D&D 5E [MERGED] Various crossbow/dual-wielding threads

[Plaguescarred]

Once again, this is your adjudication.

That is just not my interpretation of the rules as written, but one of many other people as well. There is also a thread discussing this very topic at communitywizards.com and even another thread with ''101 ways to reload a handcrossbows without hands'' just for fun exercise!

Its not a universal interpretation and some people have differing opinions though.

 

[Morrus]

I've merged your various crossbow/dual-wielding threads for convenience, [MENTION=6782370]maritimo80[/MENTION]!

 

[Paraxis]

Just wanted to summarize and break down the crossbow expert feat.

Crossbow Expert
Thanks to extensive practice with the crossbow, you gain the following benefits:
>You ignore the loading quality of crossbows with which you are proficient.
The loading property is what keeps you from attacking multiple times with a ranged weapon, simple with this feat you can now attack multiple times in one turn using a crossbow you are proficient in.

>Being within 5 feet of a hostile creature doesn't impose disadvantage on your ranged attack rolls.
Simple, this lets you ignore disadvantage for being adjacent to enemies when making ranged attacks, any ranged attack including ranged spells, thrown weapons, any ranged attack.

>When you use the Attack action and attack with a one-handed weapon, you can use a bonus action to attack with a loaded hand crossbow you are holding.
This is the one that seems to be causing debate. When you take the attack action with any one-handed weapon (this can be a long sword, an unarmed strike, a javelin, another hand crossbow, or even the same hand crossbow you are about to use) you get to make an attack with a hand crossbow you are holding as a bonus action. Simple, no talk about two weapon fighting (which only deals with melee weapons attacks).

Much like the polearm master feat, crossbow master gives you a bonus action attack. Much like that feat you add you ability modifier to the damage dealt, because nothing ever says you do not do so. The only time in the entire rules of 5e you do not add your ability modifier to a damage roll is under two weapon fighting, which is limited to melee weapons.

You can fire and reload the hand crossbow multiple times using just a single hand because the rules don't talk about needing to use two hands anywhere. The weapon does not have the two handed property, the loading property doesn't mention anything about needing a free hand, the ammunition property talks about drawing ammunition is a part of the attack not a separate action.

I hope this clears things up a bit.

 

[Greg Benage]

I would like to suggest a compromise.

Crossbow Expert users: A hand crossbow in your main hand can trigger its own bonus action attack! You can make a standard attack and bonus attack with it each turn! Win!

DMs: The off-hand can't be holding anything, so the crossbow expert can reload his weapon a couple times each turn.

This compromise permits everything but the most exploitive "2 attacks with hand crossbow PLUS shield" variant, while being rather less injurious of suspension of disbelief and immersion.

Win-win.

 

[Paraxis]

I would like to suggest a compromise.

Crossbow Expert users: A hand crossbow in your main hand can trigger its own bonus action attack! You can make a standard attack and bonus attack with it each turn! Win!

DMs: The off-hand can't be holding anything, so the crossbow expert can reload his weapon a couple times each turn.

This compromise permits everything but the most exploitive "2 attacks with hand crossbow PLUS shield" variant, while being rather less injurious of suspension of disbelief and immersion.

Win-win.

It would also preclude using a melee weapon in your main hand like a rapier, and having the hand crossbow in your off hand.

The shield + hand crossbow double attack is an interesting idea and valid but not even that game breaking.

 

[Greg Benage]

It would also preclude using a melee weapon in your main hand like a rapier, and having the hand crossbow in your off hand.

No, the rapier would only preclude reloading, for wont of a free hand. We've lost the ability to compromise.

 

[Duniagdra]

I haven't read all the posts in this thread, but I'm curious on general opinion with the repeating crossbow? You can modify a hand crossbow to be a repeating hand crossbow and have one in each hand. If I recall correctly, there's also a feat that allows a light crossbow to be used one handed. If I'm right, and it's a repeating crossbow then you could have two light repeating crossbows, one in each hand. Crazy, I know, but possible isn't it? The right combo of feats can make this doable, no?

 

[aramis erak]

I haven't read all the posts in this thread, but I'm curious on general opinion with the repeating crossbow? You can modify a hand crossbow to be a repeating hand crossbow and have one in each hand. If I recall correctly, there's also a feat that allows a light crossbow to be used one handed. If I'm right, and it's a repeating crossbow then you could have two light repeating crossbows, one in each hand. Crazy, I know, but possible isn't it? The right combo of feats can make this doable, no?

In theory, one could rack it the same way one racks a lever action rifle 1-handed. Or, tuck it under the other arm, pull the string, knock the quarrel, and then, thumb on the knock, hand on the grip, bring it up. Doable, awkward, but doable.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

It would also preclude using a melee weapon in your main hand like a rapier, and having the hand crossbow in your off hand.

The shield + hand crossbow double attack is an interesting idea and valid but not even that game breaking.

debatable if it is valid. The ammunition property allows you to load and attack in one action:

Ammunition. You can use a weapon that has the
ammunition property to make a ranged attack only if
you have ammunition to fire from the weapon. Each
time you attack with the weapon, you expend one piece
of ammunition. Drawing the ammunition from a quiver,
case, or other container is part of the attack.

The crossbow expert states that the crossbow in the offhand has to be loaded before you take the bonus action to attack. So there is no way you can use the same crossbow twice.

 

[Plaguescarred]

It can if it was loaded before combat and that you draw an ammunition as part of each attack after firing one. The is the most common interpretation going for it.