With a ranged weapon, you can shoot or throw at any target that is within the weapon’s maximum range (see Range Penalty). Line of sight isn’t required—you can fire at a creature that has concealment, hoping you hit your target. Intervening creatures and obstacles, however, can block your shot or provide cover for the creature you’re aiming at. You provoke attacks of opportunity when firing or throwing a ranged weapon.
Ranged attack bonus = base attack bonus + Dex modifier + size modifier + enhancement bonus + range penalty + other modifiers
Dexterity Modifier
If your Dexterity is high, you’re naturally accurate with ranged weapons. If your Dexterity is low, you’re inaccurate.
Range Penalty
Every ranged weapon has a range increment. Each full range increment the weapon or ammunition must travel before hitting its target imposes a cumulative –2 penalty on the attack roll. A thrown weapon has a maximum range of five range increments. A projectile weapon can shoot up to ten range increments.
Other Modifiers
Many circumstances that modify melee attack rolls also apply to ranged attack rolls, but some, such as the penalty imposed for shooting into a melee, apply only to ranged attack rolls. See Attack Roll
RANGED ATTACKS INTO A MELEE
If you shoot or throw a ranged weapon at an opponent engaged in melee with an ally, you take a –4 penalty on your attack roll. Two creatures are engaged in melee if they’re opponents of each other and either threatens the other. An unconscious or otherwise immobilized creature isn’t considered engaged unless it’s actually being attacked.
If your target is at least 2 squares from the nearest ally, you can avoid the –4 penalty. This option applies even if the creature you’re attacking is engaged in melee with an ally, provided you can aim at part of the creature that is at least 2 squares from your ally.
