I've seen several people and youtubers weigh in on this and i wanted to check here too.
Using the Crossbow Expert Feat and wielding only a Hand Crossbow, is the feat designed to let the character make an attack action to fire the hand crossbow, and then shoot the hand crossbow again as a bonus action? (Presumably being allowed to add their Dex modified to the damage of both rolls since its not TWF)
Does Crossbow Expert let you fire a hand crossbow and then fire it again as a bonus action?
It does! Take a look at the feat’s third benefit. It says you can attack with a hand crossbow as a bonus action when you use the Attack action to attack with a one-handed weapon. A hand crossbow is a one-handed weapon, so it can, indeed, be used for both attacks, assuming you have a hand free to load the hand crossbow between the two attacks.
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Edit: ups... I didn't see the SagaTympana's answer before writing my post :'(
Not only that, but if this character has a feature such as Extra Attack, they can now attack multiple times with this Hand Crossbow and then also attack with it again as a Bonus Action.
Which is why everyone jumps on Sharpshooter, because suddenly your wee little d4+Dex balloons to (d4 + Dex +10)x2...then X3...etc...
That little pea shooter is dropping, in a 20 Dex build, 16-19 points with each hit and you can still stack magical effects on top of that damage.
But that goes away with the 2024 rules if you switch over to them.
Do those Feats still exist or are they different?
Not sure the official release but in the UA they got rid of the -5/+10 on Sharpshooter and Great Weapon Master. For sure that is still gone as JC said it was too little penalty for such a high bonus to damage. Not sure of how it is now.
UA GWM had the cleave BA attack on crit or reduced to zero and bonus damage once per turn equal to your PB. And con +1
UA SS had +1 Dex, no disadvantage shooting within 5 feet of enemy, no disadvantage at long range, and ignore 1/2 and 3/4 cover.
I've seen several people and youtubers weigh in on this and i wanted to check here too.
Using the Crossbow Expert Feat and wielding only a Hand Crossbow, is the feat designed to let the character make an attack action to fire the hand crossbow, and then shoot the hand crossbow again as a bonus action? (Presumably being allowed to add their Dex modified to the damage of both rolls since its not TWF)
Yes, that is 100% the intended use of the feat.
I think you're referring to this answer in the Sage Advice Compendium:
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Does Crossbow Expert let you fire a hand crossbow and then fire it again as a bonus action?
It does! Take a look at the feat’s third benefit. It says you can attack with a hand crossbow as a bonus action when you use the Attack action to attack with a one-handed weapon. A hand crossbow is a one-handed weapon, so it can, indeed, be used for both attacks, assuming you have a hand free to load the hand crossbow between the two attacks.
---
Edit: ups... I didn't see the SagaTympana's answer before writing my post :'(
Not only that, but if this character has a feature such as Extra Attack, they can now attack multiple times with this Hand Crossbow and then also attack with it again as a Bonus Action.
Which is why everyone jumps on Sharpshooter, because suddenly your wee little d4+Dex balloons to (d4 + Dex +10)x2...then X3...etc...
That little pea shooter is dropping, in a 20 Dex build, 16-19 points with each hit and you can still stack magical effects on top of that damage.
IMHO, Earthdawn is still the best fantasy realm, Shadowrun is the best Sci-Fi realm, and Dark Sun is the best D&D realm.
It's actually more, but minor quibble =)
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
-Ilyara Thundertale
But that goes away with the 2024 rules if you switch over to them.
EZD6 by DM Scotty
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397599/EZD6-Core-Rulebook?
Do those Feats still exist or are they different?
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
-Ilyara Thundertale
Not sure the official release but in the UA they got rid of the -5/+10 on Sharpshooter and Great Weapon Master. For sure that is still gone as JC said it was too little penalty for such a high bonus to damage. Not sure of how it is now.
UA GWM had the cleave BA attack on crit or reduced to zero and bonus damage once per turn equal to your PB. And con +1
UA SS had +1 Dex, no disadvantage shooting within 5 feet of enemy, no disadvantage at long range, and ignore 1/2 and 3/4 cover.
EZD6 by DM Scotty
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397599/EZD6-Core-Rulebook?
Both feats are changed in PHB 2024.