I'm a little late to the party on this one, but I've thought about this also.
1) I agree with InquisitiveCoder, 5e is about good generalrulesnot edge cases. Firing a bow or throwing an axe while prone should generally be at DisAdv. Pulling the trigger on a crossbow probably not, but 5e isn't concerned with edge cases it's concerned with making good general rules and players and GMs can hash out edge cases.
2) Because 5e is about good over all rules it doesn't think about firing a crossbow as just pulling the trigger. In 5e firing a crossbow is: drawing/winching the pull, loading the bolt, aiming the weapon, and pulling the trigger. 2a) I'd think only aiming and pulling the trigger wouldn't have DisAdv, but the rest of it trying to winch or pull a crossbow then load it while lying down is going to be a pain in the butt. Keep in mind you're doing all of this in 6 seconds.
3) The shortcut is standing up from Prone is half your movement. It's simple to stand up, load/fire the crossbow, then lie back down at the end of your turn.
I'm planning a character who's a rock gnome fighter using a heavy crossbow as their primary weapon, I'm inspired by ancient Chinese warfare where they had their archers sit down and fire from their feet. Because I have proficiency it will cancel out going prone's disadvantage making it a straight roll, but I will discuss with the DM about whether or not we can home brew it. Ideally I'd love for this character to be using blackpowder weapons but I don't know if it will come up in the campaign.
I'm planning a character who's a rock gnome fighter using a heavy crossbow as their primary weapon, I'm inspired by ancient Chinese warfare where they had their archers sit down and fire from their feet. Because I have proficiency it will cancel out going prone's disadvantage making it a straight roll, but I will discuss with the DM about whether or not we can home brew it. Ideally I'd love for this character to be using blackpowder weapons but I don't know if it will come up in the campaign.
Just a heads up ... a heavy crossbow is a heavy weapon.
"Heavy. Small creatures have disadvantage on attack rolls with heavy weapons. A heavy weapon's size and bulk make it too large for a Small creature to use effectively."
Gnomes are small creatures and will ALWAYS have disadvantage when firing a heavy crossbow from any position whether they have proficiency or not.
Also, having proficiency in a weapon does not cancel any form of disadvantage for firing while prone. Proficiency adds your proficiency bonus to your to hit roll. In order to cancel disadvantage you need to have something that grants advantage on the attack roll.
Mechanically, a light crossbow will likely work better for your concept of a crossbow wielding gnome than a heavy crossbow.
I agree that disadvantage for shooting a crossbow while prone seems counterintuitive. But it is far from the only counterintuitive rule in 5e. Fire spells not being able to ignite worn or carried objects bugs me at least as much for example.
By and large I just accept that is the way the game works and play on. It is easy enough to house rule an exception for crossbows if you want to though.
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I'm a little late to the party on this one, but I've thought about this also.
1) I agree with InquisitiveCoder, 5e is about good general rules not edge cases. Firing a bow or throwing an axe while prone should generally be at DisAdv. Pulling the trigger on a crossbow probably not, but 5e isn't concerned with edge cases it's concerned with making good general rules and players and GMs can hash out edge cases.
2) Because 5e is about good over all rules it doesn't think about firing a crossbow as just pulling the trigger. In 5e firing a crossbow is: drawing/winching the pull, loading the bolt, aiming the weapon, and pulling the trigger.
2a) I'd think only aiming and pulling the trigger wouldn't have DisAdv, but the rest of it trying to winch or pull a crossbow then load it while lying down is going to be a pain in the butt. Keep in mind you're doing all of this in 6 seconds.
3) The shortcut is standing up from Prone is half your movement. It's simple to stand up, load/fire the crossbow, then lie back down at the end of your turn.
I'm planning a character who's a rock gnome fighter using a heavy crossbow as their primary weapon, I'm inspired by ancient Chinese warfare where they had their archers sit down and fire from their feet. Because I have proficiency it will cancel out going prone's disadvantage making it a straight roll, but I will discuss with the DM about whether or not we can home brew it. Ideally I'd love for this character to be using blackpowder weapons but I don't know if it will come up in the campaign.
Just a heads up ... a heavy crossbow is a heavy weapon.
"Heavy. Small creatures have disadvantage on attack rolls with heavy weapons. A heavy weapon's size and bulk make it too large for a Small creature to use effectively."
Gnomes are small creatures and will ALWAYS have disadvantage when firing a heavy crossbow from any position whether they have proficiency or not.
Also, having proficiency in a weapon does not cancel any form of disadvantage for firing while prone. Proficiency adds your proficiency bonus to your to hit roll. In order to cancel disadvantage you need to have something that grants advantage on the attack roll.
Mechanically, a light crossbow will likely work better for your concept of a crossbow wielding gnome than a heavy crossbow.
I agree that disadvantage for shooting a crossbow while prone seems counterintuitive. But it is far from the only counterintuitive rule in 5e. Fire spells not being able to ignite worn or carried objects bugs me at least as much for example.
By and large I just accept that is the way the game works and play on. It is easy enough to house rule an exception for crossbows if you want to though.