Ranged Attacks Through Occupied Squares Question?

[Aluvial]

When using a ranged attack or ranged touch attack at an opponent that has mutiple cover how do you add up the protection?

My specific case involves an archer (+9) and a mage (attacks with a ray, +5) standing side by side trying to target an opponent (AC 19, Touch 12) who has cover from two things (creature and PC) that are directly in line.

The first guy in the way is a PC (AC 21, Touch 12). He is fighting a Hill Giant Skeleton (AC 15, Touch 9) who is also directly in line with the opponent.

A smallish map.... (assume that the wizard is also directly in line.)


Archer...................................PC..Giant...........................Opponent
Wizard



First, I need to figure the cover granted, I know, and effectively that IS my first question? I'm not sure how to resolve that.

Second, how do I figure the two attacks (the arrow and the ray)?

What are the different situations that could occur for each, i.e., what rolls would be needed to hit which object?

Aluvial

 

[Drawmack]

Three dimensional game play works nicely for things like this.

here is how I understand the map you lay out from a top view.

            A





            B
            C





           DE

A = Target
B = Giant
C = PC In way
D/E = Archer & Wizard.

If your PCs do this to the map

            A





            B
            C





          D   E

A = Target
B = Giant
C = PC In way
D/E = Archer & Wizard.

Then the hill giant fight is not in the way, unless they roll a 1.

Barring that then I would say that you simply use the cover from the hill giant skeleton (75%?) since that is the larger of the two. If the cover is it then I would use d% to decide if they hit the hill giant or the PC with a 50/50 chance of either.

 

[Aluvial]

The Archer and Wizard will be unable to seperate like that. All of the combatants are in a narrow hallway...

Your cover ideas don't quite seem to jive... Is it really a 50/50 chance to hit either covering object?

Edit: spelling...

Aluvial

 

[Aluvial]

I decided to take a crack at using the Hill Giant Skeleton cover at +7 and the PC at +4 of course. I'm assuming that the cover doesn't stack but I could be wrong....

Please check me to make sure I am right!!

First the archer:

He needs to hit an AC of 26 to get to the opponent and do damage.

Rolls between and including 25 and 23 hit the Giant and do damage since his AC is now 19 (15 +4 for the covering PC) for the archer.

Rolls of 22 to 21 hit the PC and do damage.

Rolls of 20 and 19 would hit the PC, but carry through to the Giant because of the PC's Dex (can assume it is a +2 based on the touch)! These would also hit the Giant for Damage.

A roll of 18 or below would miss everything.

Second the Wizard:

Wizard would meet the same cover bonuses...

He would need a 19 or above to hit the opponent.

Rolls between and including 18 and 16 hit the Giant and do damage (or affect) because his AC is now 13 (9 +4 for the covering PC).

Rolls between and including 15 and 12 would hit the PC and do damage (or affect) because the PC's Touch AC is a 12.


Did I get this right?

Aluvial