Shooting at less tha point blank shot

[iwatt]

by the RAW, i you shoot within someones theratened area you get an AoO. But is there any penalty to the archers attack roll when aiming at an adjacent character?

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Nope.

EDIT:

As the Fan points out, if your opponent actually threatens you, not only do you provoke AoOs with each shot, but you're also firing at a target that's in melee - with you!

Accordingly, you suffer the standard -4 penalty for firing into melee (which can be eliminated with Precise Shot or with intelligent targeting for larger targets).

There's no additional penalty beyond that for firing at someone who's whacking at you with a sword.

 

[ElvishBard]

Only the AoO, there have no penalty or bonus to hit someone when they are right next to them then if they were 5 or 10 feet away.

 

[The_Fan]

Yes. By the RAW, he is firing into a melee that he himself is a part of. By logic it makes sense too, since in close quarters it is easier for someone to anticipate the shot or even bat his weapon aside (not to disarm, just disrupt its accuracy). The mechanical effect being a -4 penalty to the attack.

If you have Precise Shot, however, you don't take that penalty.

Edit: Well, two people beat me to it with a different answer. I'd like to see the logic of it, though.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Yes. By the RAW, he is firing into a melee that he himself is a part of.

True. This, however, depends on your actually being in melee combat (which means one fellow must threaten the other, and we know that the bow user does not currently threaten).

Otherwise, you're correct.

I assumed that, since the bow user wasn't even attempting to step back, his opponent probably wasn't threatening to begin with. I should have caveated my answer.

Edit: Well, two people beat me to it with a different answer. I'd like to see the logic of it, though.

I should also have added, "There's no *additional* penalty to such an attack."

 

[ARandomGod]

Yes. By the RAW, he is firing into a melee that he himself is a part of. By logic it makes sense too, since in close quarters it is easier for someone to anticipate the shot or even bat his weapon aside (not to disarm, just disrupt its accuracy). The mechanical effect being a -4 penalty to the attack.

If you have Precise Shot, however, you don't take that penalty.

Edit: Well, two people beat me to it with a different answer. I'd like to see the logic of it, though.

He's not engaged in melee if he's using a ranged weapon, because he doesn't threaten. Good idea, but it doesn't work.

Edit: If the boyer was a monk, or had the improved unarmed strike feat, or natural attacks that didn't include his hands (which are occupied with the bow), then he WOULD be considered in melee combat...

ALthough, of course, if he hates himself for being in this situation, he's not a friendly target in melee combat, so that point is moot. (I'm sorry <no I'm not>, I just love to harp on that)

 

[iwatt]

I assumed that, since the bow user wasn't even attempting to step back, his opponent probably wasn't threatening to begin with.

actually the question came up because one of the PCs declared a ready to take a 5' step and wail on the bugbear ranger that was kicking his *ss. The rangers high attack modifier and 4 arrows per round was really killing the PC.

I think I recall that in 2e you got a penalty to attack rolls if you shot someone who was too close. Just makes sense to me (didn't apply any in the game though).

This still turned up to be a subpar tactic for the PC since he was trading 2 attacks v/s the bugbears 4 (rapid shot and BAB +11).

 

[The_Fan]

Assuming the other guy gets an AoO on him, he is engaged in melee combat. Otherwise, by your logic, if he had improved unarmed strike he'd get the penalty when otherwise he wouldn't. Let's apply just a little logic here.

Now, if the other target was using a bow as well, then you're right, he wouldn't take the penalty.

Edit: In the situation you described, the PC's readied action takes place before the bugbear fires. Therefore, the bugbear takes attacks of opportunity for firing, as well as the -4 penalty. That's not TOO bad of a tactic all things considered, but personally I would've sundered the bow. The bugbear isn't threatening, so no AoO for the sunder attempt.

 

[iwatt]

That's not TOO bad of a tactic all things considered, but personally I would've sundered the bow. The bugbear isn't threatening, so no AoO for the sunder attempt.

I thought he'd sunder as well, considering he had a an adamantine weapon.

But they really had the hots for the bow

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

He's not engaged in melee if he's using a ranged weapon, because he doesn't threaten. Good idea, but it doesn't work.

But if the other guy is using a weapon, then he is engaged in melee, which is defined as "when at least one of two hostile characters threatens the other."