Sending a Fireball through an arrow slit.

[kreynolds]

The Touch AC for an archer is 10 base + 10 cover + dex (~22 for a dex 14) so roll the touch and if you get 22 or above on the roll he didn't get out of the way in time.

That could work. I prefer the Reflex save though, just in case something like this ever happened to an archer-player on the other side of an arrow slit. It at least gives them the sense that they can do something about their situation, and if they see a fireball bead screaming at their face, trust me, they'll want to make a Reflex save, a Tumble check, or something.

 

[Dash Dannigan]

Yeah, I definately agree on that. The less dice to roll as DM the better, but players should always get a chance. Thanks Kreynolds. I do have some more questions that this thread has brought up for me.

The bead still detonates though when it hits the archer right? How about firing a fireball bead through a melee combat mess. Would the bead accidentally ignite if bashed with a misplaced shield then? What kind of % random chance of impact considering the fact that flailing medium-sized creatures do not constitute a solid barrier?

What's the best way to handle somene trying to hit the bead? Is it possible for a player to ready an action with his bow to shoot down the bead when he sees the wizard fire it? Sounds pretty cool, but damned hard to see let alone hit it with an arrow head (likely epic style only )

 

[Tar-Edhel]

What's the best way to handle somene trying to hit the bead? Is it possible for a player to ready an action with his bow to shoot down the bead when he sees the wizard fire it? Sounds pretty cool, but damned hard to see let alone hit it with an arrow head (likely epic style only )

If it's possible at all.

When readying an action, you get a partial action 'that comes before the action that triggers it'.

Wouldn't that imply that you would get a chance to shoot right before the bead appears?

I don't like the idea of saying it would not be possible (I, too, think it would be very cool to have a fireball detonate right in front of the caster ) but something doesn't feel right in allowing this with the way I understand readying an action (strictly speaking game mechanisms here, not RL or role-playing).

Of course, you could say : I shoot the bead as soon as it travels 5' (or something like that) but even then, your action comes right before the action that triggers it (emphasis mine). And the action that triggers it is in fact the casting since the bead doesn't get 'actions' as defined in the rules.

I may just be wandering in RulesLawyer Land... Waddya think, folks?

 

[James McMurray]

Tar-Edhel: I think you're over-analyzing here. It seems quite reasonable to allow someone to ready an action to hit a fireball bead. It would be damn near impossible to do, but they should at least have the opportunity to try.

 

[Tar-Edhel]

Tar-Edhel: I think you're over-analyzing here. It seems quite reasonable to allow someone to ready an action to hit a fireball bead. It would be damn near impossible to do, but they should at least have the opportunity to try.

As I said, I was just rambling (well, it might not have been that clear )

But will you then allow someone to ready an action to throw his shield to block ray spells? Ready a wall spell beween a Magic missile and its target?

And anyway, you would then have to ready an action against a specific spell... Tough luck if the mage casts lightning bolt and you readied against a fireball bead...

Mostly, I fear that allowing this would lead to cheesey tactics in my gaming group and endless arguments about those tactics and their results.

 

[James McMurray]

I would allow it, but the AC to hit the ray would be astronomical. My group has already readied actions to raise walls of force if their foe casts Disjunction, I wouldn't have a problem extending that to other spells.

You're right about the tough luck part. When they readied the wall against M.D., the enemy wizard didn't have it memorized, so the party mage lost his action for that round. Had he instead readied an attack spell to disrupt casting, he would have probably done better.

 

[kreynolds]

How about readying an action to shoot down an arrow with your own arrow?

 

[zyzzyr]

Maybe I'm out of the loop, but I can't figure out why he needs a ranged touch attack. I don't have my books here unfortunately, but I thought it was just line of sight.

 

[dkilgo]

A: Because it is like sending a projectile towards an intended victim.

B: I would allow the readied action arrow have the chance of striking the fireball bead. This is how I would handle the AC (Please someone tell me if I could be wrong.):

base 10 + diminutive(fly-size) AC mod + caster's Dex mod

I am thinking that the Dex mod represents that it is moving, but I also thought to take that out. Am I possibly missing anything?

 

[kreynolds]

Maybe I'm out of the loop, but I can't figure out why he needs a ranged touch attack.

Because the spell description states such.

I don't have my books here unfortunately, but I thought it was just line of sight.

Not if you're trying to send it through a small opening, such as an arrow slit.