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Improved Precise Shot. I'm wondering if there has been any ruling that if I were either flying or above the character prone if I could reduce the -4 to hit a prone character.

The reasoning being that if you were aove the prone character you wouldn't lose any outline of the character, which is sort of the reason you get the penalty in the first place, as the target has a reduced outline and thus harder to hit.

Anyways thanks for the time.
Rebel581
12-17-07, 04:47 AM If you're adjacent, they don't get the +4 bonus to AC. You could house rule this to anywhere above them if wanted.
gstg
12-17-07, 05:11 PM Where is that ruling from?
BugHunter
12-17-07, 07:05 PM If you're adjacent, they don't get the +4 bonus to AC. You could house rule this to anywhere above them if wanted.

There is no foot note in the RC on page 15 for being adjacent to a prone target losing the +4 for being prone. You might be stating a house rule to remove the bonus.
elonin
12-17-07, 07:23 PM There are a couple of abilities etc that allow you to ignore concealment up to but excluding total cover. That should apply to this.
gstg
12-17-07, 08:24 PM The primary ranged feat for ignoring cover is Improved Precse Shot, but does anyone have any ruling they know about that would make this feat apply to prone opponents?
gstg
01-11-08, 02:02 AM bump ... wanted to give one last bump to see if anyone has seen anything on this other then jsut DM's option.

Thanks
blade265
01-11-08, 07:09 AM There is no penalty using a crossbow while prone. PHB p311.
Hsien
01-11-08, 08:15 AM There is no penalty using a crossbow while prone. PHB p311.

Correct but the question is about attacking said prone crossbowman, using that example, with a ranged weapon.
blade265
01-11-08, 09:29 AM Sorry misread the question
1 ton ghost
01-11-08, 11:18 AM there is no official ruling, but it stands to reason that there are tactical loopholes in that default ranged combat is implied as horizontal, that is, on a relatively flat plane. if you are flying, just use the Pythagorean Theorem to determine range; 'a' squared X's 'b' squared = 'c' squared.
once you know the distance to the prone target in question, all you really need to do is figure out the degree of attack. protractor time or some geometric DM's license.
-if you are directly overhead (90 degrees, say) of the prone target w/ no tree canopy, foliage (concealment), or cover to speak of, he should NOT get the prone bonus to AC vs. ranged. if anything, you (attacker), should get a bonus, but we're talking defense, right? ok...
-60 degrees or so, call it +1 AC
-45 degrees off, rule it as +2
less, so, +3.
beyond that, you're on equal ground (landed, not flying) to which he should get the full prone bonus.

the higher your altitude, the more difficult it will be to factor the degree of attack. i'd recommend 30 ft. to capitalize on Point Blank Shot, keeps out of reach of melee combatants, and means you're closer to your grounded PC buddies should you need to quickly resussitate one and so on. good hunting.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
gstg 12-17-07, 02:57 AM	I'm looking to reduce the -4 for attacking a prone character with a ranged weapon. Is there any feats or skills that lend themselves to this? I have Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Improved Precise Shot. I'm wondering if there has been any ruling that if I were either flying or above the character prone if I could reduce the -4 to hit a prone character. The reasoning being that if you were aove the prone character you wouldn't lose any outline of the character, which is sort of the reason you get the penalty in the first place, as the target has a reduced outline and thus harder to hit. Anyways thanks for the time.
Rebel581 12-17-07, 04:47 AM	If you're adjacent, they don't get the +4 bonus to AC. You could house rule this to anywhere above them if wanted.
gstg 12-17-07, 05:11 PM	Where is that ruling from?
BugHunter 12-17-07, 07:05 PM	If you're adjacent, they don't get the +4 bonus to AC. You could house rule this to anywhere above them if wanted. There is no foot note in the RC on page 15 for being adjacent to a prone target losing the +4 for being prone. You might be stating a house rule to remove the bonus.
elonin 12-17-07, 07:23 PM	There are a couple of abilities etc that allow you to ignore concealment up to but excluding total cover. That should apply to this.
gstg 12-17-07, 08:24 PM	The primary ranged feat for ignoring cover is Improved Precse Shot, but does anyone have any ruling they know about that would make this feat apply to prone opponents?
gstg 01-11-08, 02:02 AM	bump ... wanted to give one last bump to see if anyone has seen anything on this other then jsut DM's option. Thanks
blade265 01-11-08, 07:09 AM	There is no penalty using a crossbow while prone. PHB p311.
Hsien 01-11-08, 08:15 AM	There is no penalty using a crossbow while prone. PHB p311. Correct but the question is about attacking said prone crossbowman, using that example, with a ranged weapon.
blade265 01-11-08, 09:29 AM	Sorry misread the question
1 ton ghost 01-11-08, 11:18 AM	there is no official ruling, but it stands to reason that there are tactical loopholes in that default ranged combat is implied as horizontal, that is, on a relatively flat plane. if you are flying, just use the Pythagorean Theorem to determine range; 'a' squared X's 'b' squared = 'c' squared. once you know the distance to the prone target in question, all you really need to do is figure out the degree of attack. protractor time or some geometric DM's license. -if you are directly overhead (90 degrees, say) of the prone target w/ no tree canopy, foliage (concealment), or cover to speak of, he should NOT get the prone bonus to AC vs. ranged. if anything, you (attacker), should get a bonus, but we're talking defense, right? ok... -60 degrees or so, call it +1 AC -45 degrees off, rule it as +2 less, so, +3. beyond that, you're on equal ground (landed, not flying) to which he should get the full prone bonus. the higher your altitude, the more difficult it will be to factor the degree of attack. i'd recommend 30 ft. to capitalize on Point Blank Shot, keeps out of reach of melee combatants, and means you're closer to your grounded PC buddies should you need to quickly resussitate one and so on. good hunting.