D&D (2024) Dual Wielding

[FitzTheRuke]

But... Here it seems that you think that's the rule...

No. You're just equating "letting go" on someone else's turn (something that is not in the rules) with "dropping" on your turn. I can see how it seems to you that it is the same thing, but it isn't.

But in my experience thrown weapons are like 90% of "dropped weapon" situations, so getting rid of that 10% seems pretty immaterial.

Thrown weapons aren't "dropped weapons". They are thrown weapons. Thrown weapons, IME are rarely picked up before the combat ends. Dropped weapons are often needed (desired) again while combat is still raging. And are usually dropped as an action economy exploit, while thrown weapons are thrown as attacks. It's really not the same thing.

Not that I particularly strongly oppose easy weapon swapping, as long as it doesn't lead to weird one-handed dual wielding, or using two-handers whilst benefitting from a shield etc, that the new rules allow.

The new rules don't allow those things. They're just poorly worded enough to make fun of for sounding like they might.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Really? I know this is the case for "stowing" the weapon, I did not know it was for dropping the weapon and that really makes no sense.

So I guess if you get hit with the disarm attack or the fear spell or heat metal or something that makes you drop your weapon you just don't drop it?

Why not? You can attack with it and then drop it as part of the attack. I don't think that I'd want to put a white-hot sword back in its sheath.

If true, this is another example of not adequately proofing the rules!

I'll grant you that! There seems like there's going to be a need for a bit of wording-fixes as errata to line RAW up with RAI. I think they ought to have known better.

 

[ECMO3]

Which is probably good, because there's too many ways where you ought to never get a dropped weapon back, but it's usually handwaved. Not to mention all the tines I've seen people switch back to weapons that they dropped two rounds ago and 40 feet away.

Well if you drop the weapon it is on the ground and anyone, including enemies, can use their interact to pick it up (or for that matter kick it across the battlefield).

I mean if they want to switch back to the weapon, walk over to it, use their free interact to pick it up and then use it. But if you dropped it on one side of the battlefield it is there. Also the note the whole dropping a weapon thing was a big benefit for Eldritch Knights because of how they could summon it again. If you let any character do that from the other side of the battlefield ..... well that really is not supported by the rules and nerfs one of the main benefits of that subclass.

In most of my 5E martial builds I regularly drop weapons ... but if I do that they are where I dropped them and not on my belt.

 

[ECMO3]

Why not? You can attack with it and then drop it as part of the attack. I don't think that I'd want to put a white-hot sword back in its sheath.

So you don't drop it then... and the enemy who cast that on you can't pick it up. Same with Fear and disarm.

And what if the enemy uses another action so he does not have an opportunity to drop the weapon and thereby can keep it without dropping it.

I'll grant you that! There seems like there's going to be a need for a bit of wording-fixes as errata to line RAW up with RAI. I think they ought to have known better.

I just think the whole rule is silly if it is truely written that way. Do you have a source for this?

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Well if you drop the weapon it is on the ground and anyone, including enemies, can use their interact to pick it up (or for that matter kick it across the battlefield).

I mean if they want to switch back to the weapon, walk over to it, use their free interact to pick it up and then use it. But if you dropped it on one side of the battlefield it is there. Also the note the whole dropping a weapon thing was a big benefit for Eldritch Knights because of how they could summon it again. If you let any character do that from the other side of the battlefield ..... well that really is not supported by the rules and nerfs one of the main benefits of that subclass.

In most of my 5E martial builds I regularly drop weapons ... but if I do that they are where I dropped them and not on my belt.

Yup. That was my point of what I think the new rule does better than the old. I agree that it's still not great, and that it's going to be messy when people (naturally) blend the old rules and the new rules together (which is in a lot of those "weapon swapping" theories - you can even see them in this thread!)

 

[ECMO3]

Dropped weapons are often needed (desired) again while combat is still raging. And are usually dropped as an action economy exploit, while thrown weapons are thrown as attacks. It's really not the same thing.

It is not an action exploit .... it is intentionally dropping your weapon.

This is like saying jumping or climbing or swimming is an action exploit.

The new rules don't allow those things. They're just poorly worded enough to make fun of for sounding like they might.

The new rules are much more accomodating on weapon switching. While I dropped weapons (and spell components) often in 5E play as a PC and have players do it often as a DM, it would be very rare anyway with the new stowing and drawing rules (the rule you claim exists on dropping weapons not withstanding).

 

[ECMO3]

Yup. That was my point of what I think the new rule does better than the old.

Do you have the actual wording for the new rule you are talking about?

 

[FitzTheRuke]

So you don't drop it then... and the enemy who cast that on you can't pick it up. Same with Fear and disarm.

I'm not sure about that, maybe the spell says something about it? I haven't seen those.

I've only really seen people use Heat Metal on people's armor, myself.

And what if the enemy uses another action so he does not have an opportunity to drop the weapon and thereby can keep it without dropping it.

I'm not sure what you're saying here.

I just think the whole rule is silly if it is truly written that way. Do you have a source for this?

The new PHB rules glossary.

 

[ECMO3]

That is not supported by the rules in any way.

So you can drop a weapon off turn at will but not on turn?

I do not believe this is the case.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

It is not an action exploit .... it is intentionally dropping your weapon.

This is like saying jumping or climbing or swimming is an action exploit.

No, that's not what I mean - and I didn't mean that it was a "bad" exploit - I simply mean that they do it that way to save on their action economy. No one would drop weapons if they could switch from melee to ranged without having to do it to save time, which is what we have now.

The new rules are much more accomodating on weapon switching. While I dropped weapons (and spell components) often in 5E play as a PC and have players do it often as a DM, it would be very rare anyway with the new stowing and drawing rules (the rule you claim exists on dropping weapons not withstanding).

Yes, exactly.