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I glossed over the "Rules" messageboard and didn't see anything, so forgive me if I missed it already being answered.
The question is on "bench resting" a ranged weapon such as a crossbow, but can be applied to pretty much any ranged weapon that just needs a trigger pull to fire.
If I'm behind cover, lets say a fallen log, and can rest my crossbow on it, are there any circumstance modifiers to help with the attack role?
there's a feat in UC that eliminates the penalties for firing that type of weapon from prone... not sure if that's helped, but it's the best i can come up with on short notice
feet is prone shooter. RAW, you need it to avoid a penalty. which means we need to re-rule on all sniper shots in history, ever.
i can kind of see it if you've just dropped prone (and that's likely why there's a penalty) but if you've been laying there for a few rounds lining up your shot, you shouldn't be getting one. shouldn't, but are anyway.
Circumstance bonuses are usualy up to DMs. I do not know of any by the rules answers excepts the rules on cirumstance bonuses which says they can come from anything.
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Prone Shooter (Combat)While prone, you use the ground to stabilize your aim while using a crossbow or firearm.
Prerequisites: Weapon Focus (crossbow or firearm), base attack bonus +1.
Benefit: If you have been prone since the end of your last turn, you can ignore the penalty the prone condition imposes on ranged attack rolls you make using a crossbow or firearm with which you have Weapon Focus.
Special: If you have the Prone Slinger feat, Weapon Focus (sling) satisfies this feat's Weapon Focus prerequisite, and you can apply this feat's benefit to attack rolls you make using a sling with which you have Weapon Focus.
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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.
So the feat remove penalties that don't exist for a crossbow using character.
In the OP situation I would allow for a circumstance bonus offsetting part of the range penalty on the attack roll.
Standing up is a move-equivalent action that provokes an attack of opportunity.
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From the Attack Roll Modifiers table (8-5) on page 195 of the Core Rulebook: "Most ranged weapons can't be used while the attacker is prone, but you can use a crossbow or shuriken while prone at no penalty."
That kinda makes sense for bows, but I'd think anything that can be fired/thrown one handed should be on the exceptions list. Why would a shuriken be easier to throw from prone than a dagger? And this was written before firearms were added to the game.
So it sounds to me like the Prone Shooter feat allows you to ignore the defender's AC bonus for being prone, and only applies if both attacker and defender are prone at the same time. ie You start sniping and people duck for cover, but you're so good at this that being prone doesn't help them.
As for the intent of the original question, if you're looking for a way to get a bonus from carefully aiming and lining up your shot, it sounds like the Focused Shot feat in the Advanced Players Guide might be what you had in mind:
Focused Shot (Combat)
Your anatomical insight adds deadliness to your shots.
Prerequisites: Int 13, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot.
Benefit: As a standard action, you may make an attack with a bow or crossbow and add your Intelligence modifier on the damage roll. You must be within 30 feet of your target to deal this extra damage. Creatures immune to critical hits and sneak attacks are immune to this extra damage.
Special: Starting at 2nd level, a ranger with the archery combat style may select Focused Shot as a combat style feat.
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From the Attack Roll Modifiers table (8-5) on page 195 of the Core Rulebook: "Most ranged weapons can't be used while the attacker is prone, but you can use a crossbow or shuriken while prone at no penalty."
That kinda makes sense for bows, but I'd think anything that can be fired/thrown one handed should be on the exceptions list. Why would a shuriken be easier to throw from prone than a dagger? And this was written before firearms were added to the game.
So it sounds to me like the Prone Shooter feat allows you to ignore the defender's AC bonus for being prone, and only applies if both attacker and defender are prone at the same time. ie You start sniping and people duck for cover, but you're so good at this that being prone doesn't help them.
As for the intent of the original question, if you're looking for a way to get a bonus from carefully aiming and lining up your shot, it sounds like the Focused Shot feat in the Advanced Players Guide might be what you had in mind:
Focused Shot (Combat)
Your anatomical insight adds deadliness to your shots.
Prerequisites: Int 13, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot.
Benefit: As a standard action, you may make an attack with a bow or crossbow and add your Intelligence modifier on the damage roll. You must be within 30 feet of your target to deal this extra damage. Creatures immune to critical hits and sneak attacks are immune to this extra damage.
Special: Starting at 2nd level, a ranger with the archery combat style may select Focused Shot as a combat style feat.
More a mental exercise than anything else at the moment.
Shizzle made a good point that GMs can make a ruling. It makes sense to not have a specific rule, makes things flow better, also offers PCs the chane to come up with stuff to confound the GM for a moment (thus earning bonus XPs :-) ).