Mouseferatu
Hero
Okay, I feel like there's got to be an obvious answer here and I'm just blindly missing it. But...
What's the point (so to speak) of the hand crossbow in this edition?
I mean, I get the idea of the small, concealed crossbow for rogues and the like. My problem isn't conceptual, but in execution.
It's worse in all respects than the light crossbow, is only two pounds lighter, and is martial rather than simple. The only detail that justifies it is the fact that it's a light weapon. But...
The two-weapon fighting rules are very, very clear about applying to melee weapons only. They make an exception for thrown weapons, but not others.
So if we're not allowed to double-fist crossbows (Boo!
) and there's no real mechanical benefit to the slightly smaller hand crossbow, is it martial and more expensive purely for flavor reasons? I'm okay if that's the case, it just doesn't feel "complete" to me, like I'm missing something grossly obvious.
ETA: I get that the light crossbow is two-handed and the hand crossbow isn't. I'm just not sure that really matters, in the scheme of things--except, as I said, for flavor. Most rogues aren't carrying shields or lanterns.
What's the point (so to speak) of the hand crossbow in this edition?
I mean, I get the idea of the small, concealed crossbow for rogues and the like. My problem isn't conceptual, but in execution.
It's worse in all respects than the light crossbow, is only two pounds lighter, and is martial rather than simple. The only detail that justifies it is the fact that it's a light weapon. But...
The two-weapon fighting rules are very, very clear about applying to melee weapons only. They make an exception for thrown weapons, but not others.
So if we're not allowed to double-fist crossbows (Boo!
) and there's no real mechanical benefit to the slightly smaller hand crossbow, is it martial and more expensive purely for flavor reasons? I'm okay if that's the case, it just doesn't feel "complete" to me, like I'm missing something grossly obvious. ETA: I get that the light crossbow is two-handed and the hand crossbow isn't. I'm just not sure that really matters, in the scheme of things--except, as I said, for flavor. Most rogues aren't carrying shields or lanterns.
