The VOIDRUNNER'S CODEX is coming! Explore new worlds, fight oppressive empires, fend off fearsome aliens, and wield deadly psionics with this comprehensive boxed set expansion for 5E and A5E!
Both of those solutions you just threw out there(minions and mules) are perfectly reasonable, if you can't find a bag of holding/efficient quiver. As for your firing speed complaint, volleys of 2, 4, or 8 normal bolts in 6 seconds is impressive anyway, regardless of race. I've used crossbows in...
in a 1v1 with a friend(dex fighter vs dex fighter), i used net and disarming strike, knocked his flame tongue rapier out of his hand, and used action surge to steal it and retreat. he then had to spend the entire turn dealing with my net as i dropped the rapier(cuz' it was attuned), walked back...