fix(rules): firing into melee exemption measured target-to-nearest-ally, not attacker-to-target (SRD Shooting into a Melee)

src/pf1e_simulator/combat.py

@@ -3056,18 +3056,22 @@ class CombatEngine:
         self, attacker: CombatantState, target: CombatantState
     ) -> int:
         """PF1e firing into melee: -4 on a ranged attack whose target is
-        engaged in melee, avoided entirely (0) when the target or every
+        engaged in melee, avoided entirely (0) when the target stands 10+ ft
-        threatening opponent stands 10+ ft from the attacker. Precise Shot
+        from every friendly character of the attacker. Precise Shot removes
-        removes it.
+        it.
 
         PF1e (SRD "Attack" — Shooting or Throwing into a Melee): "If your
         target (or the part of your target you're aiming at, if it's a big
         target) is at least 10 feet away from the nearest friendly character,
-        you can avoid the -4 penalty" — the 10+ ft clause is therefore 0, not
+        you can avoid the -4 penalty" — the exemption is measured from the
-        -2. The -2 applies only when the target is two size categories larger
+        TARGET to the attacker's nearest friendly character (a creature on
-        than the friendly characters it is engaged with (and 0 at three or
+        the attacker's side other than the attacker), NOT from the attacker's
-        more): size-category reduction is NOT modeled (documented
+        own position; an archer 30 ft away still takes the -4 when the target
-        simplification).
+        is locked in melee with one of the archer's allies at 5 ft. The 10+
+        ft clause is therefore 0, not -2. The -2 applies only when the target
+        is two size categories larger than the friendly characters it is
+        engaged with (and 0 at three or more): size-category reduction is
+        NOT modeled (documented simplification).
 
         The target is engaged when an active enemy of the target (not the
         attacker itself) threatens the target's occupied cells with a melee
@@ -3085,11 +3089,16 @@ class CombatEngine:
         ]
         if not threats:
             return 0
-        if self.creature_distance(attacker, target) * _SQUARE_FT >= _FIRING_MELEE_SAFE_FT:
+        allies = [
-            return 0
+            s
-        for threat in threats:
+            for s in self._states
-            dist = self.creature_distance(attacker, threat) * _SQUARE_FT
+            if s is not attacker and s.active and s.side == attacker.side
-            if dist >= _FIRING_MELEE_SAFE_FT:
+        ]
+        if all(
+            self.creature_distance(target, ally) * _SQUARE_FT
+            >= _FIRING_MELEE_SAFE_FT
+            for ally in allies
+        ):
             return 0
         return _FIRING_MELEE_PENALTY
 

tests/test_accuracy_rules.py

@@ -338,11 +338,13 @@ def test_firing_into_melee_minus4() -> None:
     assert t.hp == 100
 
 
-def test_firing_into_melee_avoided_when_target_10ft_away() -> None:
+def test_firing_into_melee_not_avoided_when_ally_engaged_5ft_away() -> None:
     # PF1e (SRD "Attack" — Shooting or Throwing into a Melee): "If your target
     # [...] is at least 10 feet away from the nearest friendly character, you
-    # can avoid the -4 penalty" — the 10+ ft clause is 0, not -2 (the -2 is
+    # can avoid the -4 penalty" — the exemption is measured from the TARGET to
-    # reserved for targets two size categories larger, not modeled).
+    # the attacker's nearest friendly character, not from the attacker. The
+    # archer is 10 ft from the target, but the target is engaged at 5 ft by
+    # the archer's own ally (the guard) -> the -4 still applies.
     archer = _combatant("archer", ac=99, attacks=(_bow("archer", attack_bonus=8),))
     tgt = _combatant("tgt", ac=15, attacks=(_bow("tgt"),))
     guard = _combatant("guard", ac=99)
@@ -354,8 +356,32 @@ def test_firing_into_melee_avoided_when_target_10ft_away() -> None:
     )
     a, t, _g = eng._states
     result = eng.resolve_attack(a, t, a.combatant.attacks[0])
-    assert result.total == 17
+    assert result.melee_penalty == -4
+    assert result.total == 13
+    assert result.hit is False
+    assert t.hp == 100
+
+
+def test_firing_into_melee_avoided_when_nearest_ally_20ft_away() -> None:
+    # The target is engaged (a third-party melee threat stands next to it),
+    # but the attacker's nearest friendly character is 20 ft from the target
+    # -> the -4 is avoided even though the archer itself is only 5 ft away.
+    # The OLD (buggy) rule measured attacker->target/attacker->threat and
+    # would wrongly apply the -4 here.
+    archer = _combatant("archer", ac=99, attacks=(_bow("archer", attack_bonus=8),))
+    tgt = _combatant("tgt", ac=15, attacks=(_bow("tgt"),))
+    ally = _combatant("ally", ac=99)
+    raider = _combatant("raider")  # neither the archer's side nor the target's
+    eng = _engine(
+        [archer, tgt, ally, raider],
+        [(0, 0), (0, 1), (0, 5), (1, 2)],
+        ["players", "monsters", "players", "gnolls"],
+        [10, 3],
+    )
+    a, t, _al, _r = eng._states
+    result = eng.resolve_attack(a, t, a.combatant.attacks[0])
     assert result.melee_penalty == 0
+    assert result.total == 18
     assert result.hit is True
     assert result.damage == 3
 

tests/test_combat.py

@@ -816,7 +816,7 @@ def test_ranged_attack_ignores_flanking() -> None:
         "initiative: aly d20=9+0=9",
         "initiative: tgt d20=8+0=8",
         "round 1 tgt: AoO vs arc d20=15+2=17 AC 13 -> HIT 3 damage (6->3)",
-        "round 1 arc: short bow vs tgt d20=12+2=14 AC 15 -> MISS",
+        "round 1 arc: short bow vs tgt d20=12+2-4(melee)=10 AC 15 -> MISS",
         "round 1 aly: short sword vs tgt d20=10+0=10 AC 15 -> MISS",
         "round 1 tgt: short sword vs arc d20=5+2=7 AC 13 -> MISS",
         "battle over: draw after 1 rounds",