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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Kalendraf" data-source="post: 1647071" data-attributes="member: 3433">My weekly campaign features 6 characters, 3 of which are traditional melee types (Fighter/Barb, Monk, Cleric).  The other 3 (Bard, Druid, Rogue) are often forced to fight from the back row.  The bard has a bow, and the rogue has both a bow and a spiked chain w/ 10' reach.  The druid doesn't have much in the way of ranged or reach weapons, but he often shapeshifts to a bird form to fly up and get into a better position for spellcasting.With 7 characters, I would guess you probably want 2 or 3 of them to have ranged or reach weapons as a primary attack option.  The usefulness of each will depend on the terrain and range that you are fighting from.In regards to the rules, you are correct that reach attacks thru occupied squares suffer from the -4 cover penalty.  In my campaign we use the optional chance to hit cover rule only with ranged attacks.  Also, you are correct about the cover penalty and shooting into combat penalties stacking.  It's a whopping -8 if you shoot into combat thru an occupied square.  Anyone that wants to be an archer is well advised to take Precise Shot.</blockquote>