Does a friendly PC or enemy block line of sight or line of effect?

[gourry187]

Found some old references in past posts but not a clear (to me) answer.

Example ... can a spellcaster cast an AoE spell past the melee (behind enemy lines) so as not to catch friendlies even though they may not be able to see the area? Much like a friendly can create cover, do they also affect a spellcasters line on sight.

[Gauss]

No, most creatures do not block line of sight or line of effect (other than providing cover bonuses). It takes Total cover to block line of sight or line of effect. The only creature that (off the top of my head) I think does that is a Gelatinous Cube.

- Gauss

[Some call me Tim]

Generally, creatures don't block line-of-sight.

A very large creature or a large number of small creatures could but this would be a very rare circumstance.

[TheSideKick]

as guss said but to add that the cover from a non target blocking a target of a ranged attack is +4 per object blocking your path.

3 alies (or enemies) in the way of hitting your target, you gain -12 to hit.

seeking/improved precise shot negate these cover bonuses.

[Paraxis]

I don't think cover penalties are cumulative. It is either partial cover or total cover, no other degrees of cover exist.

[Gauss]

Paraxis that is not true.

Partial Cover: +2AC, +1reflex, Stealth: no?
Cover: +4AC, +2reflex, Stealth: yes
Soft Cover: +4AC, Stealth: no
Improved Cover: +8AC, +4reflex, +10stealth, Stealth: yes, Gain Improved Evasion
Total Cover: No line of sight or line of effect exists.

All of this is on CRB p195 and 196.

However, TheSideKick is also wrong.
First, my name is Gauss not guss. :)
Second, multiple Soft Cover bonuses do not stack. It might eventually be determined to be improved cover but the cover bonuses are not added up.
Third, bonuses to the target's AC are not penalties to attack. Sinice bonuses do not stack unless specifically stated they do and penalties do (usually) stack it is important to keep them straight.

- Gauss