D&D 5E Monk rules question

[Yunru]

Really? We're debating the mechanics of crossbows made in a universe with both magic and elements?

 

[Cap'n Kobold]

Really? We're debating the mechanics of crossbows made in a universe with both magic and elements?

Strange isn't it, with all of that magic and elements around, people still need to beat out metal into swords to hit things with? Just like they did in our history.

 

[Yunru]

Strange isn't it, with all of that magic and elements around, people still need to beat out metal into swords to hit things with? Just like they did in our history.

And yet they can't possibly have something comparible to modern day crossbows?
I mean, sure, we had to advance our material sciences and make complex materials but they can just use narrativium and cheat.

 

[Eric Olson]

One reasonable extension of the rules would be to use a claw type weapon attached to the wrist like a Tekko-kagi. (treat it as dagger for simplicity and balance)
These were traditionally used as defensive weapons (blocking swords with the hand). Seems to fit the flavor of the ability perfectly. Would look great, add character, not be ridiculous sword juggling.
You could rule as a dm that it allows enough of a free hand to load a crossbow. It would leave the finger free to grab a bold and might even have a hook to help pull back the string.

 

[lowkey13]

*Deleted by user*

 

[Cap'n Kobold]

And yet they can't possibly have something comparible to modern day crossbows?
I mean, sure, we had to advance our material sciences and make complex materials but they can just use narrativium and cheat.

Oh indeed they can. In a setting with sufficient levels of narravitium, there is no issue with modern-day weapons existing, as you say. Whether its bleed-in from real-world Earth, or simply that objects strive to achieve an iconic form like the gonne. Every table has set a different level of narravitium for their game.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Previous editions of D&D, particularly in the fiction have depicted handcrossbows as more realistic and similar to ones based on D&D's tech level. - Used only as a poison delivery system and regularly being stopped by the cloth of a cloak for example.
Until modern high-quality spring steel, handcrossbows were a novelty toy used for shooting small birds at short ranges, and actually killing even an unarmoured human would be extremely unlikely.

5e handcrossbows however deal comparable damage to a shortbow.

They also have a very much abbreviated range compare to shortbows, and thus less power, and thus less draw strength.