Explosions in the Air - Bombs and Flyers


Rules Questions


What happens when an alchemist throws a bomb at a flying enemy? If he hits, where does the splash damage affect? If he misses, can he have the bomb explode midair next to the creature, or does it go off when it hits the ground again? (Is it a timed explosion or an impact explosion?)

Sovereign Court

It's an impact explosion as it were. If you miss a flying target consult your scatter diagram to see where it falls. I'd probably double the number of squares on a miss for throws in the air.

PRD wrote:

Throw Splash Weapon

A splash weapon is a ranged weapon that breaks on impact, splashing or scattering its contents over its target and nearby creatures or objects. To attack with a splash weapon, make a ranged touch attack against the target. Thrown splash weapons require no weapon proficiency, so you don't take the –4 nonproficiency penalty. A hit deals direct hit damage to the target, and splash damage to all creatures within 5 feet of the target. If the target is Large or larger, you choose one of its squares and the splash damage affects creatures within 5 feet of that square. Splash weapons cannot deal precision-based damage (such as sneak attack).

You can instead target a specific grid intersection. Treat this as a ranged attack against AC 5. However, if you target a grid intersection, creatures in all adjacent squares are dealt the splash damage, and the direct hit damage is not dealt to any creature. You can't target a grid intersection occupied by a creature, such as a Large or larger creature; in this case, you're aiming at the creature.

If you miss the target (whether aiming at a creature or a grid intersection), roll 1d8. This determines the misdirection of the throw, with 1 falling short (off-target in a straight line toward the thrower), and 2 through 8 rotating around the target creature or grid intersection in a clockwise direction. Then, count a number of squares in the indicated direction equal to the range increment of the throw. After you determine where the weapon landed, it deals splash damage to all creatures in that square and in all adjacent squares.

--Schoolhouse Vrock


Much obliged!

Community / Forums / Pathfinder / Pathfinder First Edition / Rules Questions / Explosions in the Air - Bombs and Flyers All Messageboards

Want to post a reply? Sign in.