Flanking with Ranged weapons

[dogoftheunderworld]

Sorry -- brain fade. My group has been using rules for flanking within 30' with a Ranged Weapon, but I can't find that rule anywhere. 3.5 says flanking occurs anytime you threaten. You threathen an AOO with a melee weapon. Rogues can use Sneak Attack with a Ranged weapon within 30' -- but no where can I find that you actually threaten (and thereby flank) with a ranged weapon. Was this a 3.0 rule, or from one of the Splat Books? Or did someone just mis-read the rules and now we have a house rule?

Thanks!

 

[the Jester]

You're using a house rule. Flanking only applies with melee weapons.

How's it work, though?

 

[dogoftheunderworld]

Essentially, as long as they are within 30', they can help flank a creature if they are directly opposite. They started to use some ruling from Sword & Fist (or maybe Song and Silence) that as long as a line from the corner of there square passed through the enemy sqaure, that they were flanking -- as opposed to being exactly opposite. I had to stop them there.

 

[GodPhoenix]

You can't flank with ranged weapons nor do you threaten any squares with a ranged weapon. Those only apply to melee attacks. If you're using a weapon with reach, you threaten all squares you can attack.

From the SRD:

Threatened Squares: You threaten all squares into which you can make a melee attack, even when it is not your action.

Oh, and also, even if 8 bow wielding people are surrounding one guy...that one guy isn't flanked b/c they don't threaten any squares

SRD:

When making a melee attack, you get a +2 flanking bonus if your opponent is threatened by a character or creature friendly to you on the opponent’s opposite border or opposite corner

Of course that one guy will get a crapload of AoOs if all those bowmen try to shoot him

 

[Flyspeck23]

That's right - no melee attack, no threat. So a rogue using a ranged weapon will have to find other ways to do sneak attack... being exceptionally quick (Improved Initiative), for instance.

Of course that one guy will get a crapload of AoOs if all those bowmen try to shoot him

Only if he's got Combat Reflexes. If not, seven of the archers won't receive an AoO.

 

[DarkMaster]

That's right - no melee attack, no threat. So a rogue using a ranged weapon will have to find other ways to do sneak attack... being exceptionally quick (Improved Initiative), for instance.

Or better hidden and quick to get those 2 round of sneak attack

 

[dogoftheunderworld]

Thanks!

You're using a house rule. Flanking only applies with melee weapons.

Thanks for the help!

Peace,

Brian
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