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

[Ebony Dragon]

In what way is any of this a problem or nonsense?

The fantasy of the rogue being a character who stabs people in the back with a dagger or who uses small weapons to fight with speed and accuracy is *severely* outclassed by the archer rogue who just shoots a shortbow. Why would anyone ever play a melee rogue character in 5E? It is a horrible idea because of how easy and safe it is to sneak attack with ranged weapons.

This is the problem.

 

[BoldItalic]

The fantasy of the rogue being a character who stabs people in the back with a dagger or who uses small weapons to fight with speed and accuracy is *severely* outclassed by the archer rogue who just shoots a shortbow. Why would anyone ever play a melee rogue character in 5E? It is a horrible idea because of how easy and safe it is to sneak attack with ranged weapons.

This is the problem.

With a shortbow, you can normally only make one attack on your turn and it does 1d6 damage. Plus, you need a supply of arrows.

With a pair of shortswords, you can normally make two attacks and each does 1d6 damage.

That's why rogues go melee. That, and flavour. This is a role-playing game, after all, not a wargame.

 

[Paraxis]

Pretty much what [MENTION=6777052]BoldItalic[/MENTION] said, with cunning action disengage or mobility dodging in and out of combat is pretty easy, if using cunning action a rapier gives you a d8 attack, if going with mobility feat the bonus action d6 off hand short sword attack is another chance to hit and score sneak attack.

Plus rogues with short bows is a thing, look at Haley Starshine from Order of the Stick web comic as a great example.

 

[Greenstone.Walker]

Ballista - out to 120 feet
Cannon - out to 600 feet
Mangonel - out to 200 feet
Trebuchet - out to 300 feet

The description for Sneak Attack says "you know how to strike subtly
and exploit a foe’s distraction."

I just don't see "subtly" and "siege weapon" going together…

 

[Thyrwyn]

As addressed in the Siege Weapons thread, Siege Weapons are neither Ranged Weapons, nor do the have the Finesse Quality, so no Sneak Attack. Some of them are listed as being capable of making a Ranged Weapon Attack, but that does not make them Ranged Weapons. See the Entry for Orc (MM p. 246) RE: Javalins - Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack. Yet they are listed as Melee Weapons in the PHB.

 

[jgsugden]

Why be a melee rogue? Because it is easier to get three attacks in during a round (on three different turns) and sneak attack three times with a melee weapon than it is to get three different ranged attacks in and sneak three times (on three different turns) in the same round.

Example: In a game using the optional Mark rules in the PHB, a rogue with a scimitar of speed can use a bonus to make an attack on their turn and then use their action to ready an attack on another turn. If their mark target provokes an OA, they get to make that attack without using their reaction and then their ready action can trigger allowing for the third attack on yet another turn.

How many ways do you see for a rogue to make ranged sneak attacks off their turn without being granted an attack by an ally?

 

[neobolts]

The description for Sneak Attack says "you know how to strike subtly
and exploit a foe’s distraction."

I just don't see "subtly" and "siege weapon" going together…

And yet you wouldn't expect to be struck by a trebuchet while out walking your dog either. BOOM! Assassin!

 

[Warmaster Horus]

Why be a melee rogue? Because it is easier to get three attacks in during a round (on three different turns) and sneak attack three times with a melee weapon than it is to get three different ranged attacks in and sneak three times (on three different turns) in the same round.

Example: In a game using the optional Mark rules in the PHB, a rogue with a scimitar of speed can use a bonus to make an attack on their turn and then use their action to ready an attack on another turn. If their mark target provokes an OA, they get to make that attack without using their reaction and then their ready action can trigger allowing for the third attack on yet another turn.

How many ways do you see for a rogue to make ranged sneak attacks off their turn without being granted an attack by an ally?

Melee rogues get hit as well as hit themselves. If I'm playing a rogue in melee I'm making one Sneak Attack strike and then using Cunning Action to Disengage the heck out of there. The melee furball is nowhere to be when you have d8 hit dice and studded leather armor.

 

[Jefe Bergenstein]

The description for Sneak Attack says "you know how to strike subtly
and exploit a foe’s distraction."

I just don't see "subtly" and "siege weapon" going together…

I do, on the other hand, see sneak attack, siege weapon, and hilariously awesome going together. Who is expecting to be hit by a cow flung from a catapult?!

 

[Jefe Bergenstein]

The fantasy of the rogue being a character who stabs people in the back with a dagger or who uses small weapons to fight with speed and accuracy is *severely* outclassed by the archer rogue who just shoots a shortbow. Why would anyone ever play a melee rogue character in 5E? It is a horrible idea because of how easy and safe it is to sneak attack with ranged weapons.

This is the problem.

The extra attack is good insurance. The dual wielder gets an extra attempt to deal sneak attack damage compared to the bow rogue's single shot. Plus extra opportunity attacks, particularly if you can leverage something like Dissonant Whispers. An out of turn attack is quite nice to get an extra sneak attack in. A level dip in fighter or 2 in ranger gets the dual wield fighting style.

20 Dex with Studded Leather and a Dual Wielder feat is AC 18 isnt super squishy, but you are more exposed to risk than the ranged guy. However given the potential to exceed his damage, I think its fair.