|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This is the usual loosing
of arrows and bolts, hurling of axes, hammers,
javelins,
darts,
etc. It also includes the hurling of rocks by giants, manticore
tail spike throwing, and
so on. It can occur simultaneously with magical
device attacks, spell casting,
or turning of undead. Magicol device and
spell attacks can negate
the effects of or damage some missiles, i.e.,
arrows fired off simultoneously
with the dischorge of a fireball spell,
or a
javelin hurled into on ice
storm, or a dwarven hammer tossed at on
opponent struck by a fireball
|| lightning bolt. As referee you will have to
determine the final results
according to circumstances. This is not difficult
using the ITEM
SAVING THROW table.
FIRING INTO MELEE
-
Likewise, discharge of missiles
into on existing melee is easily handled. It
is permissible, of course,
and the results might not be too incompatible
with the desires of the
discharging party. Assign probabilities to each participant
in the melee or target group
according to sheer numbers. In the
case of participants of
varying size use half value for size "S", normal
value for size "M", and
one and one-half value for size "L" creatures
which are not too much larger
than man-size. Total the values for each
group and ratio one over
the other.
Example: If side A
has 4 man-sized participants,
and side B has 3 smaller
than man-sized participants and 1 size "L" bugbear,
the ratio is 4:3. Then,
according to the direction of the missile discharge,
determine hits by using
the same ratio. If 7 missiles were loosed, 4
would have a chance to hit
side A, 3 side B.
In cases where the ratio
does
not match the number of
missiles, convert it to a percentage chance: 1/7
= 14% or 15%, depending
on whether the missiles are coming from ahead
of side A (14%) or from
behind (15%). Thus 4/7 = 56% or 60% chance per
missile that it will hit
side A. The minor difference represents the fact that
there will be considerable
shifting and maneuvering during combat which
will tend to expose both
opponents to fire on a near equal basis. Such
missiles must then be assigned
(by situation or by random determinotion)
to target creatures, a "to
hit" determination made, and damage assessed
for those which do hit.
Large missiles will be treated in the same fashion.
If one opponent group is
significantly
larger than the other, accurate
missiles which have a small
area of effect can be directed at the larger
opponent group with great
hope of success. You may assign a minor
chonce of the missile striking
a friend if you wish, but this writer, for
instance, always allows
archery hits to hit a giant or a similar
creature
engaged against a human
or smaller opponent.
Missiles from giants
are approximately 1‘ in diameter, as are those from small catapults.
Those from large catapults
(and trebuchets) are approximately 2’
in diameter.
See also GRENADE-LIKE MISSILES and Special “To Hit” Bonuses.
Q: Can a character
fire a missile into
a melee without hitting
friendly
characters? If not, what
is the
chance of hitting an ally?
A: This depends on
the situation. When
firing into a melee, use
the following
procedure:
The character firing the
missile declares
which creature he is targeting.
(Any of the
character?s allies who are
fighting with the
target creatures are potential
targets for
the missile.) Randomly determine
which
target will actually be
in the path of the
missile. If the figures
in the melee are
about the same size (e.g.,
human vs. human,
elf vs. dwarf), there is
an equal
chance that either the enemy
or an ally
could be the missile?s actual
target. If the
die roll indicates that
an ally will be the
actual target and there
are multiple allies
fighting the intended target,
randomly
determine which ally is
the actual target.
Roll the to-hit number.
If the appropriate
number for the target?s
armor class is
rolled, then the target
is hit whether or
not the character firing
the missile wanted
to hit that target. If the
creatures in the
melee are of different sizes,
the larger
creatures are more likely
to be hit. I suggest
a two-thirds chance (1-4
on 1d61 to hit
the larger target when the
height difference
is 2-3? (ignore height differences
of
less than 2?). If the height
difference is
more than 3?, allow the
missile to hit the
larger target automatically
if the firer
wishes; otherwise, the chance
to hit the
larger target is 5 in 6.
Many campaigns exempt the
magic
missiles spell from this
rule. Magic missiles
are assumed to unerringly
strike their
targets.
(150.36)
Strength
Bonus Considerations:
The strength bonus for hitting
and damage does not apply to missiles unless the character so entitled
specifically takes steps
to equip himself or herself with special weapons to
take advantage of the additional
strength. This will result in the weapon
having an additional chance
to hit and do the additional damage as well.
In no event will it add
to the effective range of the character’s weapon.
Thus, the character will
employ a heavier missile or a more powerful bow
and heavier arrows or larger
sling missiles to gain the advantage of
strength. To do so, he or
she must obtain the special weapon or weapons,
and this is within the realm
of your adjudication as DM as to where and
how it will be obtained,
and how much cost will be involved.
<note: the "strength bow" in Pool of Radiance was 36k, iirc>
Q: Do strength bonuses
count for
hurled weapons such as daggers,
spears,
clubs, javelins, etc.?
A: Yes, though the
DM may limit the application
of full strength bonuses
for small,
light weapons such as daggers.
(117.47)
Dexterity
Penalty and Bonus Considerations:
The Dexterity Attacking
Adjustment is for missile firing considerations when initiative is considered.
It adjusts the initiative
die roll for the concerned individual only.
Thus, it may well allow
the concerned individual to discharge a missile prior to the opponent‘s
attack even though the opponent has gained the initiative otherwise or
vice versa.
More important, this factor
also gives the individual a “to hit” penalty or bonus when discharging
a missile at an opponent.
Special
Note Regarding Giant And Machine Missiles:
When giants hurl boulders
or any of the various siege machines (ballistae,
catapults, etc.) fire missiles,
target characters do not gain dexterity bonus
considerations to armor
class when ”to hit” computations are made. Consider
this as follows: Character
A has an armor class rating of -2, but as
dexterity accounts for 2
of these factors AC rating drops to 0 if
a giant is
hurling rocks at the character
or if some machine is discharging missiles at
him or her.
Missile
Fire Cover And Concealment
Adiustments:
Adjust the AC
of the TARGET creature as follows if cover
(hard substances which protect)
or concealment
(soft substances which screen)
exists:
| TARGET HAS ABOUT | AC BONUS |
| 25% cover | +2 |
| 50% cover | +4 |
| 75% cover | +7 |
| 90% cover | +10 |
| 25% concealment | +1 |
| 50% concealment | +2 |
| 75% concealment | +3 |
| 90% concealment | +4 |
* 25% is cover or concealment
to the knees, or part of the left or right side of the body screened; it
might also be a target which is seen for only three quarters of a round.
Men on
a walled parapet would typically be 25% covered.
* 50% cover or concealment
equals protection or screening to the waist, half of one side of the body,
or being seen for only half the round.
Figures
in thick brush would be ot least 50% concealed; men on a castle wall with
embrasures
and merlons would be at least 50%
covered.
* Shuttered embrasures and
narrow windows would provide 75% cover,
* while arrow slits offer
90% cover.
<alt format: could be integrated into table>
For the effect of cover on magic, see SPELL CASTING DURING MELEE, Effect of Cover on Spells and Spell-like Powers.
See Fighting in Water +
<does Fog & Mist count as cover? if so, make links here>
Quote:
2. At what point do you
allow archers/missile users to pick out an individual within a group.
For instance, if the party
lays in ambush as a group of 30 orcs and one
magician (guarded from all sides) approach, is there some range where it
would be possible to single out the magic user (assuming surprise)?
If you would allow the MU
to be singled out on a surprise round what about later rounds?
This is all up to the DM.
I surely allow that when
I am DMind.
Archers and spell-casters
are usually allowed to select their targets.