Myth Rules!

Missile Fire into Melee Combat

This page is expanded detail from the Main Myth Rules page.

If you fire into melee combat with a missile weapon, you have a -4 TH penalty. If you miss, we'll determine whether or not you hit other melee participants.

First, you'll have a chance to "simply miss everyone". The base chance of this will be 50%. If the melee has more than 2 participants, each participant will lower the % by 10%, down to 10% minimum. Other situational modifiers can apply as well, such as mist or smoke, distance to the combat, type of missile weapon, etc.

If you don't "simply miss everyone" then we'll determine which target you attack. The basic method is that each size class gets 1-2 pips on a die. Small = 1, medium = 2, large = 3-4, huge = 5 or more. Then I'll either you or I will roll to see which target you actually attack.

You will then roll a TH roll against the rear AC of that target, without the -4 TH since it's an accidental attack. In certain exceptional circumstances the target might get front AC, like if you holler, "Incoming missile fire!" before you shoot.

For example: Vinny (THACO of 10 with his longbow) is shooting at the Beastman who is in hand-to-hand combat with Grumash. There are 3 other beastmen, and Liriel, also in the melee. The beastman's rear AC is 6, but with a -4 TH, Vinny needs to hit AC 2.

Vinny needs an 8 to hit his target, and he rolls a 5... he missed a shot into melee combat.

Since there are 6 total combatants, the -10% per combatant drops the 50% base to 0%, and the "minimum of 10%" rule kicks in. There's a 10% chance for a pure-miss. Since it's a medium-range shot through forest in uncertain light, I'll up that by 10%, to 20% chance for a pure-miss. Vinny rolls a 37%, meaning that his shot tries to hit someone else.

Grum, Liriel, and the other 3 beastmen are all medium-sized, so that's 2 pips each. With 10 total pips, we have Vinny @roll 1d20. 1-2 is Grum, 3-4 is Liriel, and 5-10 indicates one of the 3 beastmen. Vinny rolls a 3, and his shot speeds toward Liriel's backside. Had Vinny rolled an 8, his arrow would roll TH against another beastman. But, instead...

Liriel is AC 4 from behind. This means that Vinny needs a 6 To Hit her. He rolls a 17, and sinks an arrow into her.

Last modified by Myth on 05/09/2002.