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Message: <blockquote data-quote="smbakeresq" data-source="post: 7519523" data-attributes="member: 28301">It does but the cover would have to be between you and who you are attacking so that means the target would have to be 10’ away, so only applies to reach weapons.  Cover is different in melee as the weapon is always attached to you and you are in all parts of the 5’ square and it is assumed you are reaching and  attacking from different angles.In the situation where a wall or something say 3’ high but only 1’ thick is between 2 adjacent creatures fighting each other in melee I would play it by ear.In ranged the weapon leaves your space on a vector and that vector won’t change barring outside interference.As far as ranged combat in general, I would only make a few changes:1.  You can equip yourself with strength bows.  Bows with higher draw strengths increase velocity and damage.  This applies at all ranges.2.  Dexterity to damage should only apply at a limited range.  The range should be a flat amount also, say 60’.  Dexterity is an accuracy component, DEX to damage implication is that you are aiming for a weak spot.  After a certain range your ability to see that weak spot is limited.   This used to be the point blank range in earlier editions.  Actually I wouldn’t mind the PC having to make a knowledge check to see if they even know where the weak spots are for a strange creature the PCs haven’t seen before.  Remember Legolas had to tell the Elves where the weak spots were on the Orcs armor; the implication being clearly they didn’t know it3.  Dex to damage and Str to damage should stack if possible.  More accurate with more power and velocity should mean something.4.  All bows should be martial weapons and all crossbows should be simple weapons.  The reason the crossbow became widespread is it was cheap, simple and easy to use and requires little training, archery is very much a learned and practiced skill.5.  Crossbow damage should be changed. Hand crossbow I would make a d4, heavy crossbow I would make a d12.  6.  The archery style bonus should be a damage bonus, not an accuracy bonus.  In a BA environment accuracy bonuses shouldn’t be given out like that.  The Archer is essentially under a permanent bless spell, that’s way to powerful.  It also makes little practical sense that a longbowmen with SS at 600’ shooting at a target %75 covered by a wall is more accurate then a skilled dueler standing next to you.  7.  SS damage bonus only works at short range for your weapon.   Actually I never got this damage bonus anyway, the implication is that you will attempt to throw or shoot a ranged projectile with more velocity then usual.  For bows I get it sort of, implying max draw, but for a crossbow it’s always max draw and you don’t short arm a thrown projectile.  I get that it’s a fantasy game.  But with these changes that I use we still have archers and crossbowmen.  They hit a little less but do more damage as no one dumps strength and everyone (once they get money) gets a Str bow, and the heavy crossbow actually gets used all the time and it means something.  They stay in combat range more and get rewarded for it.</blockquote>

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