A ranged PG Is behind an Ally X and want to Attack a Monster 10 squares away. His Ally, provide cover to Monster or not? And if Monster Is near Ally X but opposite Ranged PG? And with a reach weapon?
According to the rules, in general another creature in the way will provide Half Cover:
Cover
Walls, trees, creatures, and other obstacles can provide cover, making a target more difficult to harm. As detailed in the Cover table, there are three degrees of cover, each of which gives a different benefit to a target.
A target can benefit from cover only when an attack or other effect originates on the opposite side of the cover. If a target is behind multiple sources of cover, only the most protective degree of cover applies; the degrees aren’t added together. For example, if a target is behind a creature that gives Half Cover and a tree trunk that gives Three-Quarters Cover, the target has Three-Quarters Cover.
so there is no difference between allies and enemies nor if you are distant or not. So a crossbowman behind a small slit will hit a target distant x squares in open field with AC+5 (assuming 3/4 of the slit cover)?
This is why the archery fighting style and sharpshooter feats exist. Archery fighting style is +2 attack, where half cover is +2AC and three quarters is +5AC and then sharpshooter a nulls half cover and three quarters cover completely.
If you are shooting past/through an ally's space, you can assume at least half-cover to most creatures of the same size. Larger creatures might not get any such benefits and smaller creatures might get three quarters cover or even total cover, it's really down to the DM to determine which is appropriate.
Both allies and enemies count as cover as the game assumes that creatures involved in combat are not standing stock still while you’re lining up your shot.
For the case of the archer standing immediately behind a wall and aiming through a slit, I think that’s a matter of DM’s adjudication whether the wall or palisade provides any cover to the target. If the slot’s big enough to act as an arrow slit and not significantly restrict the archer’s view, then I’d rule that it’s not in the way and doesn’t provide cover to the target.
There is a different rule called "Ranged Attacks in Close Combat" which causes your ranged attack to have disadvantage if you are next to an enemy.
As for Cover, there were some guidelines for grid-based play in the 2014 DMG. Basically, you draw lines from a corner of your own square that you choose to every corner of the enemy square. If all of those lines are uninterrupted then the enemy does not have cover. In more abstract terms, this essentially means that a nearby obstacle that provides YOU with partial cover does not necessarily impede your own attacks against your enemy, as it is assumed that you can reposition yourself within your own square to be able to "pop out" to make an attack in such a way that you have full view of the enemy from the exact spot where the attack originated.
For some situations involving total cover you also have the option to break up your movement and simply move out from cover, attack, and then move behind cover again.
so there is no difference between allies and enemies nor if you are distant or not. So a crossbowman behind a small slit will hit a target distant x squares in open field with AC+5 (assuming 3/4 of the slit cover)?
As @R3sistance or @ThelenyiWhinlaw said, there is room for DM's adjudication.
The situation you describe reminds me of a classic archer behind slits at the top of a castle. The archer can fire without penalty, but it's much harder to hit them back because the slits give them three-quarters cover.
so there is no difference between allies and enemies nor if you are distant or not. So a crossbowman behind a small slit will hit a target distant x squares in open field with AC+5 (assuming 3/4 of the slit cover)?
Arrow slits are usually handled so that they don't hinder the person behind them; that's their purpose, after all. The combat rules can't cover every situation; the DM has to use common sense when a rule leads to absurd results.
The Dragon of Icespire Peak adventure has an example of this:
In the dwarves’ absence, Axeholm has become a dark, sullen tomb, full of dust and bad memories...The following features are common throughout.
Arrow Slits. When using an arrow slit for protection, a creature gains three-quarters cover (see the Basic Rules) against outside threats. A Medium character can’t squeeze through an arrow slit, but a Small character can with a successful DC 10 Dexterity (Acrobatics) check.
Reading your post reminded me of one from "Waterdeep: Dragon Heist":
A brick wall with arrow slits was added to this room at some point. The arrow slits are designed to allow archers to fire at intruders who come through the door at area B4. The arrow slits provide three-quarters cover.
so there is no difference between allies and enemies nor if you are distant or not. So a crossbowman behind a small slit will hit a target distant x squares in open field with AC+5 (assuming 3/4 of the slit cover)?
As @R3sistance or @ThelenyiWhinlaw said, there is room for DM's adjudication.
The situation you describe reminds me of a classic archer behind slits at the top of a castle. The archer can fire without penalty, but it's much harder to hit them back because the slits give them three-quarters cover.
Yes, DM's Adjudication is very much needed.
Another example where cover is only one way would be the darkness spell and devil's sight. A creature benefiting from the Devil's Sight Eldritch Invocation sees through darkness (magical or non-magical) and so can clearly see creatures on the other side of the darkness spell while the creatures on the other side of the darkness spell (that do not have such a sense/sight) would not be able to target the devil's sight user back as they are benefiting from total cover due to the darkness spell itself.
Indeed sometimes cover is more specifically one-way. A notable example is in Lost Mine of Phandelver in the briar thickets:
1. Cave Mouth: the goblins in area 2 notice and attack them through the thicket, which provides the goblins with half cover.
Another example i know with arrow slit is in Tales From The Yawning Portal: The Forge of Fury adventure where they are specifically worded as one-way cover;
4 and 4a. Archer's Stations: The arrow slits are 15 feet or more above the floor of areas 1 and 2 and are impassible for creatures larger than Tiny. They grant three-quarters cover to the orcs stationed behind them.
Another example where cover is only one way would be the darkness spell and devil's sight. A creature benefiting from the Devil's Sight Eldritch Invocation sees through darkness (magical or non-magical) and so can clearly see creatures on the other side of the darkness spell while the creatures on the other side of the darkness spell (that do not have such a sense/sight) would not be able to target the devil's sight user back as they are benefiting from total cover due to the darkness spell itself.
No, the darkness spell does not create Cover. It creates a Heavily Obscured Area, which is a totally separate concept and is governed by different rules. In these discussions, when discussing important terms that have precise mechanical meanings within the game, it's important not to casually mix-and-match various terms in a "well, you know what I mean" kind of way. That will eventually lead to misinterpretations of the rules.
Another example where cover is only one way would be the darkness spell and devil's sight. A creature benefiting from the Devil's Sight Eldritch Invocation sees through darkness (magical or non-magical) and so can clearly see creatures on the other side of the darkness spell while the creatures on the other side of the darkness spell (that do not have such a sense/sight) would not be able to target the devil's sight user back as they are benefiting from total cover due to the darkness spell itself.
No, the darkness spell does not create Cover. It creates a Heavily Obscured Area, which is a totally separate concept and is governed by different rules. In these discussions, when discussing important terms that have precise mechanical meanings within the game, it's important not to casually mix-and-match various terms in a "well, you know what I mean" kind of way. That will eventually lead to misinterpretations of the rules.
Apologies, you're correct, that would be Heavily obscured as you say, it is still an example of where aiming is only one directional due to not being able to see the target of the interaction tho.
We were talking about arrow slits and how their purpose is to let you make ranged attacks or cast spells from behind them without penalty. The 2024 DMG includes portcullises with a similar purpose:
Portcullises
Typically made of iron or wood, a portcullis blocks a passage or an archway until it is raised into the ceiling by a winch and chain. Creatures within 5 feet of a lowered portcullis can make ranged attacks or cast spells through it, and they have Three-Quarters Cover against attacks, spells, and other effects originating from the opposite side. [...]
According to the rules, in general another creature in the way will provide Half Cover:
Cover
Walls, trees, creatures, and other obstacles can provide cover, making a target more difficult to harm. As detailed in the Cover table, there are three degrees of cover, each of which gives a different benefit to a target.
A target can benefit from cover only when an attack or other effect originates on the opposite side of the cover. If a target is behind multiple sources of cover, only the most protective degree of cover applies; the degrees aren’t added together. For example, if a target is behind a creature that gives Half Cover and a tree trunk that gives Three-Quarters Cover, the target has Three-Quarters Cover.
It was the same with the 2014 PHB.
For completeness, reference the Cover Table in section in chapter 1 (Combat). That is where it explicitly says a creature provides half cover. However, it could be read as either a sprite provides half cover to the Tarrasque (Another creature or an object that covers at least half of the target) or a sprite provides no cover to the Tarrasque (Another creature or an object that covers at least half of the target) depending on whether you read "that covers at least half of the target" as modifying just "an object" or also "another creature".
so there is no difference between allies and enemies nor if you are distant or not. So a crossbowman behind a small slit will hit a target distant x squares in open field with AC+5 (assuming 3/4 of the slit cover)?
Others have mostly covered arrowslits, but keep in mind that they are thin slits, close to the outer end, but are wider where the archer is. Particularly for far away targets, the target would be less than 50% obscured. Also, the archers were probably shooting at masses of people, not individuals, but for D&D purposes, they give the archer cover and none to the person on the other side (unless maybe they were right on the other side).
Wikipedia has some good pictures. The picture from Corfe Castle is a particularly good example and accommodates bows and crossbows (due to the cross shape).
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Simple question. Cover from ally.
Situation
A ranged PG Is behind an Ally X and want to Attack a Monster 10 squares away. His Ally, provide cover to Monster or not? And if Monster Is near Ally X but opposite Ranged PG? And with a reach weapon?
R/A---------------M
R/A/M
R=ranged
A=Ally X
M= momster
According to the rules, in general another creature in the way will provide Half Cover:
It was the same with the 2014 PHB.
so there is no difference between allies and enemies nor if you are distant or not. So a crossbowman behind a small slit will hit a target distant x squares in open field with AC+5 (assuming 3/4 of the slit cover)?
This is why the archery fighting style and sharpshooter feats exist. Archery fighting style is +2 attack, where half cover is +2AC and three quarters is +5AC and then sharpshooter a nulls half cover and three quarters cover completely.
If you are shooting past/through an ally's space, you can assume at least half-cover to most creatures of the same size. Larger creatures might not get any such benefits and smaller creatures might get three quarters cover or even total cover, it's really down to the DM to determine which is appropriate.
Both allies and enemies count as cover as the game assumes that creatures involved in combat are not standing stock still while you’re lining up your shot.
For the case of the archer standing immediately behind a wall and aiming through a slit, I think that’s a matter of DM’s adjudication whether the wall or palisade provides any cover to the target. If the slot’s big enough to act as an arrow slit and not significantly restrict the archer’s view, then I’d rule that it’s not in the way and doesn’t provide cover to the target.
There is a different rule called "Ranged Attacks in Close Combat" which causes your ranged attack to have disadvantage if you are next to an enemy.
As for Cover, there were some guidelines for grid-based play in the 2014 DMG. Basically, you draw lines from a corner of your own square that you choose to every corner of the enemy square. If all of those lines are uninterrupted then the enemy does not have cover. In more abstract terms, this essentially means that a nearby obstacle that provides YOU with partial cover does not necessarily impede your own attacks against your enemy, as it is assumed that you can reposition yourself within your own square to be able to "pop out" to make an attack in such a way that you have full view of the enemy from the exact spot where the attack originated.
For some situations involving total cover you also have the option to break up your movement and simply move out from cover, attack, and then move behind cover again.
As @R3sistance or @ThelenyiWhinlaw said, there is room for DM's adjudication.
The situation you describe reminds me of a classic archer behind slits at the top of a castle. The archer can fire without penalty, but it's much harder to hit them back because the slits give them three-quarters cover.
Arrow slits are usually handled so that they don't hinder the person behind them; that's their purpose, after all. The combat rules can't cover every situation; the DM has to use common sense when a rule leads to absurd results.
The Dragon of Icespire Peak adventure has an example of this:
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Thanks for the example, @InquisitiveCoder!
Reading your post reminded me of one from "Waterdeep: Dragon Heist":
Yes, DM's Adjudication is very much needed.
Another example where cover is only one way would be the darkness spell and devil's sight. A creature benefiting from the Devil's Sight Eldritch Invocation sees through darkness (magical or non-magical) and so can clearly see creatures on the other side of the darkness spell while the creatures on the other side of the darkness spell (that do not have such a sense/sight) would not be able to target the devil's sight user back as they are benefiting from total cover due to the darkness spell itself.
Indeed sometimes cover is more specifically one-way. A notable example is in Lost Mine of Phandelver in the briar thickets:
Another example i know with arrow slit is in Tales From The Yawning Portal: The Forge of Fury adventure where they are specifically worded as one-way cover;
No, the darkness spell does not create Cover. It creates a Heavily Obscured Area, which is a totally separate concept and is governed by different rules. In these discussions, when discussing important terms that have precise mechanical meanings within the game, it's important not to casually mix-and-match various terms in a "well, you know what I mean" kind of way. That will eventually lead to misinterpretations of the rules.
Apologies, you're correct, that would be Heavily obscured as you say, it is still an example of where aiming is only one directional due to not being able to see the target of the interaction tho.
We were talking about arrow slits and how their purpose is to let you make ranged attacks or cast spells from behind them without penalty. The 2024 DMG includes portcullises with a similar purpose:
For completeness, reference the Cover Table in section in chapter 1 (Combat). That is where it explicitly says a creature provides half cover. However, it could be read as either a sprite provides half cover to the Tarrasque (Another creature or an object that covers at least half of the target) or a sprite provides no cover to the Tarrasque (Another creature or an object that covers at least half of the target) depending on whether you read "that covers at least half of the target" as modifying just "an object" or also "another creature".
Others have mostly covered arrowslits, but keep in mind that they are thin slits, close to the outer end, but are wider where the archer is. Particularly for far away targets, the target would be less than 50% obscured. Also, the archers were probably shooting at masses of people, not individuals, but for D&D purposes, they give the archer cover and none to the person on the other side (unless maybe they were right on the other side).
Wikipedia has some good pictures. The picture from Corfe Castle is a particularly good example and accommodates bows and crossbows (due to the cross shape).