Indirect Bow fire?

[MacMathan]

I am sure I am just missing this, but I can not seem to find anything on indirect (arced) fire for bows etc when they are outside.

I remember in previous editions that feet of range became yards but I have found nothing similar in 3e.

Thanks in Advance,
-MacMathan

 

[mmu1]

The closest thing I know of is on p.66 of the DMG: Firing into a Crowd, indirect fire deviation.

 

[MacMathan]

Thanks,

I looked at that one but I didn't see anywhere that listed different range maximums.

-MacMathan

 

[Darklone]

Easy. If you don't see where to hit, I'd say use grenade weapon rules for deviation (which gives a random distribution in a certain area), then, in case you hit a square with a target creature, you still have a 50% miss chance for shooting at something you don't see.

 

[Vaxalon]

I don't understand why you'd be able to shoot further when you can't see what you're shooting at.

 

[Bagpuss]

It's not because you can't see what your hitting. In AD&D (and probably 3rd Ed) the ranges for bows assume dungeon adventuring, ie: A low ceiling and a pretty flat tragectory for the arrow. Maximum range for a bow (assuming no wind) is achieved outdoors firing upward at around a 45 degree angle, and is significantly greater than what can be achieved in a dungeon environment. Old version of D&D use to say if you were adventuring outdoors could feet as yards for weapon ranges.

By indirect I think he means just shooting with high arch, not necessarily firing at a unseen target. Which is what indirect fire tends to mean to most people.

 

[Jeremy]

Picture 200 archers firing across a battle field into a crowd of 400 warriors. The warriors are too far away to aim at them and fire straight across the field, so all the archers aim up, and just let loose a hail of arrows that fall randomly about the area.

He wants to know how to adjucate the increased range from arcing the shots like this.

I'd say that being able to shoot up to 10 range increments away already accounts for this. The increased range is restricted by the penalty to hit.

 

[DanMcS]

You could do something like the d20 modern autofire rules. Target a square with your arrow. Squares have AC 5, but the range is going to jack that way up. Allowing indirect fire in the 11-20 range increments, the range penalty will be from -20 to -38.

If you hit, you hit that square. If you miss, roll a grenade scatter to see what square you did hit. Whatever square you hit, the guy in that square gets a reflex save DC 15 to avoid damage (stepping out of the way or raising his shield), otherwise he takes damage. No crits are possible, obviously.

 

[Vaxalon]

I'd say that being able to shoot up to 10 range increments away already accounts for this. The increased range is restricted by the penalty to hit.

I agree.

No crits are possible, obviously.

Why? You can get crits when you swing at an invisible opponent, why not when you shoot an arrow into a crowd?

 

[DanMcS]

Because by the rule I posted, you're attacking a square, not a character, and it becomes sort of an area-effect kind of attack, with a reflex save.