Aid another with ranged attack?

[Shin Okada]

Can a character use ranged weapon to aid a friend? Reading the texts in PHB P.135, a friend must be engaged in melee combat. But an aiding character just have to be "in position to attack an opponent" and thus can use a ranged attack. Right? Or not?

I am wondering if a bunch of 1st level archers can aid one high-level villain.

 

[hong]

Yes, it's allowed. Think of it as a (clumsy) way of simulating volley fire: you can only dodge so many arrows.

 

[Hypersmurf]

But does it cost you an arrow?

-Hyp.

 

[maddman75]

I'd say yes, since you actually make an attack roll. Sure, its against AC 10, but I've always interpreted Aid Another as you are actually attacking. You just aren't following through. Just a feint, to either create an opening for your friend (+2 to hit) or getting the enemies' attention when they are trying to attack (+2 to AC).

So I'd cost you an arrow, and would describe it as a hail of arrows. Could be quite effective

- 10 elf archers, fighters with WF bow, dex 14. +4 to hit, means that 7 hit for an aid another on average, giving their commander a +14 to hit.

No wonder people fear elf archers. To bad I don't use FR stuff, or the commander could be a peerless archer that does that 'ranged power attack' thing to seriously mess someone up.

And tell my players you're sorry

 

[JChung2003]

I agree with what the others said about the rule in theory. I just wanted to illustrate a seemingly absurd situation that could be achieved with 10' reach weapons.

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An attacker could get a +30 circumstance bonus to his attack rolls if his 15 other allies all succeeded on their aid another actions!

Now imagine monsters with larger than 5x5 faces!

Now add airborne allies!

Suddenly the power of horde tactics begins to dawn on me!

 

[Lord Pendragon]

An attacker could get a +30 circumstance bonus to his attack rolls if his 15 other allies all succeeded on their aid another actions!

Then the defender only has to worry about one attack that hits, instead of possibly 16. I don't have a problem with that. A single fighter/mage could get the same result by casting True Strike.

I've allowed this in my campaign, and don't think there's anything wrong with it balance-wise or sense-wise.

 

[darkbard]

Now imagine monsters with larger than 5x5 faces!

Now add airborne allies!

Suddenly the power of horde tactics begins to dawn on me!

IMO, the reason why dragons don't dominate the lands [in most campaigns].

 

[AGGEMAM]

It doesn't work at all.

From the SRD

Aid another [Standard][AoO: No]
Description: If a character threatens an opponent with whom an ally is engaged in melee combat, the character can attempt to aid the ally as a standard action.

You cannot threaten anyone with a ranged weapon.

 

[Hypersmurf]

It doesn't work at all.

If you're playing SRD, it doesn't work. But when you're playing D&D, you go to the D&D Player's Handbook

"If you're in a position to attack an opponent with which a friend of yours is engaged in melee combat, you can attempt to aid your friend as a standard action."

Personally, I like the SRD ruling better, but Core Rulebooks supercede the SRD when you're playing D&D.

-Hyp.

 

[AGGEMAM]

Personally, I like the SRD ruling better, but Core Rulebooks supercede the SRD when you're playing D&D.

Not really, though. Since that's from the errated version.