Feinting in combat with ranged weapons?

[theoremtank]

Can my rogue feint in combat (use a bluff check as a standard action) with a ranged weapon such as a longbow, or are you required to be in melee? The description under the bluff skill in the Players Handbook just states that you must be in combat but does not distinguish between melee or ranged.

 

[theoremtank]

Anyone?

 

[Olive]

i don't think the weapon is what you feint with. from memory, you can feint against someone within 30' fo you, and that's a combination of body movement etc. so as long as you're within the 30', then it doesn't matter what weapon you're using...

 

[reapersaurus]

No.

Anyone who tries to feint with a non-meelee weapon is just trying to make their rogue even MORE effective in combat. (If your rogue player is ineffective in combat, than consider granting it - if he's effective at ALL, than don't - he should not be close in combat effectiveness to fighter-types, since he has so many advantages out of combat.)

Plus, if you could feint with a ranged weapon, than that opens up the door to the long-distance bowmen feinting from 400' and all...

 

[Li Shenron]

IIRC there is no "range limit" for bluffing in combat, but eventually it doesn't make sense you can bluff from ANY distance. I always thought feinting was meant for melee only: actually I really thought you had to be threatening the opponent to feint him, although there is no need by the rule.

There should be some FAQ about it, but i don't have them here... if there is not, ask you DM to make a rule himself, for the core rule is not specific enough IMHO.

 

[Orm]

Nice idea, I have to try it on the next session...

What´s wrong with making the rogue more effective, reapersaurus? Imagine someone in combat 30ft away from you shouting:"look, a three headed dog". Would you turn your head? In a fight? So, give him some high penalties like -15 or more (don´t have the books with me) and he will loose three out of four attempts to feint unless he boosted his bluff skill, and he will loose a standard action in which he could have dealt some damage. Further, houserule that he can try to feint only once per combat and/or combattant. Though there´s no range limit, I would rule a 30ft limit.

But then imaging a higher level rogue with the Quicker-than-the-eye feat (S&S) feinting as a move equivalent action and attack in the same round...
Anyway, I would allow this (as my character is a rogue/deepwoodsniper with some throwing daggers and a bow) but I´m afraid I have to talk to my DM first.


Just my two cents
Orm

 

[Murrdox]

I don't know exactly where the rule is, but I'm almost positive you have to be within 30' to bluff an opponent, but not necessarily in melee. We had a rogue in our party who was always using Quicker than the Eye. Very nice feat.

 

[IceBear]

There was a blurb on this from T'ed or someone from WotC. They said they would allow it within 30ft, but with some modifiers that I just can't remember at this point.

IceBear

 

[LokiDR]

I had this same problem a few months ago with the rogue in my game. Since that rogue is no longer ranged (reincarnated as a leopard) it isn't an issue any more.

There is no rule against it. It makes logical sense (ever play dodgeball?). It is too good. Most monsters and characters just don't have the ranks in sense motive to stop the tatic. 1d8+5d6+bonuses every other round is a lot. Think hard about house ruling it.

Then again, the gladiator from S&F gets move equivelant bluf checks. I am pretty sure those are limited to melee.

 

[IceBear]

BTW - if you were at range from Monster X and tried to feint while it was in melee combat with someone else, I'd imagine most of the time it might not even notice you. I'd probably wouldn't allow this to work in many situations.

IceBear