Targeting a square (smoke arrows) - what's the attack roll?

[Ralzakark1]

Scenario: an archer wants to fire one or more smoke arrows targeted at empty squares in order to put up a smokescreen. What is the AC roll needed to hit those squares?

The only related reference I can find is targeting a grid intersection with a splash weapon (AC5) which would be pretty much automatic. Would the same rules apply? The squares could be much further away than a thrown weapon could reach.

Would you rule that the ground must be soft enough to allow the arrows to embed themselves (thus ruling out use in most indoor/dungeon areas)? Or would you let the PCs be skilled enough to arc and drop the arrow onto the required square? ALl thoughts appreciated, cheers.

[noretoc]

Ralzakark1 wrote:

Scenario: an archer wants to fire one or more smoke arrows targeted at empty squares in order to put up a smokescreen. What is the AC roll needed to hit those squares?

The only related reference I can find is targeting a grid intersection with a splash weapon (AC5) which would be pretty much automatic. Would the same rules apply? The squares could be much further away than a thrown weapon could reach.

Would you rule that the ground must be soft enough to allow the arrows to embed themselves (thus ruling out use in most indoor/dungeon areas)? Or would you let the PCs be skilled enough to arc and drop the arrow onto the required square? ALl thoughts appreciated, cheers.

I would use the rules for splash weapons. This line make it clear the AC of a spot on the map, rather then a target.

prd wrote:

You can instead target a specific grid intersection. Treat this as a ranged attack against AC 5

Also I do't think the arrow would need to stick in the ground. If it did great, but if it just lands there and lies down, it should still work fine.

[Tharg The Pirate King]

agreed the spot is ac 5. it shouldnt be hard to hit a square, you are firing an arrow into a 5 foot square not aiming at an item or person so harder ac to hit would be redundant. We had a GM try this once he thought it should be AC 15 since most skills use 15 as a base for difficulty so I told him that didnt make since since the creature was ac 12 that was near square and it should be harder to hit him than the floor. He finnaly let us use the splash weapon rule as well once we had an alchemist and he tried to do same thing with him.

[Ralzakark1]

noretoc wrote:

I would use the rules for splash weapons. This line make it clear the AC of a spot on the map, rather then a target.

Tharg The Pirate King wrote:

agreed the spot is ac 5. it shouldnt be hard to hit a square, you are firing an arrow into a 5 foot square not aiming at an item or person so harder ac to hit would be redundant.

Cheers for the quick responses. Good to know I haven't missed something obvious!