D&D 5E Firing Into A Melee

[Mad Zagyg]

Just curious how other people are handling this at the moment. Are you just planning to offer the cover of +2 provided by a body in the way (friend or foe) of your target? What if the shot is taken from an angle where no cover is provided, but the target is still in combat? Would you handle it like in the diagram below? Not a big deal, but I'm just curious how others plan to play it.

Thanks!

 

[the Jester]

I've always thought of firing into a melee as being like it is described in 1e. Basically, the combatants are dancing around stabbling and cutting at each other, constantly bobbing and weaving. I think 3e had the best rules for this: there's cover from anyone in the way, but even if they aren't providing cover, it's hard to fire into a melee safely. (-4 without Precise Shot, in 3e terms; in 1e, you fire into a melee and choose your target randomly by size.)

That said, I'll start off running it "by the book", probably using one of the options in the DMG to make firing into a melee less reliable once I've seen the recommendations in it.

 

[Chaltab]

I'd say no bonus or penalty for shooting over an ally. Shooting over an enemy... I'd probably say the enemy can grant disadvantage as an immediate reaction as long as it is the same size or larger than the target.

 

[Melkor]

If you look at the pre-gen Ranger in the Starter Set, he needs advantage to use his Sneak Attack with Shortsword or Shortbow. Or, instead of advantage, he needs an enemy to his target within 5' of the target.

That kind of made me think that although he didn't get advantage if one of his friends was next to the target, there was also no penalty for firing at the target that might be in melee with his friend.

 

[jadrax]

Target gets +2 AC from cover, and you really do not want to roll a natural 1 if you like the guy standing in the way.

 

[thalmin]

I'm leaning towards the penalty from cover, whether friend or foe.

 

[Mad Zagyg]

I'm leaning towards the penalty from cover, whether friend or foe.

Me too. The rules are very clear on that part, at least. There just doesn't seem to be any other hindrance to firing at a target in base to base contact with an ally - which I'm fine with.

 

[Paraxis]

Target gets +2 AC from cover, and you really do not want to roll a natural 1 if you like the guy standing in the way.

There are no fumble rules in D&D. A natural 1 is just an automatic miss.

 

[Tazawa]

I'm leaning towards the penalty from cover, whether friend or foe.

I agree as well. It's fairly simple to apply, even without using miniatures. I suspect this is why the ranged fighter received a +2 to hit--it counteracts the fact that she'll be firing at foes behind cover fairly frequently.

Happy gaming!

 

[Tazawa]

There are no fumble rules in D&D. A natural 1 is just an automatic miss.

Depends on who you play with. There's plenty of rules for fumbles in D&D, just none in Basic.

Happy gaming!