D&D 3E/3.5 (3.5e) ranged weapons in light gravity


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FWIW, I agree with Dandu.

While both effectively let you shoot a maximum of twice as far as before, only the latter actually makes you as effective (ie, accurate) out to twice as far as out of light gravity.

Also, just about any other effect that double range doubles the length of range increments. Far Shot and the Distance property, for example.
 

Ah, good call on the Far Shot and (especially) Distance. With that, and a couple respectable opinions behind it now, I think I'm convinced.

I was leaning that way anyway, but mostly for reasons of "kewlness". That low-grav somehow effectively increases accuracy/effectiveness along with distance isn't really logical.

But this is D&D.

Thanks to the both of you.
 

I think it's realistic...if you just doubled the max range increments alone, after a certain distance all the ability to shoot farther would do is "another 100 ft space where I hit on a natural 20." Seems more realistic to me that chance to hit would decrease evenly with range like normal, rather than hitting a leveling off point.
 

That's a good point... but what about cases where the shooter can hit on a roll other than a nat 20? Or, alternatively, why does accuracy improve in low-g?

Doubling range increments basically means a shooter can hit a target twice as far away with no decrease in accuracy (or precision, really)-- even though from his perspective the target is now half as big across (or 1/4th the area). This makes perfect sense for Far Shot, which presumably means "archer has learned to steady his aim".

It doesn't make as much sense for low-g, though. Lower gravity certainly improves distance because the projectile is effectively lighter. But there's nothing about low-g that should decrease the error in his aim. Or, put another way: low-grav doesn't make distant targets bigger and therefore easier to hit.

Nevertheless, for my current purposes, I think I'll be doubling the size of the range increments, because as I mentioned before, it's cinematic and makes for some awesome sniping. But there is value to the idea of simply doubling the number of range increments-- which would make extreme range attacks suitable for volleys & keeping the enemy's head down, but not so much for sniping.

I'll cop out here and say: it depends on the campaign. ;)
 

In lower gravity you don't need to arc the projectile as much and thus it will be easier to hit a distant target.

Eons ago I did a bit of archery at distant targets--the error margin in distance was a lot more than the error margin side to side. Admittedly, none of us were anything you could possibly describe as competent.
 

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