Parabolic Shot

[Kahuna Burger]

"I shot an arrow into the air, it came to earth, I know not where..."

I've been toying for a while with a feat or combat manuver to shoot arrows up in an arc to come down on your target. Advantages : ignore cover that does not extend over the target's head, greater chance of shooting from hiding without the enemy using it to spot you, possibly treat target as flat footed for sneak attack. Drawbacks : greatly decreased range increment, possibly including the standard point blank range.

Has anyone seen or used something like this before? If it was a feat would you consider it for a PC or only for an assassin type npc?

 

[Jondor_Battlehammer]

Never seen it, aside from seeking arrow from the arcane archer. Heres an idea for a feat.

Requires Wep Focus, +5 BAB
Full round action

Cut range in half, no precision based damage, taget gets 50% miss chance. Turns total cover into cover. Area over your head and the targets head must be clear.

 

[kolikeos]

I think the drawback should be the opposite of what you said. Maybe this shot can only be used from at least one range increment. When you shoot at close targets you shoot straight at them, but when you want to hit a target at long range you aim up into the air so the arrow takes a parabolic path. It should also be harder to hit in that manner than normal, maybe a -2 to attack.

 

[Jondor_Battlehammer]

A minimum range isn't a bad idea, but I wouldn't add a penalty to hit.

On any potential variation of this feat, the only thing I think should be a hard requirement is the 50% miss chance. If you cannot see it, you cannot promise a hit.

 

[Primitive Screwhead]

How about a simple combat option:

Parabolic Shot:
As a standard action you can fire an arrow at an enemy while standing close to cover. The arrow arches over your cover to fall on your enemy from on high, negating the benefits of normal cover the target might have.
You can gain the normal benefits of cover at the cost of treating your target as one range increment further away.
You can gain the benefit of improved cover at the cost of treating your target as two range increments away.
You can gain the benefit of total cover at the cost of treating your target as three range increments away.
Special: In order to use the option you must have:
- Something to gain cover from such as a low wall
- An enemy who does not have overhead cover
- at least 20 feet of open air for each range increment the target is away from you.
- You must be able to see the target

?

 

[3catcircus]

It's called Indirect Fire and it is in Heroes of Battle.