Latest FAQ
What does the Prone Shooter feat do? The feat says that you do not take a penalty for shooting while prone, but there is no such penalty.You are of course correct here. As currently written, the feat does not function as intended. To fix this issue, make the following changes.
Remove the Weapon Focus feat prerequisite from the feat. The benefit paragraph of the feat should be changed to read as follows:
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.
Finally, delete the special paragraph from the feat.
—Jason Bulmahn, today
Still not all THAT good of a feat, but now it actually does something!
MA
Huzzah, today is a productive day.
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Why is it called Prone Shooter when it now has nothing to do with shooting?
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Prone Shooter is now epic for a melee character with monkey style.
EDIT: That is, since it does absolutely nothing for shooting that isn't already done by lying prone. However, the reduction of the AC penalty for lying prone makes this feat awesome for melee characters and monsters who may be tripped (further weakening the potential for trippers), and the additional AC bonus while prone is exceptional for a character with monkey style (who already ignores the AC penalty, and how gets an additional +10% evasion vs ranged attacks).
Shouldn't you get like, a plus to hit or more range or something?That is what being prone does generally
Primarily what it does is decrease your target profile and help you take cover as well. It's a classic move for avoiding being seen or shot. If anything your sighting distance would take a dive (unless you are on a rise) and your range (with a bow / crossbow) would go down as a result. Also make it a bear to reload compared to a standing posture. The shape of a crossbow would make a prone position more difficult than with a firearm and a bow would be a real pain although I would think you could hold it horizontally and crouch with it. With a modern firearm (or old one I suppose) you could steady your weapon, but you're still messing with your own line of sight and sighting distance. If they had put the relevant penalties into the game, the feat would have made more sense. Maybe they were something discussed but not added and the feat made it in anyway? Anyway, it makes more sense now.
*edit* I could see a decreased range but bonuses to hit with a crossbow or firearm. Not a bow though. It's not like you can rest it on the ground and use it...
I find it funny that one of the goals of 3E was to reduce the tactical complexity of combat that had grown with 2E (i.e. Players Option: Combat and Tactics; I loved that book) and it seems to have all been added back in, and more, with feats. Of course, it's more abstract and harder to visualize now too... er, that's not an advantage is it?
Dot
Shouldn't you get like, a plus to hit or more range or something?That is what being prone does generally
Primarily what it does is decrease your target profile and help you take cover as well. It's a classic move for avoiding being seen or shot. If anything your sighting distance would take a dive (unless you are on a rise) and your range (with a bow / crossbow) would go down as a result. Also make it a bear to reload compared to a standing posture. The shape of a crossbow would make a prone position more difficult than with a firearm and a bow would be a real pain although I would think you could hold it horizontally and crouch with it. With a modern firearm (or old one I suppose) you could steady your weapon, but you're still messing with your own line of sight and sighting distance. If they had put the relevant penalties into the game, the feat would have made more sense. Maybe they were something discussed but not added and the feat made it in anyway? Anyway, it makes more sense now.
*edit* I could see a decreased range but bonuses to hit with a crossbow or firearm. Not a bow though. It's not like you can rest it on the ground and use it...
I find it funny that one of the goals of 3E was to reduce the tactical complexity of combat that had grown with 2E (i.e. Players Option: Combat and Tactics; I loved that book) and it seems to have all been added back in, and more, with feats. Of course, it's more abstract and harder to visualize now too... er, that's not an advantage is it?
You can only use Crossbows and Firearms while prone (MAYBE a bow if you had a pair of arms coming out of your back) If I remember correctly, prone shooter was originally supposed to give you a +2 to ranged attack while prone, but they took the bonus out because they thought it was overpowered. Now with this change the feat needs to be renamed since well the feat involves nothing about shooting at all really. Maybe call it Hit the Deck! or something more fitting of the tactic that the feats new bonuses involve >.>
Perhaps... Pancake Style?
:D