When a person provides cover for ranged attacks

[Hypersmurf]

This ruling improves precise shot and makes you think before shooting at an oponent already fighting with your buddy.

Precise Shot makes no difference to the AC bonus for Cover. You need Improved Precise Shot for that.

-Hyp.

 

[Hypersmurf]

I just reread your post wouldn't the -4 for being in melee comes from the fact that the target opponent is providing cover?
Basically you should only get -4 for being in melee and 33 would hit your elf.

See the above examples with the goblin and the dwarf.

Any time you make a ranged attack at an opponent who is engaged in melee, you suffer a -4 penalty on your attack roll (unless you have Precise Shot).

Any time you make a ranged attack at a target when there is a creature in an intervening square, he has soft cover, and receives a +4 Cover bonus to AC.

If you make a ranged attack at a target who is engaged in melee when there is a creature in an intervening square, you take a -4 penalty on your attack roll, and he gets a +4 Cover bonus to AC.

-Hyp.

 

[DarkMaster]

Precise Shot makes no difference to the AC bonus for Cover. You need Improved Precise Shot for that.

-Hyp.

Thanks for the clarification "rule wizard"