[3.5e] Nifty ranger tidbit

[Spatula]

I wonder what this implies for Rapid Shot?

I mean, quite frankly the feat isn't that good compared to the existing Rapid Shot - except that you can move as well... that may be the point, actually.

That's probably the meat of it, you can basically get a full attack and still move. And generally, archers are NOT hurting when it comes to to-hit bonuses, so the greater penalties don't mean as much as they would for melee types.

 

[MerricB]

Maybe you need more than one string to your bow?

Henry, obviously it is now clear - Legolas is a level 6 to 10 fighter or ranger!

Cheers!

 

[MerricB]

That's probably the meat of it, you can basically get a full attack and still move. And generally, archers are NOT hurting when it comes to to-hit bonuses, so the greater penalties don't mean as much as they would for melee types.

It becomes very interesting when combined with Shot On The Run...

Cheers!

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

Which means a new feat:

MerricB's Penetrating Shot

Your arrows fly right through their targets.

Prerequisites: BAB+6, Str 15+, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot

Benefits: Upon executing a successful critical hit with a bow or crossbow, the arrow or bolt passes through the target and up to 10 feet in a straight line beyond the target. If another target is in the arrow's path, execute a second attack at a -4 penalty. If successful, the arrow or bolt damages the second target normally.

Normal: You can only hit one target with a single arrow.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

From a "plausibility" standpoint, this one stretches my suspension of disbelief - the archer flinging fistfuls of arrows with every shot - I don't care how much the penalty is.

I can see it with two arrows at short range (having seen real archers do that), but more than that does seem a little silly.

*Shrug* Sometimes D&D is just like that.

 

[Skullfyre]

Tell me - do you keep seeing the scene from Robin Hood - Men in Tights where he has a cascading arrow? 'Cause I do.

Are you refering to the scene just after he helps a-choo?
And he pulls out the arrows in a bundle?
If so yes
or when he gets "The second shot" at the end and every baddie groans?

 

[I'm A Banana]

...mostly because those melee types are probably already taking penalties with Power Attack...

I like this. Seems very fun to me. And I like the idea of having a ranger that advances more in skill (like, TWF at first level, and then other two-weapon-related bonus feats as they level, but perhaps no magic?) very much. Muy bueno. Etc.

Meh. Rapid Shot doesn't seem so bad by itself (flurry of blows for arrows, basically).

And poo-poo the realism factor. A 6th level ranger is by no means a normal mook...and it does take them to the higher levels to get a fistfull of arrows, only getting two to start with at 6th level (I think 12th will give three, right?).

Ponder it -- is firing two arrows any wierder than chopping through a goblin and driving your blade into the next one? (Cleave) Or moving and striking so fast that your foe doesn't get a chance to react? (Spring Attack)

Doesn't seem too wierd to me, to be honest. Certainly, since D&D heroes are the super-action-jackie-chans of their era, it makes some sense to me.

 

[haiiro]

I agree -- the coolness factor outweighs the realism factor in some cases, and this is one of them. I find the mental image of a character using Manyshot very appealing, and I suspect it would be fun to describe (and play out) in-game.

As it stands, I don't see any major mechanical problems with the ability.

 

[theoremtank]

I just want to speculate a little in light of the quote.

It appears the ranger will get the manyshot feat for free at 6th level and this causes me to wonder what other feats he gets for free before this (and after) as there appear to be two archery feats that are prerequisites for this one. But since the quote mentions the ranger will get this ability at 6th level and does not necessarily need the prerequisites then we can assume he will not get both point-blank shot and rapid shot for free.

Now we could safely assume there will be a two-weapon fighting style that the ranger could choose. So I am wondering what feats he might get for free along this style chain? If the revision follows suit with d20 modern, then the two-weapon fighting feat and the ambidexterity feat will be consolidated into one feat. But if this is the case this would leave only one other existing core feat to pick up along the way; that is improved two-weapon fighting. The current improved two-weapon fighting cannot be taken until minimum 8th level. So what other possible new feats might we see related to two weapon fighting?

 

[coyote6]

Let's look at the various progressions:

BAB: +6
Rapid Shot: +4/+4/-1, step move (5')
Manyshot: +2/+2, normal move (30')

Hmm, I'm not sure if it's me being confused by your terminology or if you missed something from the feat's description: "Both arrows use the same attack roll (with a -4 penalty) to determine success and deal damage normally."

In other words, for BAB +6, Manyshot let's you make one attack roll at +2; if you hit, you hit twice. One attack roll, two (or three, or four) damage rolls.

I know one PC that's going to love that.

Seems like it would have interesting statistical ramifications, but I'll leave that to people with enough interest to do detailed analysis.