Many Shot and Rapid Shot.

[Kaffis]

Except, of course, that Manyshot doesn't use the Attack action (it's a distinct standard action), and Shot on the Run requires one to use the Attack action with a ranged weapon.

The two can't be combined, any more than you can use Shot on the Run with Scorching Ray.

-Hyp.

Darn. I knew it was too good to be true. So, wait, does this quirk of manyshot mean that it doesn't qualify as an attack for skirmish, then, too? Skirmish calls for an attack to add dice to.

Thanks, KerlanRayne, I'll check that out.

 

[Aust Diamondew]

Well archery is better 'cause I can pelt you for several rounds with arrows if I start shooting at you from 200 yards or so, 100 yards isn't as good but still means a couple rounds of pounding, and even 100ft is decent against a heavily armored foe.
Archery is great in open areas.

Archery just isn't a good idea in tight areas though, like the standard D&D dungeon.

 

[Shin Okada]

Darn. I knew it was too good to be true. So, wait, does this quirk of manyshot mean that it doesn't qualify as an attack for skirmish, then, too? Skirmish calls for an attack to add dice to.

Thanks, KerlanRayne, I'll check that out.

You still "attack" when using many shot. But you don't take "attack action". That is the difference.

 

[atom crash]

And note also that if you fire multiple arrows in a volley-type attack -- such as Manyshot -- then you apply precision damage from Sneak Attack and Skirmish only on the first arrow.

 

[ksbsnowowl]

And note also that if you fire multiple arrows in a volley-type attack -- such as Manyshot -- then you apply precision damage from Sneak Attack and Skirmish only on the first arrow.

Unless you have Greater Manyshot from the XPH. It allows you to add precision damage to all your arrows. Of course you have to roll an attack roll for each one, but that many not matter too much to some.

 

[Rackhir]

Basically under RAW, manyshot is essentially useless. Since it can't be used in pretty much any situation where you can't get in a full attack. As I understand things the only time you can use it is if you are moving more than the 5ft step in a round.

It does not work with haste.
It does not work with shot on the run.
Only the first arrow gets any bonuses to damage including stuff like sneak attack dice.

As far as I can tell in 3.5, the only real reason to get Manyshot is so that you can qualify for Improved Rapid shot.

 

[Felix]

And I'll close with a random gripe about rapid shot:
*snip*

You forget that as an archer you can full attack anyone within 10 range incriments of your weapon. Two-weapon fighters have to be right next to the guys they're full attacking. So when the TWF guys have finished skewering their first victim because of the extra attacks afforded by feats and a high BAB, they are stuck to running over to the next sucker. Meanwhile, the archer gets off another Rapid Shotted volley at the target of his choice, who doesn't have to be the target he shot at in the last round.

That's why archers are only afforded one more attack even at higher levels.

---

What Rackhir said. I House Rule it to be compatible with Shot on the Run. I don't find it overpowering.

 

[atom crash]

Basically under RAW, manyshot is essentially useless. Since it can't be used in pretty much any situation where you can't get in a full attack. As I understand things the only time you can use it is if you are moving more than the 5ft step in a round.

Manyshot is hardly useless. It is quite effective in cases where it's most beneficial to move and attack, like staying just out of range of melee fighters, or hit and run tactics. It is the closest thing to getting a full attack with a standard action, at the cost of a bit of efficiency (-4 to hit).

 

[Kaffis]

You forget that as an archer you can full attack anyone within 10 range incriments of your weapon. Two-weapon fighters have to be right next to the guys they're full attacking. So when the TWF guys have finished skewering their first victim because of the extra attacks afforded by feats and a high BAB, they are stuck to running over to the next sucker. Meanwhile, the archer gets off another Rapid Shotted volley at the target of his choice, who doesn't have to be the target he shot at in the last round.

That's why archers are only afforded one more attack even at higher levels.

---

What Rackhir said. I House Rule it to be compatible with Shot on the Run. I don't find it overpowering.

Which is a valid argument, but I find it to be somewhat narrow. The argument is, essentially, that the range itself affords greater damage potential if you use it properly by initiating combat at a good range, while archery suffers in more closed environments.

The shortcoming I find in that argument is this: most parties don't operate on a shoot first, ask questions later basis except in dungeons. I know my neutral good character sure as heck shouldn't be opening combat at 200 feet on our random non-animal encounters while travelling along the road. Perhaps this is just indicitive of DM preferences in their random encounters -- we tend to get a lot where our party isn't justified in just opening up on first sight -- my DMs tend to give us stuff where we ought to sidle up cautiously and engage in some roleplay to determine their business (or get jumped on the way). The "range grants extra rounds of damage" argument is probably a lot more useful if your characters tend to be very knowledgeable about monsters, and the bulk of their outdoor encounters fall into the "this race/monster is always x evil" category. That seems like a narrow style of play to base balance decisions on, to me, though.

 

[Twowolves]

The "range grants extra rounds of damage" argument is probably a lot more useful if your characters tend to be very knowledgeable about monsters, and the bulk of their outdoor encounters fall into the "this race/monster is always x evil" category. That seems like a narrow style of play to base balance decisions on, to me, though.

Unless, of course, they are soldiers in uniform and there's a war on. Or an orc horde. Or a dragon is bearing down on the party. Etc etc etc.

Twowolves Howling