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The Sage on Arcane Archers
- Thread starter AuraSeer
- Start date
kreynolds said:
The really funny part though, is that a lot of the people that I see bash the Sage for a "boneheaded" ruling is because said "bonehead-sage-basher" really did think that the rule worked another way.
I agree.
Which is why I was careful to distinguish between my own opinions and those of your generic, "true" Sage-basher who prefers to shoot first and understand later.
I have this email from the sage today...
***
"Subject: Question for all the All Mighty Sage
,
Goodeve sir, I'm in need of your assistance with a question that's been in a thorn on the side of our group recently. Your help would be greatly appreciated in this. The Arcane Archer prestige class power Phase Arrow allows you to "launch an arrow...at a target known to her within range, and the arrow travels to the target in a straight path, passing through any nonmagical barrier or wall in its way". Does this mean if target X, who has met the Arcane Archer at one time, goes into a tavern. 20 seconds later, the Arcane Archer stands outside the tavern and shoots the target, would it hit him even if the Arcane Archer has no clue where in the tavern the target is? Is "known to her" mean in a way you "know" your friends and people you've met? Or that you have an idea where he is in a 5'x5' square? Exactly what how is "known to her" defined? Does a seeker arrow work the same way more or less (as in find them anywhere as long as no obstacles come up)? I'm very confused on this issue, is there an official ruling on this? Any help would be handy."
In this case, "known" means know the location. For example, a target seen, but behind cover, seen remotely (via a mirror or divination spell), heard but not seen, or the like.
Skip Williams
RPG R&D
***
This seems to disagree with what he emailed you...
***
"Subject: Question for all the All Mighty Sage
, Goodeve sir, I'm in need of your assistance with a question that's been in a thorn on the side of our group recently. Your help would be greatly appreciated in this. The Arcane Archer prestige class power Phase Arrow allows you to "launch an arrow...at a target known to her within range, and the arrow travels to the target in a straight path, passing through any nonmagical barrier or wall in its way". Does this mean if target X, who has met the Arcane Archer at one time, goes into a tavern. 20 seconds later, the Arcane Archer stands outside the tavern and shoots the target, would it hit him even if the Arcane Archer has no clue where in the tavern the target is? Is "known to her" mean in a way you "know" your friends and people you've met? Or that you have an idea where he is in a 5'x5' square? Exactly what how is "known to her" defined? Does a seeker arrow work the same way more or less (as in find them anywhere as long as no obstacles come up)? I'm very confused on this issue, is there an official ruling on this? Any help would be handy."
In this case, "known" means know the location. For example, a target seen, but behind cover, seen remotely (via a mirror or divination spell), heard but not seen, or the like.
Skip Williams
RPG R&D
***
This seems to disagree with what he emailed you...
Last edited:
Chun-tzu
First Post
Arravis said:I have this email from the sage today...
***"Subject: Question for all the All Mighty Sage
Goodeve sir, I'm in need of your assistance with a question that's been in a thorn on the side of our group recently. Your help would be greatly appreciated in this. The Arcane Archer prestige class power Phase Arrow allows you to "launch an arrow...at a target known to her within range, and the arrow travels to the target in a straight path, passing through any nonmagical barrier or wall in its way". Does this mean if target X, who has met the Arcane Archer at one time, goes into a tavern. 20 seconds later, the Arcane Archer stands outside the tavern and shoots the target, would it hit him even if the Arcane Archer has no clue where in the tavern the target is? Is "known to her" mean in a way you "know" your friends and people you've met? Or that you have an idea where he is in a 5'x5' square? Exactly what how is "known to her" defined? Does a seeker arrow work the same way more or less (as in find them anywhere as long as no obstacles come up)? I'm very confused on this issue, is there an official ruling on this? Any help would be handy."
In this case, "known" means know the location. For example, a target seen, but behind cover, seen remotely (via a mirror or divination spell), heard but not seen, or the like.
Skip Williams
RPG R&D
***
This seems to disagree with what he emailed you...
It looks consistent to me. You asked the Sage about Phase Arrow, and the Sage replied that when using Phase Arrow, you need to know the exact location.
With Seeker Arrow, you need to know the target, but not its exact location.
Not according to what AuraSeer posted...
**The description of these powers states that the archer fires the arrow "at a target known to her within range." Does that mean she only requires personal knowledge of the target?
Yes. The arcane archer must have seen the target or be able to specify the target in some exact way. Such as "Grodnard the orc" or "the first orc the arrow reaches." ***
Both Phase Arrow and Seeker arrows are described with the "known to her" description.
***If the archer knows what the king looks like, can she stand outside the castle and fire a Phase Arrow at him, letting the arrow figure out where exactly he is?
A phase arrow travels is a straight line, and the arcane archer must aim the arrow at the correct location. The arcane archer could use a seeker arrow to shoot the unseen king, though.***
This question is a Phase Arrow one that seems to directly contradicts what he emailed me.
**The description of these powers states that the archer fires the arrow "at a target known to her within range." Does that mean she only requires personal knowledge of the target?
Yes. The arcane archer must have seen the target or be able to specify the target in some exact way. Such as "Grodnard the orc" or "the first orc the arrow reaches." ***
Both Phase Arrow and Seeker arrows are described with the "known to her" description.
***If the archer knows what the king looks like, can she stand outside the castle and fire a Phase Arrow at him, letting the arrow figure out where exactly he is?
A phase arrow travels is a straight line, and the arcane archer must aim the arrow at the correct location. The arcane archer could use a seeker arrow to shoot the unseen king, though.***
This question is a Phase Arrow one that seems to directly contradicts what he emailed me.
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Chun-tzu
First Post
Okay. I see why you're confused, but from what I can see, the Sage isn't reading every single word as closely as you are.
This was the fourth question he answered, and in his first three replies, he's talking about the Seeker arrow. He's still talking about the Seeker arrow (even though the question asks about both Seeker arrow and Phase arrow).
True, he could be more precise in his responses, but that takes considerably more time. Like any of us, sometimes things slip by in the proof reading because we already know what we're talking about.
Arravis said:
This was the fourth question he answered, and in his first three replies, he's talking about the Seeker arrow. He's still talking about the Seeker arrow (even though the question asks about both Seeker arrow and Phase arrow).
True, he could be more precise in his responses, but that takes considerably more time. Like any of us, sometimes things slip by in the proof reading because we already know what we're talking about.
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Arravis said:
Because the Seeker arrow can turn corners. The Phase arrow CANNOT. Therefor, the phase arrow will track teh king fine, but if the King is not REASONABLY close to the general area you point the arrow, the attack fails, period.
Not "pointed exactly at him" -- but maybe "pointed at the right room fo his palace" ...
But... "known" means know the location. For example, a target seen, but behind cover, seen remotely (via a mirror or divination spell), heard but not seen, or the like."
This would mean you would need to know the exact 5'x5' square he's in, not that the king is somewhere in the castle. He seems to imply otherwise in his response to AuraSeer though.
This would mean you would need to know the exact 5'x5' square he's in, not that the king is somewhere in the castle. He seems to imply otherwise in his response to AuraSeer though.
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