Questions that came up in game.

[Aeson]

We had some rule disputes Saturday night.

Should an Arcane Archer roll to beat SR when using bow?

Can you spread attacks among different targets? (A PC drops a target with first attack but has 3 more to go.)

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

Should an Arcane Archer roll to beat SR when using bow?

Only if he's using the class feature to imbue his arrow with a spell and that spell has SR. If he's just attacking with his regular +x enhancement bonus arrows from class, why the hell would he have to roll SR? Do you require that of anyone else using magic weapons?

Can you spread attacks among different targets? (A PC drops a target with first attack but has 3 more to go.)

Of course. Those targets have to be in range to attack, though. Which is a much bigger issue in melee than with a bow. Do note you can take your 5 ft step in between attacks if you need to to reach a new target with your sword, assuming you did not move in any other fashion during the round (and if you're taking a full attack action, that's highly doubtful).

Part of the benefit to ranged combat is that you can basically always get your full attack. There are a lot of downsides, however. (greatly lower damage compared to melee; susceptability to tons of "instantly lose" effects like Deflect Arrows feat and the Wind Wall spell; etc...)

EDIT: Upon noticing your custom title...what was your position in these arguments?

 

[Aeson]

The DM is always right even when they're wrong. Perks of the job.

The archer was using imbued arrows. I say they were cast spells thus needed a SR roll.

I said you needed a feat like cleave to move on to the next target.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

Again, if there's a spell attached to the arrow, the spell might allow SR. Just firing a +3 arrow does NOT potentially fail against SR. Magic weapons work to full effect against SR.

As far as the full attacks... Actions In Combat :: d20srd.org
"You do not need to specify the targets of your attacks ahead of time. You can see how the earlier attacks turn out before assigning the later ones."
Note, the plural on attacks and targets. You can choose multiple targets, and you can choose them as your attack routine progresses, not when you start (potentially losing attacks devoted to a target you down early).

Your ruling of needing Cleave is a houserule, and if that's how it works in your game, should have been stated at the start of the campaign if possible, and certainly not on the spot like that. Also, your houserule STILL would not apply to ranged attacks (I'm going out on a limb and assuming both questions relate to the arcane archer character), since Cleave can only be used with melee attacks, and thus you would basically be saying ranged attackers are never allowed to multitarget, since you've given them no avenue for doing so. Which is clearly in violation of the expected normality. Look at the Manyshot feat. Why specify that you can only make the attacks of this feat on a single creature if that's the normal restriction on ranged attacks anyway?

The DM is wrong when he deviates from the written rules after implicitly or explicitly informing the players that they are the rules of his game.

 

[Aeson]

Yes it's the same character. It wasn't a house rule. More of confusion of rules with with older editions or other games entirely. The more I think about, years ago there was a question of why all attacks had to be at the same target. It was house ruled in that group after that multiple attacks can go against different targets.

The DM is wrong when he deviates from the written rules after implicitly or explicitly informing the players that they are the rules of his game.

Rule 0

I know that is not always going to work. Heck I wouldn't be surprised if she threatened to leave the game because I wouldn't let her play the character as she wanted.

 

[Animal]

it's not that she can't play her character as she "wants". it's that she can't play her character as the rules go. and without warning your players beforehand that you've houseruled something, you're basicly cheating them, hiding behind the Rule 0.
i wouldn't be surprised if they started leaving your group either. if you want to preserve your players' respect and trust in you, you should really think about changing your approach to DMing.
just a friendly advice.

 

[MichaelK]

I'm assuming that this player has committed horrible crimes against you and earned your enmity somehow? Perhaps you have sworn some sort of vow to make them suffer?

That's the only possible reason I can think of that you would DECREASE the power of the Arcane Archer from the rules as written.

SR doesn't apply to magical weapons, nor do you require a feat to switch targets with a weapon. If you've chosen to change these rules as the DM, you should have a good reason. What is it?

 

[Rhun]

Rule 0

I know that is not always going to work. Heck I wouldn't be surprised if she threatened to leave the game because I wouldn't let her play the character as she wanted.

That is a poor attitude to take as a gamemaster. The DM needs to be open to input from his players, especially when he is completely changing an established rule in the game concerning iterative attacks. I agree with the others that if this was something you actually meant to change, that it should have been discussed prior to campaign start and character generation.

If it was a mistake on your part as a GM not understanding the rules, you should man up to the mistake, and let the player play the PC as it was meant to be played, instead of invoking Rule 0.

 

[Foxworthy]

Should an Arcane Archer roll to beat SR when using bow?

By RAW no. Arrows are not subject to SR. And the Enhance Arrow ability is a supernatural ability which means that it's not subject to SR.

If the Archer uses Imbue Arrow spell like ability than SR would be applied to the spell as normal.

Can you spread attacks among different targets? (A PC drops a target with first attack but has 3 more to go.)

By RAW yes, unless they are using an feat like Manyshot which specifies that all the attacks must be at the same target.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

Oh, and...

I'm assuming that this player has committed horrible crimes against you and earned your enmity somehow? Perhaps you have sworn some sort of vow to make them suffer?

That's the only possible reason I can think of that you would DECREASE the power of the Arcane Archer from the rules as written.

QFT!