Archer's Scope

[Giomanach]

This is a spur of the moment idea that I will admit I haven't refined in the least. The subject recently arose again on the topic of archery in the D&D game world and I see a major drawback in the rules that for all practicle purposes don't allow archery as an honest alternative. For this reason I present

THE ARCHER'S SCOPE: Use of an archer's scope gives the archer a +2 competence bonus on Spot checks for every 50' (i.e. +2 for all checks upto 50', +4 up to 100', +6 up to 150', etc...).

Feel free to expand on this idea and please share them here, maybe we can get it refined enough to actually get officially accepted.

[ShadowGlade]

I take it this is meant to be a magical item? 
And ideas for the price range?  Normally a competence bonus' cost formula is Bonus Squared x 100gp and since this doesn't seem to have a cap...

And what are the normally - to spot checks for distance, never much paid attention to them myself and not sure how many of my DMs actually paid attention to it either, I always got the feeling it ended up being Hide vs Spot with maybe a little Ad-hoc for the distance.  Of course assuming they were trying to hide.

[Phoenix]

And what are the normally - to spot checks for distance, never much paid attention to them myself and not sure how many of my DMs actually paid attention to it either, I always got the feeling it ended up being Hide vs Spot with maybe a little Ad-hoc for the distance.  Of course assuming they were trying to hide.

The normal penalty for distance is -1 to the spot check per 10'.

[Giomanach]

Yes the usual penalty is -1 per 10' in perfect conditions. A clear sunny day on a wide open plain without any obstacles still gives you a -1 penalty for every 10'. Even without a cap limit ShadowGlade the item becomes useless after a certain distance because the gained penalty becomes so high that even with the scope you can't overcome the penalty. If you want a cap then let us say maxed stacked bow range + 1000' and you have roughly 7000' total. This would normally give you a -700 penalty, with the scope you'd have +280 bonus but still a -420 penalty as final modifier (not taking into account Spot ranks, WIS modifier or other modifiers).

[ShadowGlade]

Well, if you have a -1 Spot for every 10 ft. then bows and other ranged weapons are pretty much useless because most people would be effectively blind after 100 ft. (-10) and most defiantly so at 200 ft. (-20)...


Essayist way to figure out a price for this would be to see at which point it becomes useless due to the increasing - to Spot checks and work from there.  But other wise it looks like a good idea for an item.

Though you could also design a Scope that would just negate - to Spot checks for distance, other modifiers would apply such as environmental ones and terrain.

[Phoenix]

Well, if you have a -1 Spot for every 10 ft. then bows and other ranged weapons are pretty much useless because most people would be effectively blind after 100 ft. (-10) and most defiantly so at 200 ft. (-20)...

Nope, you don't make a spot check every time you want to shoot something.

[ShadowGlade]

Well, if you have a -1 Spot for every 10 ft. then bows and other ranged weapons are pretty much useless because most people would be effectively blind after 100 ft. (-10) and most defiantly so at 200 ft. (-20)...

Nope, you don't make a spot check every time you want to shoot something.

True, but you have to first be able to see it to shoot it...

[Giomanach]

That is the reason I think archery was more of a unthought of addition instead of serious rule contemplation.

Completely negating a spot penalty wouldn't actually be right. Somebody with a +25 spot modifier doesn't mean he/she will see a mouse at 1000'. I can understand circumstance penalties for distance, just not as steep as the rules right now are set up.