What's the AC for the middle of a bullseye at an archery contest? | Page 2

For purposes of merely running a CONTEST in-game the contest rules don't need to conform precisely to the game rules, and in fact, depending on how the contest itself is set up to be run the game rules might get in the way of making the contest itself an interesting event.

Myself I'd probably start by setting the range at the maximum of short range and then call the bullseye AC 15, maybe even AC 10. Whatever - just set the range and AC of the target at numbers that will be within the capability of the participants to actually HIT with reasonable consistency, but that misses would also not be uncommon.

Each contestant shoots an end of 6 arrows. Those who fail to bullseye with all six are eliminated. Alternatively, each hit of the AC is a bullseye and scores 10. A miss scores 1 point less than 10 for each point of lower AC that actually would be hit. I.e., if the bullseye is 15 and you only hit AC 13 then you score a hit in the 8 point ring instead of the 10 point bullseye. Scores are added for your six arrows and if you don't score at least 30 you're eliminated. The remaining contestants step back one range increment and shoot another end of 6 arrows. Lather, rinse, repeat. When you get to a point where there are few contestants left you might lower the score actually needed to progress to the next round, or declare a "finals" round where the highest score achieved with the next dozen arrows will be declared the winner.

That kind of method should give the edge to the contestent with the highest natural stats and bonuses, but still allow bad random dice rolls to keep it seeming like a contest.

Really we all know that statistics will otherwise dictate that in a contest where there are going to be more arrows shot over time the character with the highest total of bonuses could simply be declared the winner, but a simple one-shot-for-all-the-glory kind of contest is a crapshoot. In that kind of competition you may as well roll a d20 without regard to bonuses and simply have the high roller declared the winner.

But then who says an archery competition needs to be just shooting at an unmoving target of concentric rings? Heck, a quick look at a few google links showed me that rules for Olympic archery weren't initially standardized and it wasn't until 1972 after 40 years or so of absence that archery was actually reintroduced as an Olympic sport! Maybe it should involve clout shooting (look it up on the net), trick shots and amazing feats, speed, or should also involve hunting/tracking skills? If so, you need to design or borrow additional rules to better represent your competition - and most importantly keep it the kind of competition that can keep players INTERESTED and perhaps work in a bit of roleplaying elements.

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