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Lord Iames Osari
2008-01-28, 12:31 AM
Why is the Aid Another (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/combat/specialAttacks.htm#aidAnother) action limited to melee attacks, and would it be unbalancing to houserule it to apply to ranged attacks as well?

Gralamin
2008-01-28, 12:39 AM
Why is the Aid Another (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/combat/specialAttacks.htm#aidAnother) action limited to melee attacks, and would it be unbalancing to houserule it to apply to ranged attacks as well?

It is limited to melee attacks because the rules say you need to be next to the target in order to make an aid another check.
I don't see anything unbalancing on allowing ranged attacks.

Alleine
2008-01-28, 12:41 AM
Seems to me it leaves it kinda open


You can also use this standard action to help a friend in other ways, such as when he is affected by a spell, or to assist another character’s skill check.

Emphasis mine. And no, doesn't seem too unreasonable. If you can help someone swing a sword, or boost their AC, a ranged attack doesn't seem out of the way. Although its much less dangerous.

On second thought, it is definitely somewhat abusable.
Nevermind, I fail at reading.

Shhalahr Windrider
2008-01-28, 09:11 AM
It is limited to melee attacks because the rules say you need to be next to the target in order to make an aid another check.
You only have to be "next to" the opponent that you are distracting. Your friend can be on the other side of the opponent with a reach weapon, and he or she would still get the bonus.


Emphasis mine. And no, doesn't seem too unreasonable. If you can help someone swing a sword, or boost their AC, a ranged attack doesn't seem out of the way. Although its much less dangerous.
The aid another concept isn't about you helping your friend but by "distracting or interfering with an opponent. (http://www.systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/specialAttacks.html#aid-another)" You add to your friend's attack by making it harder for the oppenent to dodge. Likewise, you add to your friend's attack by making it harder for the opponent to swing its weapon.

That being said, I can certainly see allowing aiding another in ranged combat if you are next to the opponent. Especially if your friend has Precise Shot. Of course, the person doing the aiding would still be doing so via melee.

Might even consider a high-level feat that lets you aid another by distracting a foe with a fired arrow or other ranged attack. Of course, the only reason it would have a high level prerequisite is for the sake of abstraction. It's not unbalanced, but the concept doesn't fit the level of verisimiltude for low levels. Might want to give another benefit to such a feat to make up for the high level prerequisite.