Firing into melee

[Ogrork the Mighty]

I'd just stick with the RAW. The cat could be moving around quite a bit to avoid getting hit so I don't see the need for a HR. And one less HR is always a good thing.

 

[atom crash]

You can't target any part of the Dragon that is at least 10' away from Jesse. Per the RAW, you would suffer the 4 point penalty for firing into melee over the cats head.

When the dragon pops out, the cat arches its back and its hair stands on end, making it a larger target. So the -4 penalty would still apply.

 

[iwatt]

I'd just stick with the RAW. The cat could be moving around quite a bit to avoid getting hit so I don't see the need for a HR. And one less HR is always a good thing.

Yeah, but rules that seriously affect suspension of disbelief are just as bad.

DM: " well since the cat it standing right in front of the Tarrasque, you get a -4 penalty to hit".

PC: (looking at the tiny creature that somehow blocks the 30'x30' size creature) "What the ****!!) ar you talking about. How the hell is that stupid cat goin to block my shot"

 

[ARandomGod]

Yeah, but rules that seriously affect suspension of disbelief are just as bad.

DM: " well since the cat it standing right in front of the Tarrasque, you get a -4 penalty to hit".

PC: (looking at the tiny creature that somehow blocks the 30'x30' size creature) "What the ****!!) ar you talking about. How the hell is that stupid cat goin to block my shot"

(Chaos)

Technically speaking, per RAW all you have to do is insult the cat first, so that it's not considered a "friendly" target, then the enemy is not engamed in melee with a friendly target, and there is no need for either the -4 penalty or the feat. The bonus of this approach is that it works in all situations, not just ones where the rule was silly in the first place!

(/chaos)

 

[The_Fan]

Hate to end the silliness, but...

DDD[B]D[/B]
DD[B]DC[/B]
DDD[B]D[/B]
DDDD

D being squares occupied by dragon, C being the one square that has both cat and dragon.

If you attack the bolded squares, you take the -4. If you aim at any other square, you don't.

 

[atom crash]

And technically was that cat ever friendly to you to begin with? A dog may be friendly to you, but I'd think a cat would be indifferent at best.

 

[radferth]

Remember that the -4 is just the penalty for firing into melee. If your friend (or indifferent feline familiar) gives your intended target cover, that counts too. Of course, in the face of our favorite example, the cat would grant the dragon no additional cover, IMHO.

 

[Ogrork the Mighty]

Yeah, but rules that seriously affect suspension of disbelief are just as bad.

DM: " well since the cat it standing right in front of the Tarrasque, you get a -4 penalty to hit".

PC: (looking at the tiny creature that somehow blocks the 30'x30' size creature) "What the ****!!) ar you talking about. How the hell is that stupid cat goin to block my shot"

But it's not a 30x30 size creature. It's effectively a 10x10 creature in this particular situation. That was the whole point...