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The best solution for longswords
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<blockquote data-quote="Pauper" data-source="post: 7373945" data-attributes="member: 17607"><p>Don't try to recreate your favorite Third Edition elf rogue in 5E? Count me in with those who thought the longsword has always been 'too good' of a weapon choice.</p><p></p><p>Seriously, though, based on the thread, it doesn't sound like your real issue is with the stats for the longsword, but with the definition of Sneak Attack -- the real problem is that there's already not a whole lot of design wiggle-room in that area of the weapon chart:</p><p></p><p>Shortsword - 1d6 piercing (finesse, light)</p><p>Rapier - 1d8 piercing (finesse)</p><p>Longsword - 1d8 slashing (versatile)</p><p></p><p>If you give the longsword finesse so that it can be used with Sneak Attack, then you've basically removed the point (pun not intended) of having the rapier at a d8 damage, since the only difference is damage type, which is irrelevant in many cases (fighting certain oozes is the only thing that comes immediately to mind). But if you try to drop the rapier to a d6 damage, then it's clearly inferior to the shortsword, which both does the same damage and is a light weapon as well.</p><p></p><p>Let's not even get into the thought that, if you don't remove versatile when you add finesse, you now have a Sneak Attack capable weapon with a base d10 damage, which is pretty clearly pushing the envelope. (Rogues don't get shield proficiency, and you can only use Sneak Attack once per turn, so there's no reason not to go with the biggest damage die you can find if you're not two-weapon fighting to try to guarantee a hit each round.)</p><p></p><p>As noted earlier in the thread, the longsword in 5e basically fills the role that the bastard sword had in previous editions, so don't think of the longsword in 5e the same way you thought of it in earlier editions. Problem solved.</p><p></p><p>--</p><p>Pauper</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Pauper, post: 7373945, member: 17607"] Don't try to recreate your favorite Third Edition elf rogue in 5E? Count me in with those who thought the longsword has always been 'too good' of a weapon choice. Seriously, though, based on the thread, it doesn't sound like your real issue is with the stats for the longsword, but with the definition of Sneak Attack -- the real problem is that there's already not a whole lot of design wiggle-room in that area of the weapon chart: Shortsword - 1d6 piercing (finesse, light) Rapier - 1d8 piercing (finesse) Longsword - 1d8 slashing (versatile) If you give the longsword finesse so that it can be used with Sneak Attack, then you've basically removed the point (pun not intended) of having the rapier at a d8 damage, since the only difference is damage type, which is irrelevant in many cases (fighting certain oozes is the only thing that comes immediately to mind). But if you try to drop the rapier to a d6 damage, then it's clearly inferior to the shortsword, which both does the same damage and is a light weapon as well. Let's not even get into the thought that, if you don't remove versatile when you add finesse, you now have a Sneak Attack capable weapon with a base d10 damage, which is pretty clearly pushing the envelope. (Rogues don't get shield proficiency, and you can only use Sneak Attack once per turn, so there's no reason not to go with the biggest damage die you can find if you're not two-weapon fighting to try to guarantee a hit each round.) As noted earlier in the thread, the longsword in 5e basically fills the role that the bastard sword had in previous editions, so don't think of the longsword in 5e the same way you thought of it in earlier editions. Problem solved. -- Pauper [/QUOTE]
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