D&D 5E Rogue assassins/handheld crossbows

[asjwolverine]

How would an assassin using two hand-crossbows work? Thinking in terms of stealth moves, assassinations and sneak attacks. Would reloading be a huge issue? I think it just sounds cool

 

[Flamestrike]

How would an assassin using two hand-crossbows work? Thinking in terms of stealth moves, assassinations and sneak attacks. Would reloading be a huge issue? I think it just sounds cool

It doesnt work; you need a hand free to load them.

 

[n00b f00]

By raw you can't reload without a free hand. You also can't attack multiple times per turn with a crossbow without crossbow expert feat.

However if your gm waived the free hand bit. Such as self loading crossbows or a weird reloading rig on your belt.

Then you could get 2 attacks from range, which is pretty sweet for an assassin as it's otherwise impossible for a single classed rogue to do that.

Actually you could by raw open your combats like this. Fire both, collect your extra d6 of auto crit. Then put one or both away for the actual fight.

 

[Flamestrike]

Actually you could by raw open your combats like this. Fire both, collect your extra d6 of auto crit. Then put one or both away for the actual fight.

You cant TWF with crossbows.

The crossbow master feat gives you a bonus action crossbow attack with a hand crossbow regardless of what youre holding in your other hand.

 

[n00b f00]

Someone asked the devs about this. Such as using it a crossbow with a shield.

Devs said nope. You can get the bonus action with the bonus even though you're using one hand crossbow. But you even though you can load it on the quick you still need a hand to load it.

Which basically means you should have one hand crossbow and get your bonus action plus dex attack. Think it was a sage article, could have been a tweet.

I also don't see why you can't fire a second one with your BA. You can't use them next turn, they're not loaded. But that first turn seems right.

 

[CapnZapp]

It doesnt work; you need a hand free to load them.

Flamestrike is correct: the game was errataed in such a way to completely hose dual wielding hand crossbow users.

On the other hand, no balance is lost by simply saying yes to the player: "yes, you can use two hand crossbows, that sounds awesome".

 

[Noctem]

Flamestrike is correct: the game was errataed in such a way to completely hose dual wielding hand crossbow users.

On the other hand, no balance is lost by simply saying yes to the player: "yes, you can use two hand crossbows, that sounds awesome".

pretty much this. The only way it gets a little too strong imo is if you allow a player to have a hand crossbow + a shield at the same time. But even then it's not actually broken.

 

[asjwolverine]

I was only thinking a one shot deal with each crossbow and then pull another weapon if a fight was still needed. Only use them for a sneak attack or assassination

 

[Noctem]

I was only thinking a one shot deal with each crossbow and then pull another weapon if a fight was still needed. Only use them for a sneak attack or assassination

this works.

 

[Oofta]

Sage advice has clarified that you need a free hand to reload. However, there's nothing against carrying around two loaded hand crossbows and on your first round firing both. You'll just have to drop one in order to load the other.

Or of course just ask your DM if they're ok with it.