If nothing else, it would be up to the DM. I would rule that making a melee attack with a ranged weapon makes it an improved weapon and thus doesn't count for sharp shooter, the same if you were to throw the longbow at somebody. Appling sharpshooter to a melee attack of any kind seems like it would be done in bad faith and while the RAW can be argued, it seems pretty clear to me the RAI.
Sharp shooter does specify that you have to be proficient with the weapon and using a bow as a melee weapon makes it an improvised weapon which most of the time you wont have proficiency with, unless you take an additional feat to be proficient with it IE Tavern Brawler. At that point you have at least three feats working together to make this possible. As much damage as that is potentially, it takes a lot to get working.
This is actually not a rule - when you throw a non-thrown melee weapon or club someone in melee with a ranged weapon, no rule in the game causes you to lose proficiency. I think this popular misconception comes from the fact that you're not proficient in general improvised weapons - e.g. if you throw a fork at someone, there's no way to have proficiency outside of that feat, because forks aren't simple or martial weapons (or firearms!). But if you're proficient in a weapon and then make that weapon improvised, no rule in the game causes you to lose proficiency.
Because they are assumed to be - and presented as - mutually exclusive categories. If you're using something as an improvised weapon, you are not using it as the martial weapon you have proficiency with. It's ridiculous to assume that training to shoot a bow includes the training to use it as a melee weapon when it is explicitly not a melee weapon. You do not have proficiency because it is not effectively the weapon you have proficiency in anymore, it is an improvised weapon.
Because they are assumed to be - and presented as - mutually exclusive categories. If you're using something as an improvised weapon, you are not using it as the martial weapon you have proficiency with. It's ridiculous to assume that training to shoot a bow includes the training to use it as a melee weapon when it is explicitly not a melee weapon. You do not have proficiency because it is not effectively the weapon you have proficiency in anymore, it is an improvised weapon.
I'm not saying this isn't a good house rule. I'm only saying there's a widespread belief it's RAW, and it isn't. RAW, training in a longsword includes training in throwing the longsword.
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If nothing else, it would be up to the DM. I would rule that making a melee attack with a ranged weapon makes it an improved weapon and thus doesn't count for sharp shooter, the same if you were to throw the longbow at somebody. Appling sharpshooter to a melee attack of any kind seems like it would be done in bad faith and while the RAW can be argued, it seems pretty clear to me the RAI.
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Because they are assumed to be - and presented as - mutually exclusive categories. If you're using something as an improvised weapon, you are not using it as the martial weapon you have proficiency with. It's ridiculous to assume that training to shoot a bow includes the training to use it as a melee weapon when it is explicitly not a melee weapon. You do not have proficiency because it is not effectively the weapon you have proficiency in anymore, it is an improvised weapon.
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(Artificer) Swordmage | Glasswright | (Barbarian) Path of the Savage Embrace
(Bard) College of Dance | (Fighter) Warlord | Cannoneer
(Monk) Way of the Elements | (Ranger) Blade Dancer
(Rogue) DaggerMaster | Inquisitor | (Sorcerer) Riftwalker | Spellfist
(Warlock) The Swarm
I'm not saying this isn't a good house rule. I'm only saying there's a widespread belief it's RAW, and it isn't. RAW, training in a longsword includes training in throwing the longsword.