Flanking Question

[Krell44]

My son and I are going to roll up a couple of Ratfolk characters who adventure together, and I have a question as to exactly how flanking (and threat) is determined for the Swarming racial ability.

My son would like to play the Gulch Gunner racial archetype, and I want to verify that we will still gain the flanking bonus while we share the same square.

Here is the Swarming ability:

* * Swarming: Ratfolk are used to living and fighting communally, and are adept at swarming foes for their own gain and their foes' detriment. Up to two ratfolk can share the same square at the same time. If two ratfolk in the same square attack the same foe, they are considered to be flanking that foe as if they were in two opposite squares. * *

It simply states that as long as two Ratfolk share a space and attack the same foe, they receive the flanking bonus. So would a ranged attack qualify for this? The Gulch Gunner is specifically designed to attack in close/adjacent range.

[GinoA]

No, it wouldn't count because of "as if they were in two opposite squares". If they were opposite, the ranged attack wouldn't provide flank.

[Chess Pwn]

ranged attacks can't flank. We have a FAQ clarifying this.

[James Risner]

Flanking only exists in the context of making a melee attack.
If you make a ranged attack, ignore all flanking mechanics.

[Helpful Harry]

Quote:

When making a melee attack, you get a +2 flanking bonus if your opponent is threatened by another enemy character or creature on its opposite border or opposite corner.

[Krell44]

Fair enough, the pistol does not provide a flanking bonus.

What if his character wore a Tail Blade? Now, would all of my attacks receive the flanking bonus, his Tailblade attack receives it, but the Pistol shot would not?

Does a secondary attack threaten?

[Saldiven]

It's questionable whether or not you can make both a ranged attack and a melee attack in the same round.

In any case, if he has the tail blade attached, he would threaten, and your character would get the flanking bonus. He would get the flanking bonus if he used the tail bladed, but not if he used the gun.

[James Risner]

Krell44 wrote:

Now, would all of my attacks receive the flanking bonus, his Tailblade attack receives it, but the Pistol shot would not?

If you are in flanking position, all your melee attacks are flanking attacks. All your non-melee are not flanking.

[Glorf Fei-Hung]

Krell44 wrote:

Fair enough, the pistol does not provide a flanking bonus.

What if his character wore a Tail Blade? Now, would all of my attacks receive the flanking bonus, his Tailblade attack receives it, but the Pistol shot would not?

Does a secondary attack threaten?

Yes, the Tailblade would threaten, so he now provides a flanking bonus to you, and you would provide a flanking bonus to him, however since his normal attacks are ranged he would not gain that flanking bonus unless he was not using a ranged attack.

Also (obviously) he would provoke AoO's until he obtains Point Blank Shot or some other ability that would prevent him from provoking while attacking with a ranged weapon at melee.

[nicholas storm]

The gulch gunner can't recover grit if he gets a way to prevent provoking attacks of opportunity. So best if he jacks his AC as high as possible and provokes away.

[Gallant Armor]

The snap shot feat would allow for threatening with a ranged weapon.

[James Risner]

Gallant Armor wrote:

The snap shot feat would allow for threatening with a ranged weapon.

But any ranged attack couldn't benefit from flanking. Just making sure this is clear, since some could misinterpret your response to say that grants flanking with ranged.