Community

Will Bending Bullets allow an increased number of targets when using Rapid Shot(Ranger: Hunter)?

Rapid Shot: Make an RBA against each creature in or adjacent to a target square.
Bending Bullet:  When you have LoE to a square adj to an enemy you can attack it, and it gains cover.

XXXXX
XXXXX
XXXXX
XXXXX
XXXXX 

Target Square Normal Rapid Shot Bending Bullets
So which is the specific rule and which is the general rule in this case for targeting?  Rapid Shot is a specific restriction on targeting, and Bending Bullets is giving you a specific upgrade in targeting capability (only need LoE to an adj square instead of the creatures square).

If it does work, it seems kinda powerful.  However, Rapid Shot has a -2 already plus another -2 from cover from Bending Bullets and probably effectively another -1 or more because the ammo is unlikely to be the same enhancement bonus as your ranged weapon.  And then the cost of course, and the fact that all ammo are uncommons.

I believe Rapid Shot takes precedence since it pre-establish the targets for the ranged basic attacks according to a predetermined location.

1. Select a square within range

2. Make a ranged basic attack against each creature in or adjacent to that square

So even if you have line of effect to a square adjacent to an enemy, you cannot attack that enemy unless he is in a square predetermined because Rapid Shot only let you attack creatures in or adjacent to a specific square.

Rapid Shot: You make a ranged basic attack with a weapon against each creature in or adjacent to a square within the attack’s range. You take a -2 penalty to the attack rolls.

Bending Bullet: While you have line of effect to a square adjacent to an enemy, you can attack that enemy using this ammunition. Treat the enemy as having cover.

No.  Bending Bullet lets you attack round corners, but you still have to be able to make the attack in order to use it.  If, for instance, you centred your rapid shot so you normally wouldn't be able to attack one of the targets because you didn't have LoE, then you would be able to attack that target with a Bending Bullet (or bolt or arrow), but it doesn't change the wording of the power to allow you to attack people outside the specified area.

What about using Alchemist Essence ammo, which creates an area burst 1 whereever your attack is centered.  Would that allow for the distribution of attacks which the OP mentioned in their post?  To be fair, Alchemist Essence creates a new batch of attacks (See what I did there?) on top of the RBAs granted by Rapid Shot, but it's still doable, yes?

Power (Consumable * Varies): Standard Action.
Area burst 1 within weapon range (creatures in the burst)
The item's level + 3 vs. Reflex
Hit: The target takes 1d6 damage of the chosen type.
Miss: Half damage.

Alchemist's Essence Ammunition doesn't interact with Rapid Shot in any way.  It's a standard action powwer to use it, it's not something that's added to any other attack, and it's certainly not an RBA.

Jan 13, 2013 -- 11:51AM, thespaceinvader wrote:

Power (Consumable * Varies): Standard Action.
Area burst 1 within weapon range (creatures in the burst)
The item's level + 3 vs. Reflex
Hit: The target takes 1d6 damage of the chosen type.
Miss: Half damage.

Alchemist's Essence Ammunition doesn't interact with Rapid Shot in any way.  It's a standard action powwer to use it, it's not something that's added to any other attack, and it's certainly not an RBA.

Any alchemical item can be made into an ammunition type which can then be used with ranged basic attacks.

No.  Can be made into an ammunition which can be FIRED with a ranged weapon.  All that rule does is extend their range, not change their action or attack type.

You can't use Alchemical Essence ammounition as an RBA, because it's not an RBA.