Prone Shooter question.

[HalifaxDM]

The prone shooter feat from UC states that the character can ignore the penalty for firing a crossbow or firearm while prone but as far as I can tell there is no penalty for firing those weapons while prone.

Am I missing something here?

[Cayzle]

HalifaxDM wrote:

Am I missing something here?

Based on the rules for being prone, you have a good point. The author of the feat wrote on 29 Jul 11:

I wrote that feat. In my turnover it gave a small (I think +1 or +2) bonus to attack rolls when shooting from prone.

So looks to me like the feat got nerfed between conception and publication, and needs some kind of revision. It is useless to a crossbow shooter as written.

[Richard Leonhart]

has the prone condition been revised so that you can shoot a firearm while prone? Till now it's "except for a crossbow", so not only would prone shooter be worthless to crossbows, it would also be impossible for firearms.

Would be awesome for a double hackbut, shooting while prone would give the real sniper feeling. Vital strike might even be worthwile there.

[wspatterson]

Richard Leonhart wrote:

has the prone condition been revised so that you can shoot a firearm while prone? Till now it's "except for a crossbow", so not only would prone shooter be worthless to crossbows, it would also be impossible for firearms.

Would be awesome for a double hackbut, shooting while prone would give the real sniper feeling. Vital strike might even be worthwile there.

This is one of those times, assuming the wording of the rules for ranged attacks while prone hasn't changed, one should apply a little common sense. Guns can be fired while prone; people have been doing for a couple hundred years now. Don't be a slave to the rules, alter them when it makes sense.

[Some call me Tim]

Richard Leonhart wrote:

has the prone condition been revised so that you can shoot a firearm while prone? Till now it's "except for a crossbow", so not only would prone shooter be worthless to crossbows, it would also be impossible for firearms.

"Fire while Prone: Firearms, like crossbows, can be fired while their wielders are prone. (Ultimate Combat, p. 136)"

[Roaming Shadow]

Ultimate Combat states that, like crossbows, firearms can be fired while prone (Page 136). However, it seems the inclustion of the feat Prone Shooter was a editorial mistake, as Page 195 of the core rulebook states that there is no penalty for using a ranged weapon while prone, so long as it is capable of doing so, such as the crossbow and the shuriken. As firearms can be fired from prone just like crossbows, as stated in UC, there is no penalty for firing while prone, making Prone Shooter a worthless and meaningless feat. Wonder how it got past editing?

And from what Cayzle quoted, it was editing that changed it, so they took it from meaningful to worthless. Real nice.

[Duncan MacMullen]

you can fired wile prone, what about reloading?

[blahpers]

There's no restriction on reloading while prone. Go nuts.

[Michael Sayre]

Prone Shooter was ret-conned because they realized they screwed up, now it does this:
Benefit: If you have been prone since the end of your last turn, the penalty to your Armor Class against melee attacks made against you is reduced to -2. In addition, the bonus to your Armor Class against ranged attacks made against you is increased to +6.