When using a game mat to play with figures, what do you do if the creature you want to shoot is behind a player. Do you impose disadvantage, cover, or something else?
Personally, depends on the various distances. If the player is in melee with the target I would always give +2 AC cover (to pretty much anyone involved in melee from either side), if the player is nearer to the shooter than the target then no effect (assume the ally clears the shooting path cooperatively), if the player is close to the target but not in melee then it would be a bit more grey (probably give cover if the target is smaller than the player). For any target larger than large they will almost never get cover in this sort of situation.
When using a game mat to play with figures, what do you do if the creature you want to shoot is behind a player. Do you impose disadvantage, cover, or something else?
Great question.
I run a NE Rogue/Assassin who follows Cyric. He uses player characters as "shields" when in melee. When I first introduced him the Table didn't like him very much, because of that tactic, but they quickly learned how important and strategic he is to combat.
In most melees he wields daggers. A dagger is a Light weapon so he can attack with two but only gain the Proficiency bonus for the first attack. But by splitting up his movement he can move into flanking range, Sneak Attack, and then move again. He usually choses to Hide behind a character to improve his AC but also to keep his options open. At character creation I gave him the Sentinel feat, which makes him an initiative-based character rather than a turn-based character.
When he's behind a character he gets Cover. How much cover is up to the DM, but I usually get partial because combat is fluid. So his AC gets a +2 bonus. Here's the kicker. When the character I'm using as a shield is attacked when he's within 5 feet, my character gets a reaction, because of the Sentinel feat. He typically throws his dagger.
When using a game mat to play with figures, what do you do if the creature you want to shoot is behind a player. Do you impose disadvantage, cover, or something else?
Personally, depends on the various distances. If the player is in melee with the target I would always give +2 AC cover (to pretty much anyone involved in melee from either side), if the player is nearer to the shooter than the target then no effect (assume the ally clears the shooting path cooperatively), if the player is close to the target but not in melee then it would be a bit more grey (probably give cover if the target is smaller than the player). For any target larger than large they will almost never get cover in this sort of situation.