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There is a strong RAI argument for Sharpshooter’s third point to apply to melee thrown weapons—and I have indicated on this thread I likely would allow Sharpshooter to apply. RAI allows you to merge “ranged weapon attack” and “attack with a ranged weapon” into less confusing terms.
I disagree. Everything I've read in Sage Advice and in various authors' writings leads me to believe that the designers intended that "attack with a ranged weapon" and "ranged weapon attack" be two different things.
I do wish they'd used different terms (for example, "held weapon strike" for "melee weapon attack").
Personally, I think they should have extended it to three groups - melee weapons, thrown weapons (dart, throwing knife, throwing hatchet, javelin, etc) and launcher weapons (bow, crossbow).
Man...I came to this thread looking for like...how to flavor the ranged weapon attack part because I assumed it was a given that this would intentionally synergize with sharpshooter. I did not anticipate learning this much about how to read the rulebook. I'm going to say it synergizes with all 3 points of sharpshooter because that is way cooler for the character. If the player wants to loose the ASI for +1 to hit AND take -5 to make their 1d4 +4 actually worth hitting I say that's still balanced. I am not qualified to have this opinion.
That being said...How you you guys flavor the "ranged weapon attack" throwing knife made of...hard thoughts? Why would the character need to "throw" psionic energy. I kinda just want to shoot energy bolts from my finger guns.
Man...I came to this thread looking for like...how to flavor the ranged weapon attack part because I assumed it was a given that this would intentionally synergize with sharpshooter. I did not anticipate learning this much about how to read the rulebook. I'm going to say it synergizes with all 3 points of sharpshooter because that is way cooler for the character. If the player wants to loose the ASI for +1 to hit AND take -5 to make their 1d4 +4 actually worth hitting I say that's still balanced. I am not qualified to have this opinion.
Probably worth pointing out that you're posting in a thread that's over two years old, and the 2024 rules have made some changes that have affected some of the issues discussed in it in the interim. The new version of the Sharpshooter feat uses more straightforward language that makes it clearer that its ability to bypass cover applies to ranged attacks with Psychic Blades (because it says "ranged attacks with weapons") while its removal of disadvantage from attacking at long range does not (because it says "attack rolls with Ranged weapons", which the Psychic Blades aren't).
The third benefit from the 2014 version — the option to take an attack penalty in exchange for a damage bonus — was removed and replaced with the removal of disadvantage on attacks with ranged weapons for being within 5 feet of an enemy. This also doesn't apply to Psychic Blades (since they're not a ranged weapon).
That's the RAW answer, anyway. In practice, house-ruling it to work with all three benefits is totally fine; it's rarely going to make much of a difference in actual play and it's more fun.
Honestly didn't think there would be anyone to read my post with the thread being so old. This is a fun forum to justify some homebrewing for new DMs that don't know all the ins-and-outs of the rule language yet.
That being said...How you you guys flavor the "ranged weapon attack" throwing knife made of...hard thoughts? Why would the character need to "throw" psionic energy. I kinda just want to shoot energy bolts from my finger guns.
Just ask your DM to let you do finger guns for the ranged version. I don't see that being an issue.
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Thank you very much for indulging my desire for a debate on the topic. Good gaming to you.
I disagree. Everything I've read in Sage Advice and in various authors' writings leads me to believe that the designers intended that "attack with a ranged weapon" and "ranged weapon attack" be two different things.
I do wish they'd used different terms (for example, "held weapon strike" for "melee weapon attack").
Personally, I think they should have extended it to three groups - melee weapons, thrown weapons (dart, throwing knife, throwing hatchet, javelin, etc) and launcher weapons (bow, crossbow).
Man...I came to this thread looking for like...how to flavor the ranged weapon attack part because I assumed it was a given that this would intentionally synergize with sharpshooter. I did not anticipate learning this much about how to read the rulebook. I'm going to say it synergizes with all 3 points of sharpshooter because that is way cooler for the character. If the player wants to loose the ASI for +1 to hit AND take -5 to make their 1d4 +4 actually worth hitting I say that's still balanced. I am not qualified to have this opinion.
That being said...How you you guys flavor the "ranged weapon attack" throwing knife made of...hard thoughts? Why would the character need to "throw" psionic energy. I kinda just want to shoot energy bolts from my finger guns.
Probably worth pointing out that you're posting in a thread that's over two years old, and the 2024 rules have made some changes that have affected some of the issues discussed in it in the interim. The new version of the Sharpshooter feat uses more straightforward language that makes it clearer that its ability to bypass cover applies to ranged attacks with Psychic Blades (because it says "ranged attacks with weapons") while its removal of disadvantage from attacking at long range does not (because it says "attack rolls with Ranged weapons", which the Psychic Blades aren't).
The third benefit from the 2014 version — the option to take an attack penalty in exchange for a damage bonus — was removed and replaced with the removal of disadvantage on attacks with ranged weapons for being within 5 feet of an enemy. This also doesn't apply to Psychic Blades (since they're not a ranged weapon).
That's the RAW answer, anyway. In practice, house-ruling it to work with all three benefits is totally fine; it's rarely going to make much of a difference in actual play and it's more fun.
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Honestly didn't think there would be anyone to read my post with the thread being so old. This is a fun forum to justify some homebrewing for new DMs that don't know all the ins-and-outs of the rule language yet.
Just ask your DM to let you do finger guns for the ranged version. I don't see that being an issue.