Similar Thrown weapons (Trident, Javelin) have the Attack Type of Melee rather than the Ranged that the Net has. The first two behave correctly in that they use the Strength modifier while the Net uses the Dexterity modifier. Dart are Attack Type Ranged and have the Thrown property, but they also have Fineness so using the Dexterity modifier is appropriate.
I can't find "Attack Type" as anything that exists in D&D, only Properties. It appears that D&D Beyond is using the Attack Type instead of the Properties to determine which stat modifier is used for Attack Bonuses.
OK... I'm confused, and now of the opinion that the Net, by RAW, SHOULD use Dex...
The Net is a Martial Ranged Weapon.
The Thrown property says: "Thrown. If a weapon has the thrown property, you can throw the weapon to make a ranged attack. If the weapon is a melee weapon, you use the same ability modifier for that attack roll and damage roll that you would use for a melee attack with the weapon."
The weapon is Not a melee weapon, so you can't use STR...
So, the Thrown property on the Net does Nothing.
Just remove the Thrown property... it's a NULL as far as the rules are concerned.
Ability Modifier. The ability modifier used for a melee weapon attack is Strength, and the ability modifier used for a ranged weapon attack is Dexterity. Weapons that have the finesse or thrown property break this rule.
The important point being, Ranged weapons use DEX. Which is why the Net uses DEX, regardless of the Thrown property.
The Net is a thrown ranged weapon. Not all “thrown” weapons are melee weapons. That is why you always have disadvantage on attacks made with a net. If the Target is within regular range then you have an enemy within 5ft and therefore have disadvantage on the attack. If the target is further than 5 feet away from you then it is in long range and you therefore have disadvantage on the attack roll.
"If the Target is within regular range then you have an enemy within 5ft and therefore have disadvantage on the attack. If the target is further than 5 feet away from you then it is in long range and you therefore have disadvantage on the attack roll."
Yeah... IMHO that's dumb... I homerule to Range (10/15) so you're disadvantaged at 5, Normal at 10, and Disadvantaged at 15 and beyond.
The Net's description should include more explanation since it's such an edge case.
I just wanted to add that the Crossbow Expert feat removes disadvantage from standing near hostile creatures while making any ranged attacks, should this be important to you.
Hi, all;
The Net is a Thrown weapon, not a Ranged weapon and should use Strength for the Attack and Damage Modifiers.
I just added a net to one of my characters with a High Strength and mediocre Dexterity, and it's using the DEX modifier, not the STR.
This appears to be a bug... Is it a known issue? When might it get corrected?
I think I see the difference...
Similar Thrown weapons (Trident, Javelin) have the Attack Type of Melee rather than the Ranged that the Net has.
The first two behave correctly in that they use the Strength modifier while the Net uses the Dexterity modifier.
Dart are Attack Type Ranged and have the Thrown property, but they also have Fineness so using the Dexterity modifier is appropriate.
I can't find "Attack Type" as anything that exists in D&D, only Properties. It appears that D&D Beyond is using the Attack Type instead of the Properties to determine which stat modifier is used for Attack Bonuses.
OK... I'm confused, and now of the opinion that the Net, by RAW, SHOULD use Dex...
The Net is a Martial Ranged Weapon.
The Thrown property says: "Thrown. If a weapon has the thrown property, you can throw the weapon to make a ranged attack. If the weapon is a melee weapon, you use the same ability modifier for that attack roll and damage roll that you would use for a melee attack with the weapon."
The weapon is Not a melee weapon, so you can't use STR...
So, the Thrown property on the Net does Nothing.
Just remove the Thrown property... it's a NULL as far as the rules are concerned.
See this section: https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/basic-rules/combat#AttackRolls
The important point being, Ranged weapons use DEX. Which is why the Net uses DEX, regardless of the Thrown property.
Helpful rewriter of Japanese->English translation and delver into software codebases (she/e/they)
The Net is a thrown ranged weapon. Not all “thrown” weapons are melee weapons. That is why you always have disadvantage on attacks made with a net. If the Target is within regular range then you have an enemy within 5ft and therefore have disadvantage on the attack. If the target is further than 5 feet away from you then it is in long range and you therefore have disadvantage on the attack roll.
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"If the Target is within regular range then you have an enemy within 5ft and therefore have disadvantage on the attack. If the target is further than 5 feet away from you then it is in long range and you therefore have disadvantage on the attack roll."
Yeah... IMHO that's dumb... I homerule to Range (10/15) so you're disadvantaged at 5, Normal at 10, and Disadvantaged at 15 and beyond.
The Net's description should include more explanation since it's such an edge case.
You can houserule it however you want, but that’s not RAW.
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Thanks for unnecessarily restating the obvious.
I just wanted to add that the Crossbow Expert feat removes disadvantage from standing near hostile creatures while making any ranged attacks, should this be important to you.
And the sharpshooter feat removes disadvantage for using the net at long range.
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