A ranged combat feat

[Dannyalcatraz]

Just thinking...is there anything out there like this (Feat or PrCl)?

FEAT: Opportunistic Archer

Prereqs: Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot

Benefit: You may use your ranged attacks to make AoOs against foes up to up to 30 feet away from you.

 

[Celebrim]

Just thinking...is there anything out there like this (Feat or PrCl)?

FEAT: Opportunistic Archer

Prereqs: Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot

Benefit: You may use your ranged attacks to make AoOs against foes up to up to 30 feet away from you.

As written, your feat doesn't do anything.

What you want it to say is something like.

"If armed with a ranged weapon, you threaten every space within range of your point blank shot."

And yes, I've seen something like that in a couple of places - the Netbook of Feats for one.

It's hideously powerful though, IMO.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

FEAT: Opportunistic Archer

Prereqs: Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot

Benefit: You may use your ranged attacks to make AoOs against foes up to up to 30 feet away from you.

As written, your feat doesn't do anything.

What you want it to say is something like.

"If armed with a ranged weapon, you threaten every space within range of your point blank shot."

While I think your rewrite is better overall, I fail to see how my feat (hastily worded though it is) "does nothing." RAW, you normally can't make AoOs with ranged attacks- this feat allows that. Furthermore, it isn't limited to use of weapons- it works with any "ranged attack," and thus could be used with certain targeted spells or special abilities...which may not be a good thing for balance.

It also explicitly limits the range to 30', so any effect that would expand an attacker's point-blank shot range would not work with this feat.

Anywhoooo...

Does it have any kind of level or BAB or Dex min as a prereq?

 

[Celebrim]

While I think your rewrite is better overall, I fail to see how my feat (hastily worded though it is) "does nothing." RAW, you normally can't make AoOs with ranged attacks- this feat allows that.

Not quite. RAW, you can't make AoO's into areas you don't threaten. Since ranged weapons don't threaten an area, you can't make AoO with them. You could take the feat and though it grants you theoretically the right to make an AoO with a ranged weapon, since by wielding the ranged weapon you'd threaten no areas, you'd still not be able to make an attack of oppurtunity with it.

Furthermore, it isn't limited to use of weapons- it works with any "ranged attack," and thus could be used with certain targeted spells or special abilities...which may not be a good thing for balance.

I've seen a feat that lets use make an AoO with a spell in exchange for giving up your next turn.

It also explicitly limits the range to 30', so any effect that would expand an attacker's point-blank shot range would not work with this feat.

That synergy was precisely the reason I made the change. I wouldn't allow 'Oppurtunity Shot', but as long as I'm going to write one, I'm going to be consistant and make it work with anything else that expands the normal 30' precision range with ranged weapons.

Does it have any kind of level or BAB or Dex min as a prereq?

This is the 'official' netbook of feats version:

OPPORTUNITY SHOT [General: Offense]
You shoot so fast that you can make ranged attacks of opportunity at point-blank range.
Prerequisite: Base attack bonus +8 or higher, Dex 13+, Point Blank Shot, Rapid Shot
Benefit: When armed with a ranged weapon that is ready for use, you have an effective reach of 30 ft. (up to the range of your weapon) and can make ranged attacks of opportunity in any area out to this range. You may not make ranged attacks of opportunity if you are standing in an area threatened by an opponent.
Normal: Ranged weapons normally can't make attacks of opportunity, and you have no threatened area when using them.
Special: If you use Rapid Shot in the same round as you use Opportunity Shot, the -2 attack penalty applies to Opportunity Shot as well.
Notes: You can't make an attack of opportunity against an opponent with 1/2 or more cover, such as behind another character.
OPPORTUNITY SHOT Copyright 2001, Carl Cramér, Eric D. Harry

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Hmm...I can see what you're saying, but I think that allowing you to make AoOs with a ranged attack is neccessarily linguistically implying that you are threatening spaces with that ranged attack.

Still, I can see- and concede- that your formulation was a superior one.

I can also see arguments for not allowing the feat to work with effects that expand a PC's Point Blank area...controlling the power boost being primary among them.

Thanks for the text of that "official" feat too!

I'm intrigued, though, that with that BAB and Dex min that you found the feat "hideously" powerful. After all, to get the full effect of the feat, you also have to take Combat Reflexes.

 

[Herzog]

Although not exactly what you're looking for, the Spell Compendium contains a spell (Arrow Mind) that lets you threaten adjacent squares with a bow. It's a first level spell. It also allows you to attack with the bow without drawing attacks of oppertunity yourself.

I've also participated in a discussion (can't remember whether it was here on the boards or not) about allowing attacks of oppertunity with a spectral hand up to the hand's reach.

Both are low level spells allowing similar effects (at least, with spectral hand, depending on the side you would take in the argument...) to the feat you are proposing, but for a limited time.

More to the point:the feat you are suggesting turns your ranged attack into a reach attack.
I think limiting the reach to the same reach as a standard reach weapon for your size would be an appropriate limitation.
In addition, you could then introduce an improved version (requiring this feat) to increase the reach.

 

[Jeff Wilder]

Not only is the suggested feat probably too powerful on its own, it's way too powerful in combination with the archer's likely astronomical Dexterity and Combat Reflexes.

The idea's not a bad one, but if I were doing it I'd have it take an immediate action. Or maybe simply limit it to once per turn.