Do flying creatures get +1 to hit when attacking ground targets for "being on higher ground?"
It came up a game ago when my summoner's eidolon swooped in and unleashed a flurry of four claw attacks against a foe.
Also, can a PC character get the same bonus if they jump at a foe?
RPG Superstar 2011 Top 32
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Do flying creatures get +1 to hit when attacking ground targets for "being on higher ground?"
It came up a game ago when my summoner's eidolon swooped in and unleashed a flurry of four claw attacks against a foe.
Also, can a PC character get the same bonus if they jump at a foe?
Not sure if it's RAW, but I've always given the "upper" attacker the bonus. I also apply it to two flying creatures with different altitudes. I suppose someone could use Acrobatics to "jump" at someone, but that would definitely use a move action, I wouldn't allow it as part of a charge, and the DC is pretty high for a standing high jump. I would make the attacker jump at least 3 feet to get the bonus, so DC24 or so?
Do flying creatures get +1 to hit when attacking ground targets for "being on higher ground?"
It came up a game ago when my summoner's eidolon swooped in and unleashed a flurry of four claw attacks against a foe.
Also, can a PC character get the same bonus if they jump at a foe?
Yes and yes. It should be this way after all.
Do flying creatures get +1 to hit when attacking ground targets for "being on higher ground?"
It came up a game ago when my summoner's eidolon swooped in and unleashed a flurry of four claw attacks against a foe.
Also, can a PC character get the same bonus if they jump at a foe?
I allow it. However, if you want to use Acrobatics, you do need to be able to jump high enough. As GM I make the determination of what that means. I generally assume that you need to be able to jump up 5 feet per each size category from Medium on up. The smaller sizes are treated the same as Medium. So Diminutive to Medium, DC 5. Large, DC 10, Huge, DC 15. Gargantuan, DC 20. Colossal, DC 25. This is also a Move action that will be moving you out of a threatened area so be ready for an attack of opportunity.
Literally applying RAW, taller creatures don't automatically get this bonus if they are standing on the same ground.
Likewise, flying creatures don't get it: they aren't standing on ground period.
But a small creature standing on a pillar next to a giant creature gets it, even if they can't reach the top of the giant creature, because they are standing on higher ground. [being in a cube above the opponent] isnt' actually a factor in [standing on higher ground] if you want to ad/lib around that, sure, but that isn't a feature of the actual RAW, nor is this applicable to flying opponents, etc (or swimming).
...taller creatures don't automatically get this bonus if they are standing on the same ground. Likewise, flying creatures don't get it: they aren't standing on ground period.
It would seem that Death From Above (UC feat) would disagree with you.
Whenever you charge an opponent from higher ground, or from above while flying, you gain a +5 bonus on attack rolls in place of the bonuses from charging and being on higher ground.
Great, but how is anybody without UC to know that flying creatures in mid-air count as standing on ground?
Like I said, that is the literal reading... Meaning [you are higher than your opponent] is plausible and how I play, but not what the rules say.
I think it depends on how high the flying creature is on the z-axis.
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RPG Superstar 2011 Top 32
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I allow it. However, if you want to use Acrobatics, you do need to be able to jump high enough. As GM I make the determination of what that means. I generally assume that you need to be able to jump up 5 feet per each size category from Medium on up. The smaller sizes are treated the same as Medium. So Diminutive to Medium, DC 5. Large, DC 10, Huge, DC 15. Gargantuan, DC 20. Colossal, DC 25. This is also a Move action that will be moving you out of a threatened area so be ready for an attack of opportunity.
High jumps are tougher than long jumps. You need to multiply your DCs by 4, and that assumes a running start. So 20, 40, 60, 80, 100. Double those again for a standing jump. Makes it really not worth it as the DCs are pretty crazy for you to give up a full attack for +1 to hit.
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...taller creatures don't automatically get this bonus if they are standing on the same ground. Likewise, flying creatures don't get it: they aren't standing on ground period.It would seem that Death From Above (UC feat) would disagree with you.
Whenever you charge an opponent from higher ground, or from above while flying, you gain a +5 bonus on attack rolls in place of the bonuses from charging and being on higher ground.
Death from above actually supports Quandary's position.
It specifically mentions "higher ground" and "above while flying" as two distinct things that each qualify for DFA. If "flying" = "higher ground" there would be no need to mention the flying part, and even if it did the word "or" makes them separate. If they had said "higher ground, including from above when flying" that would be completely different.
That said, I don't put to much stock in trying to interpret broader rules from picking over every word in every stray feat.
I allow it. However, if you want to use Acrobatics, you do need to be able to jump high enough. As GM I make the determination of what that means. I generally assume that you need to be able to jump up 5 feet per each size category from Medium on up. The smaller sizes are treated the same as Medium. So Diminutive to Medium, DC 5. Large, DC 10, Huge, DC 15. Gargantuan, DC 20. Colossal, DC 25. This is also a Move action that will be moving you out of a threatened area so be ready for an attack of opportunity.High jumps are tougher than long jumps. You need to multiply your DCs by 4, and that assumes a running start. So 20, 40, 60, 80, 100. Double those again for a standing jump. Makes it really not worth it as the DCs are pretty crazy for you to give up a full attack for +1 to hit.
I was reading one table and thinking of the other. I should spend just a little more time double checking. I have only had one person ever go for the higher ground bonus while leaping and that was because he was already leaping over rough terrain anyway.