Line of sight? - Guild Wars Forums

papaschtroumpf · Mar 07, 2009, 04:14 PM // 16:14

can someone explain to me how line of sight works in the game?
if i hide behind a piece of terrain, sometime I get a message that I can't see the target, or "obstructed", yet I can still kill them. In fact if I am "hiding" when I start the battle it seems I usually do much better because they can't (?) hit me back (as much?)
I haven't figured it out through experimentation yet.

ac1inferno · Mar 07, 2009, 04:25 PM // 16:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by guildwiki

line of sight refers to a character's ability to hit a foe using an arrow or a projectile. In order for rangers to hit with their bows, paragons to hit with their spears, or spell-casters to hit with their staves and wands, they must have ''line of sight'' towards their target, i.e. There must be no physical environmental obstacle in the way. This also applies to certain spells that send out projectiles such as [[lightning orb] and [[stone daggers] and offensive spirit attacks.

Understanding how line of sight works and affects hitting or missing is an important element of success when playing the game. Often, great amounts of damage to a character can be avoided by just going around a corner. As a general rule, if your character has line of sight to another character, that character has line of sight to your character. Line of sight is not obstructed by other characters, only actual immobile physical barriers that a character cannot walk through.

If a character has line of sight, their projectile/arrow will reach the target, whereby it may still miss as a result of being blocked or other factors. On the other hand, if a character does not have line of sight, the game will play a clicking sound and a warning message that view of the target is ''obstructed''. In addition the word ''"obstructed"'' will hover over the target instead of the damage inflicted.

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Giga Strike · Mar 07, 2009, 04:34 PM // 16:34

Ya, pretty much that ^. All it's saying is that is that you can't shoot an arrow through a wall.

TheodenKing · Mar 07, 2009, 04:55 PM // 16:55

What may confuse you, however, is that there are certain places in the game where things are glitchy... like when your foe is standing on a bridge. Sometimes you can be standing right next to your target, but it will say you are obstructed.

When that happens, don't take it as the rule... just move and get your foe to move a bit, and see it as a glitch. For most of the game, let common sense be your guide.

MagmaRed · Mar 07, 2009, 05:19 PM // 17:19

Other things can factor into it as well. For instance, type of bow and terrain hieght. So a Ranger using a recurve bow will hit less than a ranger using a flat bow if standing behing the same wall. Basically, it is the common sense rule.

Raven Wing · Mar 07, 2009, 05:38 PM // 17:38

Also, line of sight is what your character can actually see. Imagine a line drawn from the eyes of your char to the target. That line might be blocked even when you can see it clearly on your screen.

Eragon Zarroc · Mar 07, 2009, 06:18 PM // 18:18

line of sight only affects projectiles. so when ur wanding him, of course u can't hit him. line of sight does not affect non-projectile spells, so it is definitely to ur benefit to hide behind objects to cast at ur foes if they use projectile attacks. line of sight is extremely important to rangers and paragons because all of their attacks are projectiles.

Boneyard Spleeneater · Mar 07, 2009, 08:51 PM // 20:51

But remember that Line of Site doesn't necessarily effect Melee, which is why you can stand on a bridge and triple-chop the guys below you.

papaschtroumpf · Mar 07, 2009, 11:10 PM // 23:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eragon Zarroc

line of sight only affects projectiles. so when ur wanding him, of course u can't hit him. line of sight does not affect non-projectile spells, so it is definitely to ur benefit to hide behind objects to cast at ur foes if they use projectile attacks. line of sight is extremely important to rangers and paragons because all of their attacks are projectiles.

This here summarizes it: being an ele I do most of my damage through spells, so I guess it's mostly wand damage that is blocked.

by the way how many wikis are there? because the one I looked at is less than useful on this particular topic:

http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Line_of_sight

Kiva-chan · Mar 07, 2009, 11:14 PM // 23:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by papaschtroumpf

by the way how many wikis are there?

Two AFAIK.
The official wiki which you linked to, and another at guildwars.wikia.com

papaschtroumpf · Mar 08, 2009, 09:23 PM // 21:23

I now understand this better after sending my lvl8 necro across the wall to hunt Charr with a friend. fortunately most of my spells do not require line of sight, so I can use terrain (walls, hills) to hit them without being exposed to direct fire (such as hunter's) that I can't really survive at that level.

Mar 07, 2009, 04:14 PM // 16:14	#1
papaschtroumpf Academy Page Join Date: Mar 2009 Guild: [Moon]	Line of sight? can someone explain to me how line of sight works in the game? if i hide behind a piece of terrain, sometime I get a message that I can't see the target, or "obstructed", yet I can still kill them. In fact if I am "hiding" when I start the battle it seems I usually do much better because they can't (?) hit me back (as much?) I haven't figured it out through experimentation yet.

Mar 07, 2009, 04:34 PM // 16:34	#3
Giga Strike Wilds Pathfinder Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: stranded in vabbi this time Guild: None [N/A]	Ya, pretty much that ^. All it's saying is that is that you can't shoot an arrow through a wall.

Mar 07, 2009, 04:55 PM // 16:55	#4
TheodenKing Jungle Guide Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: DoA Guild: Dark Order of Retarded Knights (doRk) Profession: N/Me	What may confuse you, however, is that there are certain places in the game where things are glitchy... like when your foe is standing on a bridge. Sometimes you can be standing right next to your target, but it will say you are obstructed. When that happens, don't take it as the rule... just move and get your foe to move a bit, and see it as a glitch. For most of the game, let common sense be your guide.

Mar 07, 2009, 05:19 PM // 17:19	#5
MagmaRed Furnace Stoker Join Date: Mar 2007 Guild: Our Crabs Know True [LOVE] Profession: R/	Other things can factor into it as well. For instance, type of bow and terrain hieght. So a Ranger using a recurve bow will hit less than a ranger using a flat bow if standing behing the same wall. Basically, it is the common sense rule.

Mar 07, 2009, 05:38 PM // 17:38	#6
Raven Wing Jungle Guide Join Date: Nov 2005 Guild: The Imperial Guards of Istan [TIGI] Profession: N/	Also, line of sight is what your character can actually see. Imagine a line drawn from the eyes of your char to the target. That line might be blocked even when you can see it clearly on your screen.

Mar 07, 2009, 06:18 PM // 18:18	#7
Eragon Zarroc Atra estern?? ono thelduin Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Madness Incarnate Guild: [Duo] Profession: W/P	line of sight only affects projectiles. so when ur wanding him, of course u can't hit him. line of sight does not affect non-projectile spells, so it is definitely to ur benefit to hide behind objects to cast at ur foes if they use projectile attacks. line of sight is extremely important to rangers and paragons because all of their attacks are projectiles.

Mar 07, 2009, 08:51 PM // 20:51	#8
Boneyard Spleeneater Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Seattle Guild: Immortal Corruptors [GWAR] Profession: Me/N	But remember that Line of Site doesn't necessarily effect Melee, which is why you can stand on a bridge and triple-chop the guys below you.

Mar 08, 2009, 09:23 PM // 21:23	#11
papaschtroumpf Academy Page Join Date: Mar 2009 Guild: [Moon]	I now understand this better after sending my lvl8 necro across the wall to hunt Charr with a friend. fortunately most of my spells do not require line of sight, so I can use terrain (walls, hills) to hit them without being exposed to direct fire (such as hunter's) that I can't really survive at that level.