So I built a Gloom Stalker(7)/Arcane Archer (3) for my upcoming campaign. I took Crossbow expert for the no disadvantage at melee range (I have bolt caster, so reloading isn't an issue). So how many times can I fire, especially with action surge. I think on a normal round I can shoot, Crossbow Expert reload, shoot again as a bonus action (and/or shoot one arrow as a reaction). So with action surge can I shoot 3 times total or 4? Every thread I've found around google talks about the hand crossbows. Or is it I can normally fire one shot, use my bonus action for a spell or something else and 1 extra at the start with dread ambusher and 1 with action surge for a total of 4 the first round, 1 every subsequent round?
I hope I my question make sense. I guess how many times can I shoot per round normally, with dread ambusher, and action surge?
The are a few points that I would need clarified before I can answer for your specific situation.
In your title you say you have a Heavy Crossbow but in your post you say you have a Bolt Caster. Unless I am just totally off base I need to know what weapon or weapons you are using.
If it is a Bolt Caster I didn't find anything about it on DnD Beyond. What I found with a quick Google search is something that requires "30 seconds of continuous effort" to reload. So if you are using a homebrew or other weapon I would need the full description of the weapon and how it works as well as what weapon properties it has.
With Extra Attack, you'd get two attacks when you take the Attack action on your turn. Normally with a Heavy Crossbow you'd only get one attack per action no matter what, but with the Crossbow Expert feat that restriction is gone, letting you make both your attacks. With Action Surge, you'd be able to take an additional Attack action on your turn, upping your count to four attacks. If it's the first turn of combat, Dread Ambusher gives you one additional attack when you take the Attack action. Dread Ambusher is not limited to once per turn, so if you used Action Surge on that turn, it would apply to both Attack actions, upping your attack count to six. The Bonus Action attack mentioned in the Crossbow Expert feat would not apply, as per the wording: "When you use the Attack action and attack with a one-handed weapon, you can use a bonus action to attack with a hand crossbow you are holding." As for your Reaction, you can't just spend your Reaction, it has to be triggered by something. For making an attack, that's most often an Opportunity Attack, but those are melee only, you can't make Opportunity Attacks with ranged weapons. So, to sum up:
Extra Attack & Crossbow Expert: 2 attacks per Attack action
Dread Ambusher: +1 attack per Attack action IF it's your first turn in combat
Action Surge: +1 Attack action on your turn, once per Short Rest(technically you can use it twice per Short Rest when you reach Level 17 in Fighter, but you're got 7 Ranger levels, so the highest Fighter level you could reach is 13)
Ok, so I think it was a homebrew of the DM. It was labeled as uncommon so I assumed it was a weapon in the game. Here's the text "You have a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this magic weapon. This weapon can use but does not require ammunition. Its reloading constraints can be met via magical power word." The magic words basically let me shoot fire, thunder, or poison shots.
Sorry I wasn't clear. Yeah I meant reaction as an opportunity attack since the feat doesn't impose disadvantage in melee range. This is a relatively short campaign so I don't believe we'll level up. Thank you for the explanation, it's greatly appreciated!!
Sorry I wasn't clear. Yeah I meant reaction as an opportunity attack since the feat doesn't impose disadvantage in melee range. This is a relatively short campaign so I don't believe we'll level up. Thank you for the explanation, it's greatly appreciated!!
Even if you don't have disadvantage at melee range, Opportunity Attacks can only be made with melee weapons, since they trigger when someone leaves your melee reach.
"You can make an opportunity attack when a hostile creature that you can see moves out of your reach. To make the opportunity attack, you use your reaction to make one melee attack against the provoking creature. The attack occurs right before the creature leaves your reach."
So I built a Gloom Stalker(7)/Arcane Archer (3) for my upcoming campaign. I took Crossbow expert for the no disadvantage at melee range (I have bolt caster, so reloading isn't an issue). So how many times can I fire, especially with action surge. I think on a normal round I can shoot, Crossbow Expert reload, shoot again as a bonus action (and/or shoot one arrow as a reaction). So with action surge can I shoot 3 times total or 4? Every thread I've found around google talks about the hand crossbows. Or is it I can normally fire one shot, use my bonus action for a spell or something else and 1 extra at the start with dread ambusher and 1 with action surge for a total of 4 the first round, 1 every subsequent round?
I hope I my question make sense. I guess how many times can I shoot per round normally, with dread ambusher, and action surge?
Thanks for any advice!!
The are a few points that I would need clarified before I can answer for your specific situation.
In your title you say you have a Heavy Crossbow but in your post you say you have a Bolt Caster. Unless I am just totally off base I need to know what weapon or weapons you are using.
If it is a Bolt Caster I didn't find anything about it on DnD Beyond. What I found with a quick Google search is something that requires "30 seconds of continuous effort" to reload. So if you are using a homebrew or other weapon I would need the full description of the weapon and how it works as well as what weapon properties it has.
With Extra Attack, you'd get two attacks when you take the Attack action on your turn. Normally with a Heavy Crossbow you'd only get one attack per action no matter what, but with the Crossbow Expert feat that restriction is gone, letting you make both your attacks. With Action Surge, you'd be able to take an additional Attack action on your turn, upping your count to four attacks. If it's the first turn of combat, Dread Ambusher gives you one additional attack when you take the Attack action. Dread Ambusher is not limited to once per turn, so if you used Action Surge on that turn, it would apply to both Attack actions, upping your attack count to six. The Bonus Action attack mentioned in the Crossbow Expert feat would not apply, as per the wording: "When you use the Attack action and attack with a one-handed weapon, you can use a bonus action to attack with a hand crossbow you are holding." As for your Reaction, you can't just spend your Reaction, it has to be triggered by something. For making an attack, that's most often an Opportunity Attack, but those are melee only, you can't make Opportunity Attacks with ranged weapons. So, to sum up:
Extra Attack & Crossbow Expert: 2 attacks per Attack action
Dread Ambusher: +1 attack per Attack action IF it's your first turn in combat
Action Surge: +1 Attack action on your turn, once per Short Rest(technically you can use it twice per Short Rest when you reach Level 17 in Fighter, but you're got 7 Ranger levels, so the highest Fighter level you could reach is 13)
Ok, so I think it was a homebrew of the DM. It was labeled as uncommon so I assumed it was a weapon in the game. Here's the text "You have a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this magic weapon. This weapon can use but does not require ammunition. Its reloading constraints can be met via magical power word." The magic words basically let me shoot fire, thunder, or poison shots.
Sorry I wasn't clear. Yeah I meant reaction as an opportunity attack since the feat doesn't impose disadvantage in melee range. This is a relatively short campaign so I don't believe we'll level up. Thank you for the explanation, it's greatly appreciated!!
Even if you don't have disadvantage at melee range, Opportunity Attacks can only be made with melee weapons, since they trigger when someone leaves your melee reach.
"You can make an opportunity attack when a hostile creature that you can see moves out of your reach. To make the opportunity attack, you use your reaction to make one melee attack against the provoking creature. The attack occurs right before the creature leaves your reach."
Oh I forgot. I normally have war caster. Thanks!
War Caster has no bearing on making Opportunity Attacks with weapons.