D&D (2024) GWM feat and ranged weapons?

[Horwath]

Is this intended to work?
Is it an exploit due to poor wording of the feat?
Is it meant to be double sub-optimal for ranged attacks?

somehow "cleave" part is not intended to be in philosophy with ranged attacks, or we can describe ranged cleave as pierce?

And if that feat is meant to work with Heavy ranged weapons, why does it not have +1 DEX option for it.


So this feat needs to be cleared in wording that in only works with MELEE attacks or +1 DEX needs to be added to options for feats ASI.
Also Cleave function needs to work somehow for ranged weapons?
Maybe pierce the target and damage someone directly behind the target. Grid users will be happy with this suggestion.

 

[FrogReaver]

Alternatively, they wanted it to work the bows but not be as good with bows as with melee.

One of the complaints in 2014 was range being as good at damage as melee. Seems there was a deliberate move to making ranged do less damage overall. I think this was part of that.

 

[Horwath]

Alternatively, they wanted it to work the bows but not be as good with bows as with melee.

maybe, and maybe it's the same as with Warcaster and Curing allies with AoO

One of the complaints in 2014 was range being as good at damage as melee. Seems there was a deliberate move to making ranged do less damage overall. I think this was part of that.

I never had a problem with ranged damage, I had a problem with using ranged weapons not being punished when caught in melee.

 

[Nefermandias]

I never had a problem with ranged damage, I had a problem with using ranged weapons not being punished when caught in melee.

That's my issue with Crossbow Expert and Sharpshooter too. The -5/+10 was never a problem. Removing the tactical implications of cover and shooting in melee? That's a really weird design choice.

 

[Horwath]

That's my issue with Crossbow Expert and Sharpshooter too. The -5/+10 was never a problem. Removing the tactical implications of cover and shooting in melee? That's a really weird design choice.

maybe feats can remove or lessen penalties, but base archery should be dangerous.

I.E:
Making an attack with ranged weapon provokes AoO
When you make attack with a ranged weapon, melee attacks have advantage vs you until the start of your next turn.

 

[Mistwell]

Is this intended to work?

yes

Is it an exploit due to poor wording of the feat?

no

Is it meant to be double sub-optimal for ranged attacks?

clarify

somehow "cleave" part is not intended to be in philosophy with ranged attacks, or we can describe ranged cleave as pierce?

And if that feat is meant to work with Heavy ranged weapons, why does it not have +1 DEX option for it.

It works for melee characters because they will sometimes need to use a bow. The benefit for ranged weapons is not however the primary purpose of it for melee characters, just a secondary one for when they use a bow. It works well for some bow-focus PCs though, particularly multi-classed ones who need to reach a minimum strength score for one of their classes. And there are a couple of builds it works well with as primary bow and magic, like True Strike builds.

So this feat needs to be cleared in wording that in only works with MELEE attacks or +1 DEX needs to be added to options for feats ASI.

No, it doesn't. Not sure where you getting it "needs" either. Working as intended. Not everything will be optimal all the time.

Also Cleave function needs to work somehow for ranged weapons?

No. Why?

 

[mellored]

Yes, it is working as intended.
Yes, it is worse for ranged attacks than melee, as intended (no +Dex).

Dex is still a king stat, going first and attacking at range is still a strong benefit.

But without some boost, ranged attacks would be too weak.

That's my issue with Crossbow Expert and Sharpshooter too. The -5/+10 was never a problem. Removing the tactical implications of cover and shooting in melee? That's a really weird design choice.

I've seen one person take it just so they don't have to track as many things.

Which is nice compared to most feats that give you more stuff to track.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

maybe feats can remove or lessen penalties, but base archery should be dangerous.

I.E:
Making an attack with ranged weapon provokes AoO
When you make attack with a ranged weapon, melee attacks have advantage vs you until the start of your next turn.

I like the last part and have already proposed that a few times.

Instead of your first part, I think you should keep disadvantage for your ranged attacks even if you can move out of melee somehow.

 

[Horwath]

Instead of your first part, I think you should keep disadvantage for your ranged attacks even if you can move out of melee somehow.

I think it of, as it's somewhat easy to knock your ranged weapon out of position in melee reach, that is why disadvantage.

 

[FrogReaver]

I get it but it’s not like bonus action disengage is hard to get.