"Nearest enemy"?

[CapnZapp]

(Please redirect me if this has been asked before)

Several powers use the language "on the enemy nearest to you". I find this language unclear.

If a Warlock (say) stands in front of three Orcs, the rule for diagonal movement tells me they are all equally near. And a ranger in the middle between two Kobolds is also equally near both.

Now, can the Warlock or Ranger choose which enemy to place his Curse/Quarry when there are more than one that is "nearest"?

Or is there another rule governing these cases? (Perhaps even that he can't choose any of them as there isn't a single target that is clearly nearest??)

Best, Z

 

[frankthedm]

In 3e there was a rule that covered this. IIRC it was not a very popular rule as it seemed some folks would intentionally ignore said rule.

Closest Creature
When it’s important to determine the closest square or creature to a location, if two squares or creatures are equally close, randomly determine which one counts as closest by rolling a die.

In 4e am pretty sure the attacker simply gets to pick when the situation of multiple 'closest creatures' comes up, though i do not have a a page reference.

 

[MatthewJHanson]

We've always played that if more than one enemy is equally close you may choose one of them. I'm not sure if the rules back us up or not though.

 

[Oldtimer]

Or is there another rule governing these cases?

Yes, there is.

Nearest Creature or Square: To determine the nearest creature or square to you, count distance normally. When two or more squares or creatures are equally close, you can pick either one as the nearest.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Now, can the Warlock or Ranger choose which enemy to place his Curse/Quarry when there are more than one that is "nearest"?

Right.

Orc A is the nearest. Orc B is also the nearest. And Orc C is the nearest, too.

-Hyp.

 

[Rafe]

'Nearest Creature' is in the index. p. 273: "When two or more squares or creatures are equally close, you can pick either one as the nearest."

edit: gotten beaten to it.

 

[TheNovaLord]

what if you cant see the nearest creature? or you dont even know it is there??

 

[Rafe]

what if you cant see the nearest creature? or you dont even know it is there??

Then it's not the nearest one as far as the Ranger is concerned.

 

[eamon]

what if you cant see the nearest creature? or you dont even know it is there??

Text which says that has been errata'd to say "nearest creature you can see". They might have missed a spot, but usually it's clearly the intent, so you're pretty safe in assuming that they mean nearest enemy you can see.

I mean if you really want to split hairs, you can always tell your DM that your PC really likes that snarling yet lovable orc, it's the chieftain behind him that's your true enemy...

 

[Oldtimer]

what if you cant see the nearest creature? or you dont even know it is there??

That's why they issue errata... hrmm, I mean updates.

Hunter’s Quarry [Revision/Addition]
Player ’s Handbook, page 104
In the first paragraph, replace “enemy nearest to you” with “nearest enemy to you that you can see.”

And sometimes they just get it right the first time.

Warlock’s Curse
Once per turn as a minor action, you can place a Warlock’s Curse on the enemy nearest to you that you can see.