I created a (mostly) copy of crossbow expert as for flavor I wanted PCs to be able to use a shortbow rather than a hand crossbow and still have access to the feat.
The damage is the same, the main difference is the range, and the difference in the feat is that as shortbow doesn't have the loading property the first feat feature was pointless. I added the ability to use it for reactions if you already had it out. I don't think that really breaks anything as the damage is low anyway.
Thoughts? Feedback?
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Personally I would not worry about the loss of loading feature as it needs to be there for the hand crossbows to actually be able to make use of the other feat features, or even to use crossbows with extra attacks. Which are all things a short bow and long bow get automatically. Essentially it makes it a 'ribbon' ability.
Giving the ability to make opportunity attacks effectively makes the shortbow both a ranged and melee weapon for all circumstances (essentially removing all downsides). So for me that seems a little too good on top of the other features. That said I wouldn't call it exceptionally overpowered as weapons with the thrown property can do what the feat would allow the bow to do already (abet thrown is much shorter ranges).
Thanks for the feedback. Re the opportunity attack.
In my thinking without the feat combat would look like this:
Enemy closes to 0 feet, leaves. I pull out my shortsword, slash him 1d6. Don't have to drop the bow as I can use the sword one handed and just hold the bow. I can free action stash the sword, and carry on with the bow.
With the feat:
Enemy closes to 0 feet, leaves. I shoot him as he flees, 1d6 damage. No real advantage other than flavor.
Am I missing something? (Also I tend to handwave the drawing and stowing weapons unless it's a shield or two handed situation in my campaigns)
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Thanks for the feedback. Re the opportunity attack.
In my thinking without the feat combat would look like this:
Enemy closes to 0 feet, leaves. I pull out my shortsword, slash him 1d6. Don't have to drop the bow as I can use the sword one handed and just hold the bow. I can free action stash the sword, and carry on with the bow.
With the feat:
Enemy closes to 0 feet, leaves. I shoot him as he flees, 1d6 damage. No real advantage other than flavor.
Am I missing something? (Also I tend to handwave the drawing and stowing weapons unless it's a shield or two handed situation in my campaigns)
I don't think you could draw a weapon to make an opportunity attack - you have to be "ready to go" to do so. That said, I suppose you could always say "I draw my shortsword" at the end of your regular turn and it would be the same.
That said, I think the feat is pretty balanced. It probably does make the shortbow both a melee and a ranged weapon, but your trading an ASI for it, so that seems fair to me.
This seems like a pretty good feat. I'd allow it as is. You might want to expand it to work with all bows though. Probably not relevant to your character if you only use a shortbow, but crossbow expert works with all crossbows, might as well make this bow expert.
This seems like a pretty good feat. I'd allow it as is. You might want to expand it to work with all bows though. Probably not relevant to your character if you only use a shortbow, but crossbow expert works with all crossbows, might as well make this bow expert.
Well, almost. The bonus action attack aspect of Crossbow Expert only works with hand crossbows.
This seems like a pretty good feat. I'd allow it as is. You might want to expand it to work with all bows though. Probably not relevant to your character if you only use a shortbow, but crossbow expert works with all crossbows, might as well make this bow expert.
The reason I didn't make it all bows was so that it would be on par with a hand-crossbow (damage wise). Too many Legoli running around as it is. :D
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https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/feats/42519-shortbow-expert
I created a (mostly) copy of crossbow expert as for flavor I wanted PCs to be able to use a shortbow rather than a hand crossbow and still have access to the feat.
The damage is the same, the main difference is the range, and the difference in the feat is that as shortbow doesn't have the loading property the first feat feature was pointless. I added the ability to use it for reactions if you already had it out. I don't think that really breaks anything as the damage is low anyway.
Thoughts? Feedback?
Playtesting Fugare Draconis, an epic tale of adventure, loss, and redemption
Personally I would not worry about the loss of loading feature as it needs to be there for the hand crossbows to actually be able to make use of the other feat features, or even to use crossbows with extra attacks. Which are all things a short bow and long bow get automatically. Essentially it makes it a 'ribbon' ability.
Giving the ability to make opportunity attacks effectively makes the shortbow both a ranged and melee weapon for all circumstances (essentially removing all downsides). So for me that seems a little too good on top of the other features. That said I wouldn't call it exceptionally overpowered as weapons with the thrown property can do what the feat would allow the bow to do already (abet thrown is much shorter ranges).
- Loswaith
Thanks for the feedback. Re the opportunity attack.
In my thinking without the feat combat would look like this:
Enemy closes to 0 feet, leaves. I pull out my shortsword, slash him 1d6. Don't have to drop the bow as I can use the sword one handed and just hold the bow. I can free action stash the sword, and carry on with the bow.
With the feat:
Enemy closes to 0 feet, leaves. I shoot him as he flees, 1d6 damage. No real advantage other than flavor.
Am I missing something? (Also I tend to handwave the drawing and stowing weapons unless it's a shield or two handed situation in my campaigns)
Playtesting Fugare Draconis, an epic tale of adventure, loss, and redemption
I don't think you could draw a weapon to make an opportunity attack - you have to be "ready to go" to do so. That said, I suppose you could always say "I draw my shortsword" at the end of your regular turn and it would be the same.
That said, I think the feat is pretty balanced. It probably does make the shortbow both a melee and a ranged weapon, but your trading an ASI for it, so that seems fair to me.
This seems like a pretty good feat. I'd allow it as is. You might want to expand it to work with all bows though. Probably not relevant to your character if you only use a shortbow, but crossbow expert works with all crossbows, might as well make this bow expert.
Well, almost. The bonus action attack aspect of Crossbow Expert only works with hand crossbows.
The reason I didn't make it all bows was so that it would be on par with a hand-crossbow (damage wise). Too many Legoli running around as it is. :D
Playtesting Fugare Draconis, an epic tale of adventure, loss, and redemption