Prone AC versus ranged, when Ranged is next to prone target.

[Gwiber]

My group has a pretty strongly designed Monk who trips just about anything in sight. Is the +2 AC bonus for the group ranger really appropriate for the Prone target when the Ranger moves up adjacent to the Prone target?

Usually once a target goes down the Monk can keep it there.

The DM keeps insisting the books says Ranged receives a -2 pen to hit (+2 bonus to target AC) against a prone target, despite the fact said Ranged is standing over the target looking down at it.

Is there a rule that does away with what appears to be nonsense?

[RedDogMT]

Nope, and the adjustment is that the prone defender gains +4 to armor class.

My interpretation of this rule is that the +4 AC bonus comes from the target effectively being smaller to the shooter...and I would think that others would agree with that interpretation. With that, I would remove the penalty if the shooter were adjacent to the target...however, the target would still get an AOO since the shooter is using a ranged weapon.

[Claxon]

Not to my knowledge and it's not nonsense.

Certainly at a distance I can tell you that it's more difficult to hit a target on the ground then a standing target.

If a target is prone next to you, you most likely have point blank shot and so you will get a bonus to hit and damage. The penalty isn't likely to make or break you.

Besides the rules say:

Quote:

Prone: The character is lying on the ground. A prone attacker has a –4 penalty on melee attack rolls and cannot use a ranged weapon (except for a crossbow). A prone defender gains a +4 bonus to Armor Class against ranged attacks, but takes a –4 penalty to AC against melee attacks.

And more importantly, if you are adjacent to the prone creature you still provoke an AoO for making a ranged attack. Which would likely be enough on it's own to incentivize you to move away at least 5ft.

[Gwiber]

Out of curiosity, what difference does drawing back a sword and smacking someone, make as versus drawing a bow and doing the same thing. In terms of AoO?

Yes, I know its in the rules. But really? At that range and in that situation, it doesn't make any sense.

[Dennis Deadsky]

Gwiber wrote:

Out of curiosity, what difference does drawing back a sword and smacking someone, make as versus drawing a bow and doing the same thing. In terms of AoO?

Yes, I know its in the rules. But really? At that range and in that situation, it doesn't make any sense.

You do jest? As a martial artist specialized in ground combat, I can tell you there is an enormous difference. The adjacent archer/gunman/whatever is just begging for to be grappled, smacked, or tripped from the ground. The guy coming at your with a sword ... not so much.

[Imbicatus]

There is an effective range for firearms, that is usually a minimum of 5-10 feet out. Inside of that range, a skilled opponent can close and redirect/disarm before a shot can be fired.

The AoOs rules do a great job of simulating that.

If you want to avoid the prone penalty, learn and to fly and shoot them from above.

[Komoda]

Gwiber wrote:

Out of curiosity, what difference does drawing back a sword and smacking someone, make as versus drawing a bow and doing the same thing. In terms of AoO?

Yes, I know its in the rules. But really? At that range and in that situation, it doesn't make any sense.

Your sword BLOCKS my attacks. Your arrow must avoid them as my attacks would surely dislodge your arrow.

The time you spend loading is also the time you die, in real life combat. That is why modern weapons hold so much ammo. If you can't pin down your enemy, your enemy is shooting back.