The main differences between what I wrote and your version seem to be the following (please correct me if I am missing something -- simply trying to make sure I caught/understood the changes you proposed):
[b]Item[/b] |
[b]My version[/b] |
[b]Samwise's Version[/b] |
Initial Modifier |
-4 for shooting into melee |
no modifier |
Target Number |
explicitly states that any modifiers to the original roll (skill bonus, range increment modifiers, combat moves used, etc.) also apply when setting the TN |
implies, but does not explicitly state that all modifiers apply |
Damage Dealt |
Double Base damage, no scaling damage |
damage as normal |
The only issue I have with your rewrite of it is the part about the damage dealt. Specifically, being the fact that since the potential target (not the original target) is making a Saving Throw against the attack, how do we "determine damage as normal" since the attack roll (i.e. the TN) may actually be lower than the DEF of the person who was hit.
Example: Joe has his character shoot at an orc in melee using a Long Bow (9 hits of Base Damage). Joe rolls the dice, adds in the range modifier, and the AB adjustments from his Combat Move and his skill bonus but only gets a total roll of 18. He just missed! The GM determines that in addition to the PC that the orc is fighting, there is another PC and Orc fighting between Joe's original target and and Joe's character, so all 3 have to make Saving Throws (TN 18). The closest PC goes first and makes his Save, the second orc fails his Save (rolling a 7, which gives a total Save roll of 13, 6 less than the TN).
Under the way I wrote it, the orc would take 18 hits of damage before his AR of 7 reduced it to 11 hits.
Under the way you wrote it, I can see 2 possible outcomes (and it isn't clear which would apply):
Outcome 1 -- Since the original attack roll/Save TN was lower than the orc's DEF, he takes no damage (the arrow hits, but ricochet's off his armor, doing no damage)
Outcome 2 -- The orc takes Base Damage from being hit, but since the TN was less than the orc's DEF, he takes no scaling damage.
As an alternative, I also came up with the following possible outcome while trying to figure out how "damage as normal" works in regards to a Save:
Alternative Outcome -- The orc takes a total of 15 hits (9 Base Damage + 6 hit (1 hit for each point the Save is failed by)) before AR is applied.
I am liking this third option.
So, how about this for a possible rewrite of it:
Firing Into Melee: Melee is a constant confusion of shifting bodies as the opponents move back and forth, to the left and right, all trying to gain the best position. Attempting to make a ranged attack into this confusion is very difficult at best, and potentially hazardous for people other than the target.
If the attack hits its intended target, it is resolved normally.
If it misses, then all other potential targets within 5' of the path of the attack must make a Saving Throw vs. Spd, starting with those closest to the attacker and then moving outwards from there. The TN of this Save is the attacker's total attack roll (dice roll + skill bonus + all modifiers). If the character makes their Save, the attack missed them. If they fail their Save, they receive the Base Damage of the attack plus 1 additional hit for each point that they failed their Save by.
This damage may be reduced by the AR of the character who was actually hit. Modifiers to the potential target's DEF, from a Shield or from Combat Moves that involve any type of Dodge are also applied to the character's Saving Throw.
