D&D 5E I thought that I had seen a Range limit to the sneak attack with the Ranged Weapon, 30 feet

[Paraxis]

By this definition, a thrown weapon is a ranged weapon because it is used to attack a target at a distance.

It says they are classified in the table as either melee or ranged. Which makes sense for organizing them and displaying them. But if you assume the second sentence is a rule independent of the table, it means that any weapon used at range is a "Ranged Weapon".

No a thrown melee weapon is still a melee weapon, a thrown ranged weapon is a ranged weapon.

Properties like thrown or reach might change the fact that a weapon can be used at a distance greater than 5' but neither changes the weapon type. By your logic a whip, halberd, or lance is a ranged weapon. A dagger is a melee weapon with a property called thrown, a dart is a ranged weapon with a property called thrown.

How do we know that? Couldn't the PHB be written by multiple authors, one of which used "Ranged Weapons" while another one used "Ranged Weapon Attacks" even though they both meant the same thing and the editors assumed they meant the same thing? Besides, how do we know that "Ranged Weapon Attacks" include include thrown weapons? Wouldn't the definition of a "Ranged Weapon Attack" be an attack with a "Ranged Weapon"? If "Ranged Weapons" are only things that are under the "Ranged Weapon" category in the equipment section that would imply that "Ranged Weapon Attacks" only work with bows and the like.

RANGED ATTACKS: When you make a ranged attack, you fire a bow or a crossbow, hurl a handaxe, or otherwise send projectiles to strike a foe at a distance. A monster might shoot spines from its tail. Many spells also involve making a ranged attack.

There are three types of ranged attacks mentioned throughout the books. The broad ranged attack, the ranged spell attack, and the ranged weapon attack. Those are different types of attacks, and have nothing to do with different types of weapons.

It seems unlikely that they'd make a feat and make it only partially effective if you are using thrown weapons. The feat is then a trap if you are throwing weapons. They said they were trying to avoid traps.

There are other feats that work only partialy depending on what weapon you are using, the first part of great weapon master for example works with any melee weapon, that means it works with rapiers and daggers. The second part only works with melee weapons that are "heavy", doesn't make the feat a trap choice.

Plus, there doesn't appear to be any balance issues with allowing thrown weapons in these situations. It seems like restricting things like to restrict things.

That is a debate point for discussing RAI or rules in play at the table, not the rules as written.

 

[guachi]

Twitter

Frank Foulis @darthJerod
@MikeMearls Can thrown weapons be used for sneak attack damage? Seems to go against the qualifiers of sneak attack being Ranged-Finesse
Mike Mearls @MikeMearls
Follow
@darthJerod yes, they can. basically, as a DM feel free to let the rogue sneak attack with anything that deals a d6 or less

Zoltar commented on Sneak attack d6.
in response to zoltar:
@darthJerod yes, they can. basically, as a DM feel free to let the rogue sneak attack with anything that deals a d6 or less — Mike Mearls @MikeMearls) July 25, 2014
If you read the tweet date is one of the first tweet about 5e, when Master Mike was the only designer that answer rule questions. (Mike and Jeremy are the lead designers as you can read in PHB)
Now Master Jeremy is the official Rules Sage and you can ask to him at @JeremyECrawford on twitter
or ask to D&D Team at sageadvice@wizards.com
My advice is to follow Master Mike answer and find your way outside the Mud Forest.

My advice is to realize that Mearls is incredibly permissive with his rulings. His house rule makes perfect sense as sneak attacking with anything that is d6 isn't going to break anything. It is not, however, what the book actually says. You can follow his suggestion if you want, but don't pretend it's what the book actually says.

 

[guachi]

Thanks to all of you who pointed out my error about getting only two turns of actions. I wonder who will be the first rogue thief to get FOUR sneak attacks in one round.

1) 17th level Rogue Thief allowed two turns on first round of combat
2) Use bonus action on first turn to attack with a Scimitar of Speed and deal sneak attack damage (1). Also Mark the target as per pg. 271 DMG.
3) Set up Ready Action to strike when the next person in initiative order takes their action... Strike again using your reaction for sneak attack damage (2).
4) Strike target again with the second turn during combat which is allowed as a level 17 Rogue Thief at -10 initiative order. Deal sneak attack damage (3)
5) Target moves away and allows an Opportunity Attack as per the Mark rules so it gets hit again which does not need to use the Reaction. This is another turn and therefore allows Sneak Attack damage again. (4)

Gotta love the Rogues.

Can't be done as you use two reactions in a round (steps 3 and 5) and you only get one reaction.

 

[guachi]

By this definition, a thrown weapon is a ranged weapon because it is used to attack a target at a distance.

It says they are classified in the table as either melee or ranged. Which makes sense for organizing them and displaying them. But if you assume the second sentence is a rule independent of the table, it means that any weapon used at range is a "Ranged Weapon".

It would if you applied the general rule as if it were a specific rule (which it's not). The first part of the Basic rules says specific beats general. The general rule is what you quote - melee weapons in melee range and ranged weapons at range. The specific rule of each weapon overrides this general rule (if applicable).

Hand axes have the thrown property, therefore they override the general rule previously mentioned. It doesn't make a hand axe a ranged weapon; it just makes it a melee weapon with the thrown property.

Ignore the fact there are terms such as "ranged weapon", "melee weapon", "thrown property", and "ranged attack".

I'll restate the rule like this - All weapons are either Type A or Type B (never both). You can sneak attack if the wielded weapon is Type B or has Property Q (which can apply to weapons of Type A or Type B). A hand axe is a Type A weapon and it lacks Property Q - so no sneak attack.

 

[Athinar]

Type R or Type M or Type MT or Type MR or Type IW

 

[Athinar]

My advice is to realize that Mearls is incredibly permissive with his rulings. His house rule makes perfect sense as sneak attacking with anything that is d6 isn't going to break anything. It is not, however, what the book actually says. You can follow his suggestion if you want, but don't pretend it's what the book actually says.

The problem is that multiple People do agree with me, so go from one table to the next and the rules change, there is no fun when you believe in one rule and the new DM does not

 

[Athinar]

My advice is to realize that Mearls is incredibly permissive with his rulings. His house rule makes perfect sense as sneak attacking with anything that is d6 isn't going to break anything. It is not, however, what the book actually says. You can follow his suggestion if you want, but don't pretend it's what the book actually says.

I'm sorry but I can not say how Mike plays with his "House" Rule, but doing the time of the tweet he was the D&D Team Rule Judge

Asking the New Rule Judge for the new ruling with Thrown and Sneak Attack

 

[Zinnger]

Can't be done as you use two reactions in a round (steps 3 and 5) and you only get one reaction.

CAN be done. Read DMG Pg. 271 under Mark. "The opportunity attack doesn't expend the attacker's reaction..." So, yes, the reaction is used for the Ready action and the Mark opportunity attack goes off without the need of a reaction.

 

[Athinar]

Judge Crawford said in a tweet "he is and was the only Judge for Ruling in 5.0", so I have asked him directly about the Sneak Attack and Melee Range Attack. If he says no, then No is the answer and you will not be able to throw Melee Weapons with the Thrown Property for Sneak Attack and I will then say I'm sorry to all

My Halfling Rogue has never ever thrown a Handaxe or even a Dagger, always used Short bow for range and Short Sword plus Dagger for melee

 

[Athinar]

and the only time she attacked in melee she fall without even getting an attack in, the Rats went first and took her down to zero hit points first blow (Go Range)