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

[Theo R Cwithin]

Interesting... So if I'm understanding you correctly, the higher you're forced to arc, the less accurate the shot, especially in the near-far direction rather than the left-right direction?

Yes, it's much easier for me to think about this in straight lines (ie, bullets). Well, maybe I'll break out the old tank simulator game and just do some statistics. Or, even better: I'll just double the range increments and call it a day!

 

[Loren Pechtel]

Interesting... So if I'm understanding you correctly, the higher you're forced to arc, the less accurate the shot, especially in the near-far direction rather than the left-right direction?

Exactly. You can sight in the left-right direction but with up-down you must aim above the target. Not only that but it's not just a fixed increase in angle for a given distance but you have to get the bow pull just right, also.

 

[Persiflage]

Speaking as someone who has done quite a lot of clout-shooting with a longbow (200 yards plus, where you're doing a lot of guesswork for your ranging shots, even with experience) I have to agree with Loren. Your up-and-down is likely to be much further out than your side-to-side.

I'd actually expect characters to have a MUCH harder time hitting distant targets in low g, until they'd had an opportunity to adjust. Using any missile weapon at ranges greater than point-blank (i.e. those distances for which you do not have to adjust the elevation of the weapon) means that you automatically aim a little higher to compensate. In lower gravity, this means that once you're outside flat-shooting range, you're going to be seriously over-compensating and probably consistently shooting over the heads of your targets until you get used to it.

So... that was a long-winded way of saying that I'd be inclined to double the range increments AND the penalties for range, at least until the characters had had a credible amount of experience shooting or throwing under the new conditions.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

I'd actually expect characters to have a MUCH harder time hitting distant targets in low g, until they'd had an opportunity to adjust. Using any missile weapon at ranges greater than point-blank (i.e. those distances for which you do not have to adjust the elevation of the weapon) means that you automatically aim a little higher to compensate. In lower gravity, this means that once you're outside flat-shooting range, you're going to be seriously over-compensating and probably consistently shooting over the heads of your targets until you get used to it.

So... that was a long-winded way of saying that I'd be inclined to double the range increments AND the penalties for range, at least until the characters had had a credible amount of experience shooting or throwing under the new conditions.

Probably makes sense, but acclimation issues seems to me to be one of those things the system is better off leaving alone. I mean, if you really want to and you're consistent (ie, you also give massive penalties to folks going to a high altitude whether by mountain scaling or flight not yet acclimated to lower oxygen levels and air pressure, and other cases) go for it. But I think such minor issues were purposely left out of 3E to make the rules more manageable. Honestly, sounds like the kind of thing I'd expect in an older edition rules set.

 

[Persiflage]

Yeah, my 2E is definitely showing

 

[Loren Pechtel]

Probably makes sense, but acclimation issues seems to me to be one of those things the system is better off leaving alone. I mean, if you really want to and you're consistent (ie, you also give massive penalties to folks going to a high altitude whether by mountain scaling or flight not yet acclimated to lower oxygen levels and air pressure, and other cases) go for it. But I think such minor issues were purposely left out of 3E to make the rules more manageable. Honestly, sounds like the kind of thing I'd expect in an older edition rules set.

The one time I took a party into low-g realm I handled it by secretly imposing a severe range penalty that went down as they engaged in long range shooting--whether at real enemies or simple targets. It turned out moot--nobody ever tripped it.