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Old 11-15-2010, 09:24 PM   #1
Gef
 
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Default Indirect archery

Are there rules somewhere in 4e for arcing fire with muscle-powered weapons (bows, crossbows, slings)? I fancy myself proficient in the skill of Games (GURPS), but I can't seem to find any. -GEF
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Old 11-15-2010, 09:32 PM   #2
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Default Re: Indirect archery

I've wondered this myself too. The final battle scene in The Last Samurai has a pretty neat archers-vs-riflemen exchange, where the samurai archers take cover behind shields which absorb most of the rifle shots. They can arc their arrows above the shields and threaten the enemy riflemen through indirect fire.
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Old 11-15-2010, 09:46 PM   #3
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Default Re: Indirect archery

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Originally Posted by Gef View Post
Are there rules somewhere in 4e for arcing fire with muscle-powered weapons (bows, crossbows, slings)? I fancy myself proficient in the skill of Games (GURPS), but I can't seem to find any. -GEF
You can use the Artillery rules on HT 139 for some of what you need. Damage seems like it would be affected though.
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Old 11-15-2010, 09:51 PM   #4
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Default Re: Indirect archery

Anything using a ballistic arc can use indirect fire. In fact, for most of the bows range, it's indirect.
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Old 11-15-2010, 11:09 PM   #5
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Default Re: Indirect archery

All projectiles travel in ballistic arcs, including bullets. Unless they're self-powered like rockets or cruise missiles, they have to.

The definition of "indirect fire" that I'm used to seeing means firing at a position that you cannot see. Usually this means you have a spotter correcting your fire. Arcing alone doesn't make the fire "indirect". An archer can see his target and directs his own fire. So, I wouldn't call it indirect just because it's long range and the arrow has to arc.

When it comes to armies, I think the question would be more about area effect rules for high RoF (treating the entire unit as one attack). The individual hit modifiers are low, but you try to make up for that with mass volleys.
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Old 11-16-2010, 12:04 AM   #6
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Default Re: Indirect archery

Use Artillery rules. You'd usually aim at a unit rather than an individual or a specific hex. If you hit the unit, you use the usual rules to determine if an actual target is hit by using the normal rules for when projectiles happen to hit an occupied hex.
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Old 11-16-2010, 05:41 AM   #7
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Default Re: Indirect archery

See how much area does unit cover,than target area...if you have hit area than roll 9 or less to hit someone there.
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Old 11-16-2010, 06:15 PM   #8
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Default Re: Indirect archery

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Originally Posted by Rasmus Wagner View Post
Use Artillery rules. You'd usually aim at a unit rather than an individual or a specific hex. If you hit the unit, you use the usual rules to determine if an actual target is hit by using the normal rules for when projectiles happen to hit an occupied hex.
I'm not certain that works. Since massed archery lack observers and fire control those rules would give it huge penalties, and IIRC misses can be huge.
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Old 11-16-2010, 07:13 PM   #9
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Default Re: Indirect archery

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Originally Posted by Verjigorm View Post
Anything using a ballistic arc can use indirect fire. In fact, for most of the bows range, it's indirect.
I recall seeing Marine Corp field manual that discussed indirect fire of machine guns, like over hills and other obstructions. Of course it's been 20 years since I saw it so I might just have it wrong.
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Old 11-16-2010, 08:23 PM   #10
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Default Re: Indirect archery

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Originally Posted by lexington View Post
You can use the Artillery rules on HT 139 for some of what you need. Damage seems like it would be affected though.
That would explain it. My copy of hi-tech seems to have been kidnapped, although there's been no ransom demand.

I'm wondering if you can get an arrow to come down close enough to vertical to treat as an overhead attack, if it'd do enough damage to matter, if you'd have a prayer of hitting, and over what portion of the bow's range the trick might work. I wonder this mainly because I seem to recall depiction in movies of defenders holding shields over their heads to protect against archery volleys...which seems significant since "Overhead" is a +30% enhancement for attack powers.

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