PDA

View Full Version : Does Full Attack Ranged Attacks provoke AoO?



SethFahad
2010-01-04, 02:40 AM
According to the post (bellow) Full Attack Ranged attacks do not provoke an AoO.


Full attacks with ranged weapons don't provoke attacks of opportunity. The provocation for a ranged attack is only specified under the "Standard Actions" section of the Combat chapter. The table in the "Full-Round Actions" section says full attacks don't provoke AoOs, and the text there doesn't contradict that or make any exceptions.

I’ve never heard anything like that before, and I’ve never seen anyone claim such a thing or someone play like that. I’m having a hard time digesting this. I simply can’t.

The table in the "Full-Round Actions" section says:


Regardless of the action, if you move out of a threatened square, you usually provoke an attack of opportunity. This column indicates whether the action itself, not moving, provokes an attack of opportunity.

So taking the Full Attack action, by itself, does not provoke an AoO. However, you make multiple ranged attacks as part of the full attack and by RAW ranged attack provoke AoOs.

The “Rules as Writen: All about Ranged Attacks (Part one)” section in wizards.com states:


Ranged attacks provoke attacks of opportunity
.
You drop your guard when you prepare for your shot and take aim. This provokes attacks of opportunity from every foe who threatens you at the time you make your ranged attack.
You can avoid the attack of opportunity in several ways, such as taking a 5-foot step to leave the threatened space or standing behind cover when you shoot (see page 151 in the Player's Handbook).


You can also avoid AoO using Close Combat Shot (Ex) from OotBI:

Close Combat Shot (Ex): At 2nd level, an initiate can attack with a ranged weapon while in a threatened square and not provoke an attack of opportunity.
or EWMs "Exotic Weapon Stunt (Ex):Close-Quarters Ranged Combat" Close-Quarters Ranged Combat:

A character who knows this stunt doesn’t provoke an attack of opportunity when using an exotic ranged weapon.

So if I drop my guard when I’m focusing in a ranged attack action, the same happens when I’m making multiple ranged attacks. I mean it doesn’t matter if you try to shoot someone one time or two times, he’s going to hit you hard.

Here are some info from Rules Compendium and PH

Actions in Combat
The following table summarizes acts that can be undertaken during combat. It also shows the action type required and whether an activity provokes attacks of opportunity (AoO).
Table: Actions in Combat
Standard Action Attack of Opportunity1
Attack (melee) No
Attack (ranged) Yes
... ...
Full-Round Action Attack of Opportunity1
Full attack No



FULL ATTACK
If you get more than one attack per round because your base attack bonus is high enough, because you fight with two weapons or a double weapon, or for some other reason, you must use a full-round action to be able to make your additional attacks. As you make your attacks, you specify your targets.
You can see how the earlier attacks turn out before assigning the later ones.
If you can make multiple attacks because your base attack bonus is high enough, you must make the attacks in order from highest bonus to lowest. You can strike with either weapon first if you’re using two weapons or either part of the weapon fi rst if you’re using a double weapon.
The only movement you can take during a full attack is a 5-foot step. You can take the step before, after, or between your attacks.
The extra attacks granted by the Cleave feat or the Great Cleave feat can be taken whenever they apply. This is an exception to the normal limit on the number of attacks you can make when not making a full attack.
There is no mention about "no AoO".

FULL-ROUND ACTION
A full-round action consumes almost all your effort during a round. Before, during, or after a full-round action in which you don’t otherwise move, you can usually take a 5-foot step.
The most common type of full-round action is a full attack, which allows you to make multiple melee or ranged attacks in a single round.
Some full-round actions don’t allow you to take a 5-foot step. Other full-round actions can be taken as standard actions in situations when you’re limited to performing only a standard action during your turn, such as during
a surprise round.
Again nothing about AoO avoidance.

RANGED ATTACKS
With a ranged weapon, you can shoot or throw at any target that is within the weapon’s maximum range (see Range Penalty). Line of sight isn’t required—you can fire at a creature that has concealment, hoping you hit your target.
Intervening creatures and obstacles, however, can block your shot or provide cover for the creature you’re aiming at. You provoke attacks of opportunity when firing or throwing a ranged weapon.
Ranged attack bonus = base attack bonus + Dex modifier + size modifier + enhancement bonus + range penalty + other modifiers

Attacks of Opportunity
The melee combat rules assume that combatants are actively avoiding attacks. Sometimes combatants in a melee let their guard down. In such cases, other combatants nearby can take advantage of the lapse in defense to attack for free. These free attacks are called attacks of opportunity.
THREATENED SQUARES
If you’re considered armed, you threaten all squares into which you can make a melee attack, even when it isn’t your turn. That usually means everything in all squares adjacent to your space, including diagonally. An enemy that undertakes certain activities while in a threatened square provokes attacks of opportunity. If you’re considered unarmed, you don’t normally threaten any squares and thus can’t make attacks of opportunity. Certain conditions in combat, such as concealment and cover, also affect your ability to make
attacks of opportunity.
Reach
Most creatures of Medium or smaller size have a reach of only 5 feet. This means that they can make melee attacks only against creatures up to 5 feet (1 square) away. However, Small and Medium creatures wielding reach weapons might threaten more squares than a typical creature. Creatures larger than Medium have a natural reach of 10 feet or more, so they
threaten all squares within that reach, including diagonal ones.
Creatures smaller than Small typically have a natural reach of 0 feet, meaning they can’t reach into adjacent squares. Since they have no natural reach, such creatures don’t threaten the squares around them at all. See Size, page 116.
PROVOKING ATTACKS OF OPPORTUNITY
Moving out of a threatened square can provoke attacks of opportunity, as can being in a threatened square while performing an act that requires focused attention.
Moving
Moving out of a threatened square usually provokes an attack of opportunity from any opponent who threatens that square.
Two methods of movement allow you to avoid such an attack:
5-foot step and withdraw. See Movement, page 90.
Moving out of more than one square threatened by the same opponent in the same round doesn’t count as more than one opportunity for that opponent.
Focused Act
When you focus your attention on what you’re doing, you divert your attention from the battle. The Actions in Combat table, page 8, notes many activities that provoke attacks of opportunity for this reason. Some such actions allow you to make a Concentration check to avoid provoking (see Concentration, page 33). Even actions that normally provoke
attacks of opportunity can have exceptions.

I'm personally a huge fan of Curmudgeon and I'm allways respecting his opinion and his corrections, but I dont agree with this one.

I believe that ranged attacks provoke AoOs ALWAYS (Single or Multiple Attacks)

What do you guys think?

Boci
2010-01-04, 02:42 AM
Rules as written: no it doesn't. Rules as intended and should be: yes it doesn.

PhoenixRivers
2010-01-04, 02:52 AM
Rules as written: no it doesn't. Rules as intended and should be: yes it doesn.


RANGED ATTACKS
With a ranged weapon, you can shoot or throw at any target that is within the weapon’s maximum range (see Range Penalty). Line of sight isn’t required—you can fire at a creature that has concealment, hoping you hit your target.
Intervening creatures and obstacles, however, can block your shot or provide cover for the creature you’re aiming at. You provoke attacks of opportunity when firing or throwing a ranged weapon.
Ranged attack bonus = base attack bonus + Dex modifier + size modifier + enhancement bonus + range penalty + other modifiers

This applies to all ranged attacks, not just standard actions. RAW: Ranged attacks provoke. All ranged attacks.

Because of this, the omission on full attack actions in the other section is irrelevant. It's included there.

Keld Denar
2010-01-04, 02:54 AM
Isn't there a healthy dose of Text Trumps Table in there? The table says that full attacks don't provoke. The text says that ALL RANGED ATTACKS PROVOKE. Thus, ranged attacks, regardless of what action you took to make them, provoke, unless something even more specific counters that, such as the Arrow Mind spell, or the OotBI ability...

Similar reasoning: You can full attack with an Unarmed Strike. If you don't have Improved Unarmed Strike, your Unarmed Strikes provoke. By your reasoning, you could similarly full attack with Unarmed Strikes with no feat of taking AoOs, because the table says that full attacks never provoke.

Swordguy
2010-01-04, 03:10 AM
Isn't there a healthy dose of Text Trumps Table in there? The table says that full attacks don't provoke. The text says that ALL RANGED ATTACKS PROVOKE. Thus, ranged attacks, regardless of what action you took to make them, provoke, unless something even more specific counters that, such as the Arrow Mind spell, or the OotBI ability...
{Scrubbed}

PhoenixRivers
2010-01-04, 03:36 AM
I think what they're trying to say is that a Full Attack =/= Ranged Attack. In essence, a Melee Attack, Ranged Attack, and Full Attack are all completely seperate things, and have no relation to one another.

Which is clearly BS by any but the most literal reading of the rules. But that's the standard anymore.

All are seperate.

Attacks are not actions.

A Melee attack is neither a standard nor a full round action.
A ranged attack is neither a standard nor a full round action.
A full attack action is a full round actions, and consists of possibly multiple melee or ranged attacks.

Now: The standard action attack (where you get one) states that ranged attacks provoke (table)
The Full attack action states that it generally doesn't provoke (table).

By generally, it means that, for example: A charge attack does not provoke AoO's. However, the movement that is part of the charge attack may.

A full attack action does not provoke AoO's. However, individual ranged attacks that are part of it may.

All that's left is to show that ranged attacks provoke, which the SRD section on Ranged Attacks does.

Killer Angel
2010-01-04, 05:06 AM
This applies to all ranged attacks, not just standard actions. RAW: Ranged attacks provoke. All ranged attacks.

Because of this, the omission on full attack actions in the other section is irrelevant. It's included there.

I'm with phoenix on this one.
Anyway: SethFahad, PM Curmudgeon about this thread, so he can answer if he didn't see it.

Boci
2010-01-04, 08:04 AM
This applies to all ranged attacks, not just standard actions. RAW: Ranged attacks provoke. All ranged attacks.

Because of this, the omission on full attack actions in the other section is irrelevant. It's included there.

Okay. Regardless of what RAW actually is, the rules as intended where clear and I doubt many DMs would allow AoO free ranged full attack. Good to know that this doesn't work under RAW, but why do I get the feeling we are going to hear "full ranged attacks don't provoke" at some point.

Curmudgeon
2010-01-04, 08:18 AM
All that's left is to show that ranged attacks provoke, which the SRD section on Ranged Attacks does.
No, that argument doesn't work. That "SRD section on Ranged Attacks" is part of the Standard Actions section of the Combat chapter (page 139 of the Player's Handbook). Which only shows that ranged attacks which are standard actions provoke AoOs. The only other mention of ranged attacks provoking is in the "COMBAT BASICS" summary page (135); that refers to later parts of the text for full details: (see below).

I don't use too many house rules in my D&D games, but full attacks provoking on every shot is one of them. It's futile to try to hand-wave this one away, folks. Just acknowledge it as a screwup, and get on with playing the game.

PhoenixRivers
2010-01-04, 09:28 AM
No, that argument doesn't work. That "SRD section on Ranged Attacks" is part of the Standard Actions section of the Combat chapter (page 139 of the Player's Handbook). Which only shows that ranged attacks which are standard actions provoke AoOs. The only other mention of ranged attacks provoking is in the "COMBAT BASICS" summary page (135); that refers to later parts of the text for full details: (see below).

I don't use too many house rules in my D&D games, but full attacks provoking on every shot is one of them. It's futile to try to hand-wave this one away, folks. Just acknowledge it as a screwup, and get on with playing the game.

Yes, that argument DOES work. You are falsely assuming compartmentalization where there is none.

Check Skills, under Opposed Checks. Now, it's under the skills section, so Ability checks (which are not skills), are not opposed, ever. However, the section (even though it's under skills) doesn't explicitly state that only skill checks apply.

Later on, the section even refers to ability checks (which are not skill checks) when it extends the taking 10 and 20 rules.

All you show is that you assume that compartmentalization exists, where none does.


Attack

Making an attack is a standard action.Later on, it explains that making multiple attacks is a full round action. That said, let's continue.


Melee Attacks

With a normal melee weapon, you can strike any opponent within 5 feet. (Opponents within 5 feet are considered adjacent to you.) Some melee weapons have reach, as indicated in their descriptions. With a typical reach weapon, you can strike opponents 10 feet away, but you can’t strike adjacent foes (those within 5 feet).Note: These rules aren't specific to Standard action attacks only. They're reiterating general things that apply to all attacks.


Unarmed Attacks

Striking for damage with punches, kicks, and head butts is much like attacking with a melee weapon, except for the following:
Attacks of Opportunity

Attacking unarmed provokes an attack of opportunity from the character you attack, provided she is armed. The attack of opportunity comes before your attack. An unarmed attack does not provoke attacks of opportunity from other foes nor does it provoke an attack of opportunity from an unarmed foe.

An unarmed character can’t take attacks of opportunity (but see "Armed" Unarmed Attacks, below).
Again, reiterating universal rules that apply to all attacks.



"Armed" Unarmed Attacks

Sometimes a character’s or creature’s unarmed attack counts as an armed attack. A monk, a character with the Improved Unarmed Strike feat, a spellcaster delivering a touch attack spell, and a creature with natural physical weapons all count as being armed.

Note that being armed counts for both offense and defense (the character can make attacks of opportunity)
Once again, not a specific thing to standard action attacks, but reiterating general things that apply to all attacks.


Unarmed Strike Damage

An unarmed strike from a Medium character deals 1d3 points of damage (plus your Strength modifier, as normal). A Small character’s unarmed strike deals 1d2 points of damage, while a Large character’s unarmed strike deals 1d4 points of damage. All damage from unarmed strikes is nonlethal damage. Unarmed strikes count as light weapons (for purposes of two-weapon attack penalties and so on).
Dealing Lethal Damage

You can specify that your unarmed strike will deal lethal damage before you make your attack roll, but you take a -4 penalty on your attack roll. If you have the Improved Unarmed Strike feat, you can deal lethal damage with an unarmed strike without taking a penalty on the attack roll.
Again, reiterating general things that apply to all such attacks.


Ranged Attacks

With a ranged weapon, you can shoot or throw at any target that is within the weapon’s maximum range and in line of sight. The maximum range for a thrown weapon is five range increments. For projectile weapons, it is ten range increments. Some ranged weapons have shorter maximum ranges, as specified in their descriptions.Again, reiterating general rules that apply to all attacks.


Attack Rolls

An attack roll represents your attempts to strike your opponent.

Your attack roll is 1d20 + your attack bonus with the weapon you’re using. If the result is at least as high as the target’s AC, you hit and deal damage.
Automatic Misses and Hits

A natural 1 (the d20 comes up 1) on the attack roll is always a miss. A natural 20 (the d20 comes up 20) is always a hit. A natural 20 is also a threat—a possible critical hit.
Damage Rolls

If the attack roll result equals or exceeds the target’s AC, the attack hits and you deal damage. Roll the appropriate damage for your weapon. Damage is deducted from the target’s current hit points.
Again, reiterating general things that apply to all attacks.


Multiple Attacks

A character who can make more than one attack per round must use the full attack action in order to get more than one attack.
Linking multiple attacks to the full attack action, and INCLUDING full attack actions into multiple attacks (this subsection, mind you, is labeled "attack", showing rules for 1). This correlates them. Incidentally, this is most definately not solely about a standard action attack.

It goes on and on and on.

But it's all rules that apply to the section "Attack".

So it applies to an Attack.
The rules then state that a full round action gives you multiple "attacks".

Resolve first attack. How? Refer to the section on making an attack.
Resolve second attack. How? Refer to the section on making an attack.
Etc.

In other words, the only way your wording works is if you assume compartmentalization that does not exist in this or other sections of the SRD.

Even in the skills section, under skills, when it doesn't say "opposed skill check" it doesn't mean "opposed skill check". It means "opposed check".

Under this section, where it says ranged actions provoke, it doesn't say "ranged attacks, when made as a standard action, provoke..."
It says
"ranged attacks provoke..."

When compartmentalization is demonstrated to not exist within the game (after all, full attacks are discussed under standard actions, and ability checks and caster checks are discussed under skill checks), and you assume that it does, then you reveal a crack in your argument.

That crack being that you are creating a problem for the express purpose of fixing it. Don't reinvent the will, buddy.

ericgrau
2010-01-04, 09:29 AM
The ranged attack isn't a standard action. It is an attack which is a standard action. The attack itself provokes, not only the standard action. A full attack gives multiple attacks and thus any rule that applies to attacks also applies to each of them. Thus a full attack not only provokes, it provokes multiple times.

EDIT: See ninja for the matter of compartmentalization of rules (or that there is none here).

Tyndmyr
2010-01-04, 09:59 AM
{Scrubbed}

Naw, it's not even a literal reading.

A ranged attack is a ranged attack, regardless of if it takes place in a standard action, a full attack, or some other type of action. Yes, the mere fact that you opted to do a full attack instead of a standard does not provoke, but if you're doing ranged, that provokes anyway.

RAW in this case makes perfect sense, unless you merely skim the tables instead of reading the actual rules.

Boci
2010-01-04, 10:05 AM
{Scrubbed}
{Scrubbed} its fun. None of us actually think it should be used in game. If I ever manage to ask my DM if I can make money and XP by crafting sactum spell cantrip wands outside the sanctum with a straight face I will be very worried if he response is anything other than a puzzled look, a laugh and a firm no, in that order. Look at the thread for whether or not its legal to use the loredrake whitespaw combo on a kobold for free sorceror levels: a multi page topic on something no one would ever use in any serious game.

olentu
2010-01-04, 05:02 PM
Now that I check does this appear in the PHB or only the rules compendium as can not seem to find it. I can find a similar passage but it is missinge several parts the most pertinent being the section about provoking.



RANGED ATTACKS
With a ranged weapon, you can shoot or throw at any target that is within the weapon’s maximum range (see Range Penalty). Line of sight isn’t required—you can fire at a creature that has concealment, hoping you hit your target.
Intervening creatures and obstacles, however, can block your shot or provide cover for the creature you’re aiming at. You provoke attacks of opportunity when firing or throwing a ranged weapon.
Ranged attack bonus = base attack bonus + Dex modifier + size modifier + enhancement bonus + range penalty + other modifiers

Fhaolan
2010-01-04, 05:37 PM
I have an odd feeling that this is completely an editing glitch that just never got ironed out. Mainly because in previous editions of D&D, ranged attacks and melee attacks (and the ways to get more of each) fell under different sections of the rules. It's fairly easy to miss this one when they blended stuff together to come up with Actions.

SethFahad
2010-01-05, 01:14 AM
Thanks for posting.

SethFahad
2010-01-05, 03:43 AM
Oh, something more!

Take a look at this feat:


COMBAT ARCHERY [EPIC]
You can fire a bow in melee safely.
Prerequisites: Dodge, Mobility, Point Blank Shot.
Benefit: You do not incur any attacks of opportunity for
firing a bow when threatened.
Normal: Without this feat, you incur an attack of opportunity from all opponents who threaten you whenever you use a bow.

I rest my case. http://forum.etudierenitalie.org/smileys/C6.gif

Runestar
2010-01-05, 08:48 AM
This is something new.

I was aware of the ongoing debate as to how many AoOs you provoke when making a full-attack with a ranged weapon (1, or 1 for every attack?), but not as to whether full ranged attacks provoked or not.

Well, I see something new every day. :smalltongue:

lesser_minion
2010-01-05, 10:56 AM
Making a melee, ranged or unarmed attack is an attack action.

Performing one attack action is a standard action, performing more than one is a full-round action.

The text of full attack even says "you must use a full-round action to get your additional attacks".

Every attack you make is an attack, and follows the rules for... attacks. Please refer to the standard action "attack".

Specific trumps general.

Matthew
2010-01-05, 01:36 PM
Yeah, I do not think there is a much of a case here. Ranged attacks provoke Attacks of Opportunity, regardless of what kind of action is used to activate them.

Curmudgeon
2010-01-05, 01:51 PM
Every attack you make is an attack, and follows the rules for... attacks. Please refer to the standard action "attack".

Specific trumps general.
If this reasoning held, you could include all attacks that are standard actions in a full-round attack. So you could, for instance, use Manyshot on every iterative attack. We know that's not valid.

The argument doesn't hold up. There are different rules for standard action attacks and full-round attacks.

Keld Denar
2010-01-05, 02:33 PM
Again, taking the least logical interpretation of a rule and extrapolating on it. You did the same thing with monks and offhand attacks. How do you know which is the more specific rule, and which is the more general? You don't. I don't. You can conceivably read it either way. If either way is valid, why do you insist on championing the one that makes the least sense?

You don't know the devs exact intent in why they chose the exact wording they did. I don't either. I concede that it could be interpreted either way. If either interpretation is valid gramatically and RAW, why do you insist that your way of reading, the least logical, is the ONLY way of reading?

It confuses new people and generally makes you appear arguementative for arguements sake. So...why?

Curmudgeon
2010-01-05, 03:12 PM
How do you know which is the more specific rule, and which is the more general? You don't. Neither the standard action rule nor the full-round action rule have precedence; they're at equal levels in the Combat chapter. So the rule for standard action attacks applies to ranged standard attacks, and the rule for full-round action attacks applies to ranged full attacks.

You don't know the devs exact intent in why they chose the exact wording they did. I don't either.
The developers' intent is almost never known, so it's not an arguable point. I just read the rules as they're written. The way this one is written you get differerent AoO behavior depending on the action type. Seems pretty screwy to me, but that is what they wrote.

I've never said that there shouldn't be AoOs on full ranged attacks. I've just said that the designers screwed up here, and the simple way to handle this problem is with a house rule.

Telonius
2010-01-05, 03:26 PM
Entry on the Whip (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/equipment/weapons.htm#whip):

Using a whip provokes an attack of opportunity, just as if you had used a ranged weapon.

EDIT: ... so does the Whip not provoke if you use it as part of a full attack either?

Curmudgeon
2010-01-05, 06:47 PM
EDIT: ... so does the Whip not provoke if you use it as part of a full attack either?
Apparently, "just as if you had used a ranged weapon". Of course, the funky thing here is that using this melee weapon does provoke AoOs in the first place.

lesser_minion
2010-01-05, 06:56 PM
If this reasoning held, you could include all attacks that are standard actions in a full-round attack. So you could, for instance, use Manyshot on every iterative attack. We know that's not valid.

The argument doesn't hold up. There are different rules for standard action attacks and full-round attacks.

No, that's utterly false. Manyshot is a standard action that just happens to involve an attack. It's actually "Use a feat" (which does provoke in this case)

An attack is defined under the standard actions list. A full attack lets you do more than one of those, using the same rules. Not more than one of Use a Feat or Use a Class Feature, but more than one attack.

Curmudgeon
2010-01-05, 09:13 PM
(Regarding Combat Archery [Epic])

I rest my case. http://forum.etudierenitalie.org/smileys/C6.gif
You should pay attention to WotC's official rules about such things.
Errata Rule: Primary Sources

When you find a disagreement between two D&D® rules sources, unless an official errata file says otherwise, the primary source is correct. One example of a primary/secondary source is text taking precedence over a table entry. An individual spell description takes precedence when the short description in the beginning of the spells chapter disagrees.

Another example of primary vs. secondary sources involves book and topic precedence. The Player's Handbook, for example, gives all the rules for playing the game, for playing PC races, and for using base class descriptions. If you find something on one of those topics from the Dungeon Master's Guide or the Monster Manual that disagrees with the Player's Handbook, you should assume the Player's Handbook is the primary source. The Dungeon Master's Guide is the primary source for topics such as magic item descriptions, special material construction rules, and so on. The Monster Manual is the primary source for monster descriptions, templates, and supernatural, extraordinary, and spell-like abilities. So, because this feat in Complete Warrior disagrees with the Player's Handbook about when ranged attacks provoke AoOs, the Player's Handbook is right, and Combat Archery [Epic] is wrong.

olentu
2010-01-05, 09:30 PM
(Regarding Combat Archery [Epic])

You should pay attention to WotC's official rules about such things. So, because this feat in Complete Warrior disagrees with the Player's Handbook about when ranged attacks provoke AoOs, the Player's Handbook is right, and Combat Archery [Epic] is wrong.

Well the question actually is if there is a conflict. That would require that the PHB explicitly contradict the other sources by, for example, saying that something different and only something different happens in the situations covered by the other sources, having an exclusive list of situations that can provoke attacks of opportunity, and so forth.

However at the moment I can not recall the specific language of the relevant sections and so will not currently comment more until I have investigated.

SethFahad
2010-01-07, 02:12 AM
why do you insist that your way of reading, the least logical, is the ONLY way of reading?

It confuses new people and generally makes you appear arguementative for arguements sake. So...why?

Because his name is Curmudgeon. Ok? And he lives by his name.
It's his opinion, his point of view.
I have a different point of view. I don't accept his. I've accepted many things from Curmudgeon, but not this one.
Guys, we are just discussing, no one forces anyone.


(Regarding Combat Archery [Epic])

You should pay attention to WotC's official rules about such things. So, because this feat in Complete Warrior disagrees with the Player's Handbook about when ranged attacks provoke AoOs, the Player's Handbook is right, and Combat Archery [Epic] is wrong.

And WotC says that "tables" come second when the text says otherwise. And in my first post the are numerous texts that disagree with the table.

And Combat Archery [Epic] agrees FULLY with PH

RANGED ATTACKS
With a ranged weapon, you can shoot or throw at any target that is within the weapon’s maximum range (see Range Penalty). Line of sight isn’t required—you can fire at a creature that has concealment, hoping you hit your target.
Intervening creatures and obstacles, however, can block your shot or provide cover for the creature you’re aiming at. You provoke attacks of opportunity when firing or throwing a ranged weapon.