Ranged attacks and cover questions

[farscapesg1]

What are the exact rules on "soft cover" for ranged attacks? I could find information on soft cover providing protection against melee attacks, but nothing about ranged attacks.

I know about the -4 penalty to fire at a target in melee (which can be removed with the Precise Shot feat). What if there are 3 people between the archer and the target? What is RAW penalty for firing at a target through these imposing creatures? Do they provide cover, and if so how much?

 

[Len]

I could find information on soft cover providing protection against melee attacks, but nothing about ranged attacks.

That's a typo. Soft cover protects against ranged attacks, not melee attacks. See the PHB errata.

 

[farscapesg1]

Ok, so the errata fixed that part

Do multiple creatures provide the same cover as a single creatures? Here is an attempt at a diagram for an example. This is a 5 foot hallway, 10 feet high.

A = Archer
a = ally
e = enemy
T = Target

-------------------------------
eTeeea a A
-------------------------------

From the diagram, there are 5 creatures between the archer and the target, 2 allies and 3 enemies. By strict reading of the rules the target has soft cover for a +4 bonus to AC. I can't find anything that specifies that he should gain more cover for addtional creatures between the archer and the target. Is this correct as per the RAW? Am I missing something?

 

[FEADIN]

You're right, +4 cover bonus but to be sure to aim the good target you have to aim -4 to hit unless you have the precise shot feat but there is this paragraph:

Varying Degrees of Cover: In some cases, cover may provide a greater bonus to AC and Reflex saves. In such situations the normal cover bonuses to AC and Reflex saves can be doubled (to +8 and +4, respectively). A creature with this improved cover effectively gains improved evasion against any attack to which the Reflex save bonus applies. Furthermore, improved cover provides a +10 bonus on Hide checks.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Note that, barring odd circumstances, you would not suffer the -4 penalty for firing into melee in the situation you described.

None of the allies threaten T, and T does not threaten any of the allies, so therefore T is not considered to be in melee.

 

[Len]

None of the allies threaten T, and T does not threaten any of the allies, so therefore T is not considered to be in melee.

Unless he's got a very long reach weapon.

(edit: Where's hong when you need him?)

 

[farscapesg1]

Unless he's got a very long reach weapon.

(edit: Where's hong when you need him?)

Actually, I thought that reach weapons don't really matter.

If your target (or the part of your target you’re aiming at, if it’s a
big target) is at least 10 feet away from the nearest friendly character,
you can avoid the –4 penalty, even if the creature you’re aiming at is
engaged in melee with a friendly character.

My reading on this is that if you have a reach weapon and are attacking a foe, neither one is considered to be valid for "attacking into melee" becuase they are at least 10 feet apart.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Unless he's got a very long reach weapon.

(edit: Where's hong when you need him?)

As farscape said. Also, that's why I specified "barring odd circumstances," since I'm sure there's some PrC ability or spell out there that will change this.

Patryn "I've got an elongated great spear ... of Legacy" Ooi