Hello,

I'm running into some problem with Weapon Mastery. I'm relatively fresh DM and we just transitioned to PH 2024, and Rogue in my game was using longbows thanks to half-elf traits. In new PH Half-elf doesn't seem to have this trait though, and so he wanted to pick Weapon Mastery in Longbows to suplement for that change. It doesn't add proficiency though. Is this intended? I'm a bit confused, so sorry if this question is stupid or sth, but please help :D 

Thanks!

Well, I’m not sure where a half elf is getting longbow weapon proficiency from in the first place, but weapon masteries are a new mechanic introduced in ‘24 that add additional effects to weapon attacks. I want to say adding the PB with weapon attacks is still covered under “proficiency”, but they might have changed the term to “training”. Regardless, Mastery is not what you want.

It’s not part of the standard half-elf, but it is part of the variant wood half-elf (should be “half-wood elf,” but we won’t go there):

In 2024 half elves as a species you can pick stop existing - you can still make one but you pick either the elf traits or human traits for them, then if you pick elven traits. Then you get your weapon proficiencies from your background and class. The guide background grants a short bow as equipment so you should be able to claim proficiency with bows from it. Weaponmastery assumes you already have proficiency with the weapon so it doesn’t grant it. Since you are the DM I see no problem in you telling him that the Shortbow from guide or rogue allows him to to also use a  long bow - it’s not RAW but since he was using it before it shouldn’t make the game unplayable. They get proficiency and so they can select weapon mastery for the bow as one of their masteries. Note - the Shortbow gets vex giving advantage until the end of your next turn, slow only slows their speed by 10’ this turn. Unless they regularly are firing arrows beyond 80’ the rogue may well want to stick to the Shortbow anyway.