Can you flank with a ranged weapon?

[Hypersmurf]

You still haven't answered why that particular example is missing from all the flanking diagrams even though I've asked it several times...

It isn't missing!

All the diagrams show a creature making a melee attack, and gaining a +2 flanking bonus from an ally opposite who threatens. Which is exactly what happens when someone attacks with a whip and their ally threatens.

-Hyp.

 

[DonTadow]

I love the conspiricacy theory suggested that WOTC intentionally doesnt want anyone to know about ranged flank attacks. The wording excludes ranged, the examples excludes ranged, the errata excludes ranged, they even make future prestige classes to allow something that already exists. Its no wonder how a bunch of idiots managed to make a billion dollar company.

Viva the truth is out there.

 

[glass]

I love the conspiricacy theory suggested that WOTC intentionally doesnt want anyone to know about ranged flank attacks. The wording excludes ranged, the examples excludes ranged, the errata excludes ranged, they even make future prestige classes to allow something that already exists. Its no wonder how a bunch of idiots managed to make a billion dollar company.

Viva the truth is out there.

You're a little bit late. Pretty much everyone now agrees that flanking at range is impossible.

It's just that all the people arguing against it were getting the right answer from the wrong argument, until TheEvil and family finally produced the right argument..


glass.

 

[muthsera]

Woah, so many issues. I know I'm literally years late, but this came up in MY google search so for future generations:
Firstly, you CANNOT make an attack of opportunity unless you are considered "armed." Without the Improved Unarmed Combat feat, your unarmed strike is not considered "armed," and without some improv feat I don't remember by name (I don't use improvised weapons enough to feat them) your improvisational weapons are also not valid for attacks of opportunity.

Secondly, the question of flanking with ranged weapons has only covered half of the argument - whether the ranged character can attack. Here is the definition of flanking: When making a melee attack, you get a +2 flanking bonus if your opponent is threatened by another enemy character or creature on its opposite border or opposite corner.
That one word changes everything. For instance, your archer takes Snap Shot, Improved Snap Shot, Combat Reflexes, Combat Patrol, and Point Blank Master. You can have potentially 25-30 feet IN ALL DIRECTIONS from your character that you threaten. The ranged character CANNOT actually get the flanking bonus, but in that burst around them, ALL MELEE CHARACTERS DO, because the ranged character threatens the enemy on it's opposite border.