Ranged attack penalty while melee-opponent is flat-footed?

[kikai]

Hi,

let's assume the following situation: Person A and B are allied to each other, while C is their opponent, and the order of initiative ist A, B, C.

A attacks C in melee, and B attacks C with a ranged weapon (crossbow, etc.).
C is flat-footed, has not acted yet, and does not get an AoO. So does C threaten A and therefore B gets a -4 for his ranged attackroll? Or does C not threaten A, and the malus doesn't aply?

Thanks,

kikai!

p.s.: I'm not a native speaker, so I apologize for mistakes

 

[Steve Jung]

Only one melee combatant has to threaten the other for the penalty to apply (except as noted in the SRD entry).

Shooting or Throwing into a Melee: If you shoot or throw a ranged weapon at a target engaged in melee with a friendly character, you take a –4 penalty on your attack roll. Two characters are engaged in melee if they are enemies of each other and either threatens the other. (An unconscious or otherwise immobilized character is not considered engaged unless he is actually being attacked.)

Underline added by me.

 

[Li Shenron]

I agree that B still has the -4. After all, the penalty represents the difficulty in trying not to accidentally hit A, and since at least A threatens C, it means that A and C are pretty close (like A is trying to get closer than merely "in the next square").

 

[kikai]

Hi,

thanks for your reply. Is it "either" in the meaning of "both" or "one of two"?
And, if it's the first, does a Person who hasn't acted yet, therefore is flat-footed (and doesn't gain an AoO) threaten anybody?

Greetings,

kikai!

 

[Steve Jung]

Sorry, should've clarified that. Either meaning "one of two" is what I take the sentence to mean.

 

[babomb]

It's "either" meaning "one of two". (And no, you don't threaten anyone when flat-footed.)