Can you dodge a hail of arrows?

[Mal Malenkirk]

Re: Re: Can you dodge a hail of arrows?

Don't hobgoblins have darkvision? Wouldn't that make waiting for cover of darkness somewhat pointless? [/B]

No, and especially not if some of the PCs have lowlight visions.

In an outdoor environments with minimal lights, lowlight vision is more powerful than darkvison. Let's say normal visibility under a clouded moon sky is 60 feet. An elven ranger will see at 120 feet, spoting the hobgoblin with a 60 feet advance warning.

 

[Errant]

Re: Re: Re: Can you dodge a hail of arrows?

So what if a PC is hiding behind a large rock. A Hobgoblin has his sights aimed at the only place the PC can emerge from, holding his fire until the PC does so. I would say a bonus in entitled here, maybe not +5 but something (+2-3)? any thoughts?

If the PC is just peeking around the corner, having a nice long look toward the hobgoblin, or is unaware they're in danger, I might agree with you.

If, on the other hand, the PC is taking a quick peek & duck, or comes into sight already running, you have to take into account reaction time (how long it takes the hobgoblin's brain to recognise the PC/target & send a signal to his hand to release the arrow), tracking time (to account for the PC's movement if he comes out running) & flight time (for the arrow to travel from the hobgoblin to the PC/target). In those circumstances I wouldn't allow it.

 

[LostSoul]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Can you dodge a hail of arrows?

If the PC is just peeking around the corner, having a nice long look toward the hobgoblin, or is unaware they're in danger, I might agree with you.

If, on the other hand, the PC is taking a quick peek & duck, or comes into sight already running, you have to take into account reaction time (how long it takes the hobgoblin's brain to recognise the PC/target & send a signal to his hand to release the arrow), tracking time (to account for the PC's movement if he comes out running) & flight time (for the arrow to travel from the hobgoblin to the PC/target). In those circumstances I wouldn't allow it.

That's probably best modeled by being flat-footed.

 

[Darklone]

Re: Re: Re: Can you dodge a hail of arrows?

No, and especially not if some of the PCs have lowlight visions.

In an outdoor environments with minimal lights, lowlight vision is more powerful than darkvison. Let's say normal visibility under a clouded moon sky is 60 feet. An elven ranger will see at 120 feet, spoting the hobgoblin with a 60 feet advance warning.

Horray! Someone else finally noticed that lowlight vision IS better than darkvision if not underground! Grats Mal Malenkirk!

As for the shooting: Hobgoblins tend to be highly disciplined. As for them being good archers, they will aim ALL AT THE SAME TARGET, preferably a lightarmoured spellcaster with no cover from the others. So you got it easy. All shoot at one player. One AC, get 20 d20 and roll. Player dead. Stupidity is a short pleasure!

 

[Archer]

I'm sure your players love you if you have all the monsters gang up on one person. That always smacks of DM vindictiveness. Why not just have a cow fall out of the sky and crush them instantly with no save?

I personally like to abstract when 30 creatures are attacking and can only hit on 20's. Not every archer has a good shot at every character at all times. If you only hit on a natural 20 you take whatever shot you can get, therefore randomly assign the hits as everyone has the same chance to get hit.

 

[Darklone]

I'm sure your players love you if you have all the monsters gang up on one person. That always smacks of DM vindictiveness. Why not just have a cow fall out of the sky and crush them instantly with no save?

The players are allowed to use tactics. Why shouldn't the monsters as well? Same thing if you got an ogre with 5 orcs against a group of players: The will shoot down the ogre first. Why don't you allow this for hobgoblins who are very militaristic and drilled? It's easy for the players to use countermeasures (give the spellcasters cover, protection from arrows, similar things). So why giving them an easy ride?

 

[HeavyG]

Re: Re: Re: Can you dodge a hail of arrows?

No, and especially not if some of the PCs have lowlight visions.

In an outdoor environments with minimal lights, lowlight vision is more powerful than darkvison. Let's say normal visibility under a clouded moon sky is 60 feet. An elven ranger will see at 120 feet, spoting the hobgoblin with a 60 feet advance warning.

It's in fact much more powerful than that :

From the SRD
Characters with low-light vision can see outdoors on a moonlit night as well as they can during the day.