RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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| 9 people marked this as FAQ candidate. |
I'd like a clarification/errata on a few issues with the Reckless Aim feat (Pathfinder Player Companion: Blood of Fiends).
Benefit: When you shoot or throw ranged weapons at an opponent engaged in melee, you can choose to take a –1 penalty to your AC and gain a +2 competence bonus on your attack roll. However, when you roll a natural 1 on a ranged attack roll made with this bonus, you automatically hit a random adjacent creature that threatens your intended target.
The following things are unclear:
1) How long does the AC penalty last? I'm assuming "until the beginning of your next round", but it is not mentioned. A RAW zealot might say it's a permanent penalty since its duration is not specified. ;-) Or that the penalty only applies while you're shooting, i.e. only if AoOs occur. I don't think neither was the author's intent.
2) Can you use this effect once per round or as many times as you like, or does it affect all your attacks in a round? If multiple "reckless attacks" per round are possible, is there a cumulative AC penalty or is it -1 regardless of the number of reckless attacks?
3) The feat says the target has to be engaged in melee, but it doesn't specify that it has to be engaged in melee with a creature other than you. Does this mean that you can make "reckless attacks" vs an opponent that you threaten in melee? And if you roll a 1 and you're the only adjacent creature, would you accidentally shoot yourself? :D :D :D I don't think this was the author's intent, but who knows.
(EDIT: In some situations) this would be useful for a Zen Archer with Point-Blank Mastery and Perfect Strike - you threaten even when you are wielding a bow, your bow attacks don't cause AoOs, and you have Perfect Strike which makes natural 1s more unlikely. And you don't risk hurting your allies.
A fun feat, but badly written... So please flag this as FAQ candidate, and discuss.
1 - I think this is an oversight. It was probably intended to last until your next turn, just like power attack. I FAQed to get this part confirmed.
2 - Seems to trigger off every attack. Seems to me you could use it as many times as you have ranged attacks. Oh, and I think penalties always stack? Especially since it is untyped.
3 - I agree that this situation wasn't the author's intent, but it seems to work.
I have to ask another question on the matter: If the BSF is engaged in melee with a monster, i shoot the monster and roll an Ace (1), i hit the fighter REGARDLESS of his AC? I tend to say no to this.
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RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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I have to ask another question on the matter: If the BSF is engaged in melee with a monster, i shoot the monster and roll an Ace (1), i hit the fighter REGARDLESS of his AC? I tend to say no to this.
Well, that's one of the few things that the feat does state quite clearly: "You automatically hit a random adjacent creature that threatens your intended target." No other rolls needed. I think it also means that you can even auto-hit an invisible character. Not sure how it's supposed to interact with mirror image, though...
And this boys and girls, is why I only allow Hardcover books at my table.
That would totally have solved the problem. It's not like an error could ever turn up in a hardcover book.
For the actual questions:
1) I would say the AC penalty lasts until the start of your next turn. It's not much of a penalty if it doesn't get applied for the most part.
2) I would say that the bonuses and penalties apply for the round. I would keep it consistent with other feats.
3) I can see a variety of arguments here. I would say that your target doesn't have to be in melee with you. However, I would reserve the right to amend this after seeing how the ruling works in play.
The "automatic hit" part is very shady. What if my fighter buddy has wind wall on him? The automatic hit negates everything, including AC/Magic? So if the creature i am trying to hit is threatened by a 3d-party opponent (AC 60), and i roll a natural 1, do i hit this unhittable (3d-party) opponent with my 25 Attack Roll?
Wondering how people would rule the above case at their tables.
From the begining to the end It seems like a bad designed(or writed) feat .
I'm not so sure about that. I think it just requires some DM discretion (which probably makes it bad for PFS play). That brings us to...
Wondering how people would rule the above case at their tables.
I would say magical effects which block projectile attacks work normally. I would still allow high AC characters to be hit by such attacks; this is because the situation in which a third party is threatening someone you are attacking who you want to damage is fairly rare, and that 5% chance to hit is the same as the 5% chance to hit on a natural 20. There is always a chance.
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How about this for consideration?
RECKLESS AIM
Benefit: You can choose to take a -1 penalty to your AC to gain a +2 bonus on all ranged attack rolls against an opponent engaged in melee. You must choose to use this feat before making an attack roll and its effects last until your next turn. If you roll a natural 1 on any ranged attack roll made with this bonus, re-roll the attack against a random creature adjacent to your intended target.
Removed the "competence" bonus part because any truly reckless shot could hardly be classified as a competent one.
Changed the duration to match similar feats such as Deadly Aim.
I would like some official clarification on this feat as well, because my gunslinger (who is already pretty reckless by not choosing Precise Shot) would LOVE this feat!