Minimum and Maximum Range - Ranged Combat

[David Richards 595]

Hi there,

I’m pretty new to Pathfinder and I’m having a few issues understanding ranged combat. In the hero’s handbook from the beginners box set it states

Quote:

Minimum and Maximum Range: You can’t attack a creature with a ranged weapon unless you are at least 10 feet away from all enemies.

The problem is I can’t see any reference to this minimum and maximum range rule in the core rule book and on page 183 under combat actions it shows that Attack (ranged) provokes an AOP.

Assuming that rule does exist in the core rule book? If a character has to be at least 10 feet away from an enemy before firing and assuming the enemy doesn’t threaten any squares further than 5 feet how would carrying out a ranged attack provoke an AOP?

Also if a character is engaged in melee with an enemy can he take a 5 foot step away from the enemy and fire?

Thanks

[Jeraa]

That rule doesn't appear in the core rules. The beginner Box uses a set of streamlined and simplified rules - it isn't identical to the rules from the core rulebook.

[Fuzzy-Wuzzy]

There is no minimum range rule. I have no idea what hero's handbox is talking about.

Yes, you can take a 5' step and then fire as many times as you are able. This is an excellent tactic should you as an archer get stuck in melee.

[David Richards 595]

So I'm not going blind then :-)

Thank you for the quick replies I really appreciate the help!

[Khudzlin]

Hello.

1) This rule is specific to the Beginner's Box. You can attack with a ranged weapon with enemies adjacent to you, but they're going to beat you up if you do that (unless you take feats to prevent that, of course).
2) Yes, you can take a 5-foot step during your turn as long you don't move more than that (you can still take a move action, but you can't use it to move).

[David Richards 595]

Is the feat you mention called Point Blank Master? I assume I need to wait for my Ranger to get to level 6 before I can take that as a feat?

[David knott 242]

If you are playing a Ranger, then yes, you would have to wait until 6th level.

If you are playing a Fighter, you could gain Weapon Specialization at 4th level and then select Point Blank Master at 5th level.

If you are playing a Zen Archer Monk, you get Point Blank Master automatically at 3rd level.

[Chemlak]

Because the Beginner Box doesn't include attacks of opportunity, the minimum range is there to account for the single biggest reason in the core rules to not use a ranged attack against an adjacent foe.

The choice was basically either allow those attacks and make ranged flat-out better than melee, or ban them and simulate the AoO.

[Lady-J]

David knott 242 wrote:

If you are playing a Ranger, then yes, you would have to wait until 6th level.

If you are playing a Fighter, you could gain Weapon Specialization at 4th level and then select Point Blank Master at 5th level.

If you are playing a Zen Archer Monk, you get Point Blank Master automatically at 3rd level.

actually as long as you take a feat you dont mind retraining at 2nd level you can retrain your level 2 feat to weapon specialization at level 4 and use your bonus feat at level 4 for point blank master