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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Rechan" data-source="post: 4721611" data-attributes="member: 54846">To echo Keterys, a crossbow and a magic missile are essentially the same thing. To hit:Crossbow: Dex+2 vs. ACMM: Int vs. Reflex.The +2 to proficiency vs. AC is on par with attacking a non-AC defense. In general, they progress at roughly the same rate.Damage:Crossbow: 1d8+Dex.Magic Missile: 2d4+Int.On average, the MM does 4+int, because you can't roll a 1, but you also are much less likely to roll a 4+4. So a ranger and a wizard shooting at the same target has roughly the same attack/damage output. However, you give the wizard a crossbow, and he's less likely to hit. Why? He is not going to put a large number in his dex. Int serves the same purpose as Dexterity (it increases your AC/Ref defense). So, he would be harming himself in putting a high dex in, just so he can use a crossbow, because it's made irrelevent by his high Int.So if you insist on going this route, I highly encourage Rangerwickett's suggestion:In fact. There is a feat in PHB2 which basically allows someone to select a non str/dex stat in order to make basic attacks with. I would give that feat for free to any spellcaster. The feat actually assigns both attack AND damage based on their stat, so that is different than what Ranger is suggesting.</blockquote>