I feel like I'm going to be shown up to be a poor reader in asking this first one, but I honestly have searched the CRB back to front and can't find a clear and straightforward answer.
What is a "ranged touch attack?"
By which I mean, when you are asked to make one (usually as a spellcaster), what variables do you apply to the D20 you throw? Dexterity and Base Attack Bonus? Anything else? Where is this clearly spelled out?
The second question is a little more specific, and concerns rules found at p. 202 of the CRB.
When you throw a splash weapon and miss, how far from the targeted square does the gone-awry weapon land? I'm clear on how to determine what direction from the targeted square (or intersection) it lands, but I don't understand what's meant by "a number of squares...equal to to the range increment of the throw" means.
A specific example. A goblin throws some alchemist's fire at a target fifteen feet away and misses. I, as GM, roll the 1d8 to determine which direction the flask flies wide. But how far wide does it fall? 10 feet? That's the range increment of the weapon, but is it the range increment of the throw? I can see arguments for the flask landing 10 feet from the target (range increment of the weapon), 15 feet from the target (distance of the throw), and 20 feet (number of range increments taken into account when determining penalties to the throw from distance.)
Any help on these, especially the first, is greatly appreciated.
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For a ranged touch attack, add all the modifiers as if you were making a normal ranged attack, you just check against touch AC to see if you hit.
For splash weapon deviation, look at how many range increments away the target is. In your example, 15 feet for alchemist's fire, you are more than one range increment but less than two, so the weapon will deviate 1-2 squares(I don't think it indicates whether you round up or down; I'd be inclined to round up for splash weapons) in the direction you determine. If you were throwing at a target 50 feet away it would deviate 5 squares.
For a ranged touch attack, add all the modifiers as if you were making a normal ranged attack, you just check against touch AC to see if you hit.
For splash weapon deviation, look at how many range increments away the target is. In your example, 15 feet for alchemist's fire, you are more than one range increment but less than two, so the weapon will deviate 1-2 squares(I don't think it indicates whether you round up or down; I'd be inclined to round up for splash weapons) in the direction you determine. If you were throwing at a target 50 feet away it would deviate 5 squares.
Oh wow, so the actual answer is one that I hadn't even considered. Not ten squares because the range is increment, but one square because the range increment is one, so to speak. So I actually haven't been ruling it as screwy as I thought I had been. Thanks!
From PRD:Combat
With a ranged weapon, your attack bonus is the following:
Base attack bonus + Dexterity modifier + size modifier + range penaltyTouch Attacks: Some attacks completely disregard armor, including shields and natural armor—the aggressor need only touch a foe for such an attack to take full effect. In these cases, the attacker makes a touch attack roll (either ranged or melee). When you are the target of a touch attack, your AC doesn't include any armor bonus, shield bonus, or natural armor bonus. All other modifiers, such as your size modifier, Dexterity modifier, and deflection bonus (if any) apply normally. Some creatures have the ability to make incorporeal touch attacks. These attacks bypass solid objects, such as armor and shields, by passing through them. Incorporeal touch attacks work similarly to normal touch attacks except that they also ignore cover bonuses. Incorporeal touch attacks do not ignore armor bonuses granted by force effects, such as mage armor and bracers of armor.
Hope that helps
It does! So, BAB + Dex, as I thought. Thanks!
For a ranged touch attack, add all the modifiers as if you were making a normal ranged attack, you just check against touch AC to see if you hit.
For splash weapon deviation, look at how many range increments away the target is. In your example, 15 feet for alchemist's fire, you are more than one range increment but less than two, so the weapon will deviate 1-2 squares(I don't think it indicates whether you round up or down; I'd be inclined to round up for splash weapons) in the direction you determine. If you were throwing at a target 50 feet away it would deviate 5 squares.
Actually, it does state how you round. Unless a rule specifies otherwise, you always round down.
Rounding: Occasionally the rules ask you to round a result or value. Unless otherwise stated, always round down. For example, if you are asked to take half of 7, the result would be 3.
But in this case, no rounding is needed. The first increment is 0 to 10 feet. The second is 11 to 20 feet, and so on. 15 feet away falls into the 2nd increment, so it would deviate 2 squares.