D&D 5E How would changing bows to Str-only change the game?

[Horwath]

I kind of like this. Would you still add dex to damage?

Yes,

If you manage to have 20 str and 20 dex, no reason not to have 2d6+5 damage on bows

And most archers would still be on 1d8 with few on 1d10.

This is also boost to str characters, so they can have not so precise but damaging ranged weapon.

a 20 str/14 dex barbarian can now choose between +5 attack(plus and prof bonus), 1d6+5 short range thrown weapon, or +2 attack, 2d6+2 long range bow attack.

 

[S'mon]

It would suck for Katniss Everdeen.

Personally IMC I have both DEX based regular bows for Legolas & Katniss, and STR based war bows for real historical archers - and dragonborn.

 

[5ekyu]

Hitting the 'vital spot' so dex bonus to damage is added is the argument I hear most for those who don't have a problem with it.
My problem with that reasoning is that 'hitting the vital spot' is what a critical hit is. So dex to damage is stepping all over crits.

'I hit the eye slits every time time when I attack' is another argument for dex to damage, again stepping all over crits.


'Precision attacks is what dex to damage is' steps all over the rogues sneak attack ability and the battlemasters precision maneuver.


My opinion, dex to damage was a mistake.

I see crits as lucky shots, not aimed precision.

It hey to each their own.

 

[Yardiff]

I see crits as lucky shots, not aimed precision.

It hey to each their own.

So aimed precision shots cant crit then right?

 

[The Crimson Binome]

I see crits as lucky shots, not aimed precision.

So do I. You luckily hit them in a vital spot, which is why it does more damage. Aiming for the vital spot should give much the same effect.

 

[Yardiff]

Aiming for a vital spot doesn't mean you'll hit a vital spot every attack, especially at low lvs.

 

[The Crimson Binome]

Aiming for a vital spot doesn't mean you'll hit a vital spot every attack, especially at low lvs.

No, but if you're trying, then it seems like the determining factor could be related to your Dexterity. Adding Dexterity to damage with a piercing weapon is not a huge stretch, given how tenuous some of the other connections in the game are. It just interacts oddly with things like critical hits and sneak attack.

 

[5ekyu]

So aimed precision shots cant crit then right?

No - the two are not exclusive.

I can aim for the spot with the gap in the armor and also hit there and hit the right nerve that certain way...

C'mon, its ftiggin' hp and you are ttyin'to parse the difference between aimed dlots std lucky strikes to create a gripe?

 

[5ekyu]

So do I. You luckily hit them in a vital spot, which is why it does more damage. Aiming for the vital spot should give much the same effect.

I aim for the GPS in the armor at the joint (whstever) and luckily the bones shstered instead of just slicing meat.

C'mon...its HP.

If you want to fabricate a reason to gripe, this degree of differentiation on how HP are calculated is not a way to go.

If you dont like the game impact of dex adding to hp loss on attacks- great - but whether or not its realistic for luck vs precision is not a foundation to build that house on.

 

[Caliburn101]

What most people would consider a greatsword probably weighed around 6 pounds, so if you can't lift that you'd probably have a hard time getting out of bed.

But we do effectively have this because you add your strength mod to attack and damage.

Having wielded such a weapon, lifting it up and swinging it around are very different, even moreso when you have to focus a hit so it doesn't bounce off with a weak-wristed tap.