I'm considering DM'ing my own campaign in the near future and this concept was something I put together and wanted to share to see if you guys could provide feedback to whether it's a good/bad idea, how I can improve it, etc. The premise of the concept I'm about to share derived me from me playing ranged DPS and noticing that I never get any opportunity attacks, which I felt was a bit unfair. I've discussed this with other PC's and they felt that the issue lies with melee attacks of opportunity generally are quick whereas making a ranged attack takes more time. I don't think that should apply here as speed-shooting is feasible and the normal/long range of weapons still applies. I wanted to design a house rule to help ranged DPS get opportunity attacks under certain circumstances, and I'll post what I've generated below:
Opportunity Attack for Ranged DPS
If a hostile creature makes a melee weapon attack, whether it hits or misses, and then proceeds to move more than 10 feet after making the melee attack, the creature will be subject to an attack of opportunity for ranged weapons. The hostile creature will need to be more than 5 feet from you before you can make the ranged attack. You are required to be wielding a ranged weapon at the time of the event, such as a shortbow/longbow, or melee weapons with the Thrown property, such as a dagger/handaxe. You won't be able to make an opportunity attack otherwise, and you won't be permitted to stowing a melee weapon to draw a ranged weapon to make the opportunity attack. If a hostile creature takes the Disengage action, they will not be subjected to an opportunity attack. Spellcasters won't be permitted to expending spell slots, but may attack within the same guidelines using cantrips only, such as Firebolt or Ray of Frost.
The idea itself is intriguing, but I am skeptical as to how much it might complicate the combat flow.
In my experience (which can be extremely different from yours, I know) Attacks of Opportunity do not come up so often, but I agree they are basically exclusive to melee combat (short of a caster with the [feat]War Caster[/feat] feat).
Your idea, though, started my gears, and I though of a possible alternative solution to give ranged characters their fair share of options as to the use of their Reaction in combat. How about making a house-rule allowing range-wielding characters the following option: When you move at least 10 feet away from an adjacent hostile creature and are not targeted by an Attack of Opportunity from it, you can use your Reaction to perform a single ranged weapon attack.
The initial idea was to limit this to be used only when the Disengage action is taken, but then I though of the Scout Rogue archetype, which could greatly benefit from this optional rule with their Skirmisher feature (or any ranged character with the Mobility feat, for that matter) and therefore worded it to allow the use of this mechanic even when the Disengage action is not taken. It might be too powerful as it is, so maybe taking the Disengage action might be added as a prerequisite, alas taking away the added usability for Scout Rogues. In any case I think it might add a layer of tactical play.
I also think this should be added as an additional point to the [feat]War Caster[/feat] feat, just to make things a bit more equal between casters/ranged weapon users.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Born in Italy, moved a bunch, living in Spain, my heart always belonged to Roleplaying Games
First: I personally think the point blank shooting / throwing ranged attacks are much too forgiving for the ranged attacker in D&D 5e. Someone shooting a bow next two me (and reloading) would provoke an AoO ... but that's not the thing to discuss here (just an illustration of how I see the OPs idea)
You AoO ranged sounds a lot like an extra attack to me (and might be too powerful). AoO in melee come from letting your guard down in favour of moving away or past someone (Disengage lets you keep you guard position up). I would go a different route to fill the gap in the action economy (but will create more RAW problems with that, too)
Harassing Shot Bows, darts and light throwing weapons that have already been readied (e.g. held in hand) can be used to hinder a task that requires concentration (spell or ability check), if the ranged attacker is not threatened by a melee attack from an opponent. A successful Harassing Shot provokes an Con DC 10 (no damage taken). Ability checks mentioned could be raising an anchor, ringing a bell or trying to close a large gate over more than one round).
Still useful, but a lot less like an extra attack each round.
The reason there are no ranged AoOs is not because of the speed of the attack but due to game balance. Under your rules one enemy moving could trigger many opportunity attacks. This would be brutal when used against you and all of a sudden 50 kobolds get an AoO.
Even if there was a limitation fixing that issue, the tradeoff for not getting AoO for ranged characters is that they aren't in melee range with the heavy hitters. By going ranged you are choosing to forgo some potential damage in return for significant defensive benefits.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
I'm considering DM'ing my own campaign in the near future and this concept was something I put together and wanted to share to see if you guys could provide feedback to whether it's a good/bad idea, how I can improve it, etc. The premise of the concept I'm about to share derived me from me playing ranged DPS and noticing that I never get any opportunity attacks, which I felt was a bit unfair. I've discussed this with other PC's and they felt that the issue lies with melee attacks of opportunity generally are quick whereas making a ranged attack takes more time. I don't think that should apply here as speed-shooting is feasible and the normal/long range of weapons still applies. I wanted to design a house rule to help ranged DPS get opportunity attacks under certain circumstances, and I'll post what I've generated below:
Opportunity Attack for Ranged DPS
If a hostile creature makes a melee weapon attack, whether it hits or misses, and then proceeds to move more than 10 feet after making the melee attack, the creature will be subject to an attack of opportunity for ranged weapons. The hostile creature will need to be more than 5 feet from you before you can make the ranged attack. You are required to be wielding a ranged weapon at the time of the event, such as a shortbow/longbow, or melee weapons with the Thrown property, such as a dagger/handaxe. You won't be able to make an opportunity attack otherwise, and you won't be permitted to stowing a melee weapon to draw a ranged weapon to make the opportunity attack. If a hostile creature takes the Disengage action, they will not be subjected to an opportunity attack. Spellcasters won't be permitted to expending spell slots, but may attack within the same guidelines using cantrips only, such as Firebolt or Ray of Frost.
DM: Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
Hi Ryno628 o/
The idea itself is intriguing, but I am skeptical as to how much it might complicate the combat flow.
In my experience (which can be extremely different from yours, I know) Attacks of Opportunity do not come up so often, but I agree they are basically exclusive to melee combat (short of a caster with the [feat]War Caster[/feat] feat).
Your idea, though, started my gears, and I though of a possible alternative solution to give ranged characters their fair share of options as to the use of their Reaction in combat.
How about making a house-rule allowing range-wielding characters the following option:
When you move at least 10 feet away from an adjacent hostile creature and are not targeted by an Attack of Opportunity from it, you can use your Reaction to perform a single ranged weapon attack.
The initial idea was to limit this to be used only when the Disengage action is taken, but then I though of the Scout Rogue archetype, which could greatly benefit from this optional rule with their Skirmisher feature (or any ranged character with the Mobility feat, for that matter) and therefore worded it to allow the use of this mechanic even when the Disengage action is not taken. It might be too powerful as it is, so maybe taking the Disengage action might be added as a prerequisite, alas taking away the added usability for Scout Rogues.
In any case I think it might add a layer of tactical play.
I also think this should be added as an additional point to the [feat]War Caster[/feat] feat, just to make things a bit more equal between casters/ranged weapon users.
Born in Italy, moved a bunch, living in Spain, my heart always belonged to Roleplaying Games
First: I personally think the point blank shooting / throwing ranged attacks are much too forgiving for the ranged attacker in D&D 5e. Someone shooting a bow next two me (and reloading) would provoke an AoO ... but that's not the thing to discuss here (just an illustration of how I see the OPs idea)
You AoO ranged sounds a lot like an extra attack to me (and might be too powerful). AoO in melee come from letting your guard down in favour of moving away or past someone (Disengage lets you keep you guard position up). I would go a different route to fill the gap in the action economy (but will create more RAW problems with that, too)
Harassing Shot
Bows, darts and light throwing weapons that have already been readied (e.g. held in hand) can be used to hinder a task that requires concentration (spell or ability check), if the ranged attacker is not threatened by a melee attack from an opponent. A successful Harassing Shot provokes an Con DC 10 (no damage taken). Ability checks mentioned could be raising an anchor, ringing a bell or trying to close a large gate over more than one round).
Still useful, but a lot less like an extra attack each round.
The reason there are no ranged AoOs is not because of the speed of the attack but due to game balance. Under your rules one enemy moving could trigger many opportunity attacks. This would be brutal when used against you and all of a sudden 50 kobolds get an AoO.
Even if there was a limitation fixing that issue, the tradeoff for not getting AoO for ranged characters is that they aren't in melee range with the heavy hitters. By going ranged you are choosing to forgo some potential damage in return for significant defensive benefits.