Ran a Demo, have some questions.

[Shimrath]

Ran a Demo last night using the DDXP characters and a big cave full of kobolds. A few things came up, hopefully those 'in the know' can clarify. Thanks in advance for taking the time to help.

1) Does the use of any ranged attack provoke an opportunity attack from adjacent threatening foes regardless of the type of attack?
1a) Basic attack (fighter throws a handaxe)?
1b) Attack from a ranged power (cleric's Sacred Flame)?
1c) Attack from an at-range area power (wizard's Scorching Burst)?

2) What penalty do you apply to an attack roll if a ranged weapon is fired at an enemy that is beyond the shorter of the two numbers in the range? (I assumed -2.)

 

[keterys]

1) Yes. 'Melee' and 'Close' attacks do not provoke. 'Ranged' and 'Area' attacks do.
2) -2

 

[Kzach]

1) Does the use of any ranged attack provoke an opportunity attack from adjacent threatening foes regardless of the type of attack?
1a) Basic attack (fighter throws a handaxe)?
1b) Attack from a ranged power (cleric's Sacred Flame)?
1c) Attack from an at-range area power (wizard's Scorching Burst)?

Technically all ranged attacks provoke opportunity attacks. An attack that affects an area that uses the "Close" descriptor isn't really ranged so it doesn't provoke an opportunity attack even though it affects targets at a distance from the caster.

 

[arscott]

1) Yes. All Ranged and Area attacks provoke (and remember, Scorching burst is the latter.) Melee and Close attacks don't.

And remember also that some areas of effect that you probably think of as 'ranged attacks' fall into the close category--In particular, lines.