D&D 5E Do I get sneak attack if I throw a Rapier or whack someone with my heavy crossbow

[Charlaquin]

I'm willing to bet that more often than not if a player asks a question and the DM makes their ruling... if the player comes back later to say "No, that ruling is probably wrong, people on the internet say it should be 'X' "... the DM's impulse is going to double down on their own ruling (seeing as how their player wouldn't take no for an answer and went trolling for other people to side with them.) Now maybe I'm being a bit too cynical about those DMs. That's possible. But... that's genuinely what I suspect would happen. But hey... maybe the original poster will luck out and their DM will take this thread to heart!

I think you’re absolutely right that most DMs are not going to respond well to a player saying “people on the internet said it should work this way.” It’s a fruitless endeavor trying to get a ruling from the internet rather than your DM. However...

Of course... seeing as how this particular 7 page thread thus far CAN'T agree on what the "RAW" is... the OP won't be taking this to their DM at all anyway because there isn't an answer for them to reference to.

That’s kind of the point, isn’t it? Even if we could come to a consensus, it wouldn’t be useful for any player to take to their DM. These discussions aren’t really for that. They’re for us (most of whom are DMs) to talk shop. The OP’s question is ultimately just a springboard we use to get a discussion going about our different interpretations of the rules, and hopefully in doing so, to come to a more nuanced understanding of them. Or, if we’re being very honest, to get that unique cocktail of cortisol and dopamine that comes from arguing with people on the internet.

 

[Charlaquin]

Note that "a dead goblin" is explicitly listed among the examples of improvised weapons on PHB 147. Although a live one might indeed be more unwieldy.

So it is! Excellent observation. Guess I would be house ruling then

 

[Charlaquin]

It has all the "bulk" of a quarterstaff. With the longbow, I expect it is supposed to be draw distance - the distance between the hand that holds the bow, and the cheek to which you draw, simply isn't long enough on small characters.

I think more likely the draw weight than the draw distance. Though I suppose both are probably relevant.

 

[Xetheral]

So it is! Excellent observation. Guess I would be house ruling then

Only for goblins though! Since other dead creatures are not listed, clearly it would require a house rule to allow someone to use any other dead creature as an improvised weapon.

 

[Charlaquin]

Only for goblins though! Since other dead creatures are not listed, clearly it would require a house rule to allow someone to use any other dead creature as an improvised weapon.

I think we can safely infer that all goblinoid bodies are in the category intended to be usable as improvised weapons

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Maybe the problem in the rules is worrying about the kind of weapon a rogue is using to get the sneak attack in the first place. It's not like it would be unbalanced if they tried to sneak attack with a great axe.

Sure. A thrown rapier uses the same rules as a thrown rock. If the DM is happy to allow sneak attack with a rock, then you can also sneak attack with a thrown rapier. As per core rules you can't sneak attack with a rock, but it won't break anything if the DM allows it.

 

[Oofta]

It has all the "bulk" of a quarterstaff. With the longbow, I expect it is supposed to be draw distance - the distance between the hand that holds the bow, and the cheek to which you draw, simply isn't long enough on small characters.

Well, bulk includes all dimensions of using the bow so it still applies.

On the other hand, I keep debating splitting quarterstaff into two categories: a heavy two-handed quarterstaff that does d8 and a versatile half staff or hanbo staff that does d6. Doesn't make sense to my brain that you can use a heavy 8 ft long stick in one hand effectively or that it could be used by a small creature as anything other than for pole vaulting.

Ah well, nobody ever said D&D was realistic.

 

[Umbran]

I think more likely the draw weight than the draw distance. Though I suppose both are probably relevant.

Except that small characters can have the same Strength score as large ones. The halfling can pull back just as hard, but can't pull back as far.

 

[Umbran]

Well, bulk includes all dimensions of using the bow so it still applies.

I repeat - it has the same bulk as a quarterstaff. The quarterstaff is not considered heavy.

Because this is not about the physical object only, but how the object is used.

 

[Charlaquin]

Except that small characters can have the same Strength score as large ones. The halfling can pull back just as hard, but can't pull back as far.

They can have the same strength score, yes, but strength score alone does not represent the totality of a character’s physical might. Features like powerful build and the heavy property of some weapons express differences in overall strength without having to penalize characters’ strength scores based on race.