UngeheuerLich
Legend
No, it needs dex 13.
But a longbow can be combined with great weapon master. And then it is dishing real damage.
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D&D (2024) Thrown weapon and duelling fighting style.
- Thread starter UngeheuerLich
- Start date
But a longbow can be combined with great weapon master. And then it is dishing real damage.
Xeviat
Dungeon Mistress, she/her
Well that's another misread for me today. I don't like that.
UngeheuerLich
Legend
I did not like it at first too. But it prevents people from using true strike etc with big weapons if they are not at least somewhat competent anyway.
And the great weapon mastery feat fixes it for me.
Charlaquin
Goblin Queen (She/Her/Hers)
Sure, but it would also do that if the ranged heavy weapons required strength.
It’s neat that GWM works with longbows and heavy crossbows, but with the heavy property requiring 13 Dex for ranged weapons, you end up making yourself MAD to try to take advantage of that, and you miss out on the “hew” benefit.
UngeheuerLich
Legend
Yes. And dex.
Investing 13 in str is no big investment.
Being able to draw a big two handed weapon for melee is also not terrible. Your str went just up to 14.
A fighter should never have problems raising str to 13 if they plan on being in ranged combat mostly.
A paladin should have str 13 anyway.
A ranger might be a bit more under pressure. But even they can easily afford to drop con (or dex) a point or two and get str 13.
13, 17, 13, 10, 14, 8
Or
13, 17, 12, 10, 15, 8
Or
13, 16, 12, 10, 16, 8
Are good stats
ezo
Get off my lawn!
It should. Anyone who knows really anything about the reality of a longbow knows you need strength to pull these monsters and use them over and over. Longbows should add STR to damage when built for heavier pull weights. A minimum STR 13 would be very justifiable for a longbow.
But then again, yeah, "fantasy game", so who cares. What many people fail to realize in things like popular media/movies is the bows being used by characters like Legolas or Katniss or whoever are shortbows... not longbows.
fluffybunbunkittens
Hero
ezo
Get off my lawn!
Sure, "elf" and all, but the "bow in the movies" is a short bow:
THIS is not a 5-6 foot longbow.
As for the novels, I could not tell you, it has been a long time since I read the novels and in those he could easily be represented as using a longbow.
Regardless, a STR 13 requirement for longbow (heavy weapons in general) makes perfect sense. Anyone who uses such weapons regularly will be "stronger" than your average STR 10 humanoid.
fluffybunbunkittens
Hero
I just realized that halflings can use longbows now.
