Can a Glimmering moonbow be a cross-bow?

Hi all,

Everything I'm about to write here comes from this question: is MPMB's "interpretation" legit or not?
(for those who don't know what MPMB is, it's an auto-fillable pdf file that I use to create character sheets)

So, my DM gave me permission to kit a rare magic weapon to a 2014 ranger. Being the Glimmering Moonbow one of the coolest items I could possibly think of wanting on my ranger (I mean: it shoots rainbows, you can hardly top that) I went and added it to the character sheet. so far so good, but then MPMB asked me what type of bow and offered me both bows and crossbow options. At first I thought it was an oversight but then I looked it up online and to my surprise, I couldn't find any official source material nor official adjudication (e.g. JC ruling) nor sage advice ones, regarding this issue.

So while I wait for MPMB's staff to address this "ticket" I opened on their subreddit, because it might be an oversight that must be fixed, I wanted also to double check with the community if there is someone who could provide valid source documentation (i.e. I value your opinion otherwise I wouldn't ask here, but it's not a fact: it's an opinion) that proves or disproves MPMB's interpretation of the Glimmering Moonbow's description.

while we're here, I'd also ask, based on the assumption that he crossbow thing is a legit claim:

1. does this item ignore the loading property? I do not need to load or reload it, ammo just spawns when I declare an attack, as per item's description.
2. given that it adds 1d6 rainbow (radiant) damage, spawned ammo is also rainbow damage or is it still piercing damage? I'm more inclined to assume it's the latter but I want to be sure.

Thanks!

I treat group weapons as follow;

Any bows: Shortbow, Longbow  (ex. Glimmering Moonbow)

Any crossbows: Hand Crossbow, Light Crossbow, Heavy Crossbow (ex. Starshot Crossbow)

The implementation on this site is short- and long- bows only, though that doesn't guarantee it's correct.

Nonetheless, as far as I can tell, bows and crossbows are intended to be different weapon types. I found no magic item type that was supposed to be for both to do a textual comparison, and the fact that every magic "bow" I checked doesn't allow crossbows strongly suggests that is the intent.

Quote from Isidoro_Ficarazzi >>

while we're here, I'd also ask, based on the assumption that he crossbow thing is a legit claim:

1. does this item ignore the loading property? I do not need to load or reload it, ammo just spawns when I declare an attack, as per item's description.
2. given that it adds 1d6 rainbow (radiant) damage, spawned ammo is also rainbow damage or is it still piercing damage? I'm more inclined to assume it's the latter but I want to be sure.

 1: The fact that the loading property is not addressed is a sign that the magic item type is not supposed to apply to crossbows. If it is supposed to contain crossbows, then the loading property is still applicable, which makes sense -- even if you don't need a bolt, you still have to crank the crossbow to fire it. (You can't just pull the trigger and say "pew! pew!")

2: Nothing in the description says the created ammunition is any different from regular ammunition, so it isn't. You do part piercing and part radiant.

While the text is ambiguous, there's no pressing reason why this couldn't be a crossbow rather than a traditional bow, though as noted this doesn't override loading rules or alter the basic damage type of the weapon.

To me the fact that there are magic weapons (any bow) and (any crossbow) is a clear indication that they're mutually exclusive.

The Magic Item also says: "This silver-and-black bow..." or "... While wielding this magic bow ..."

Regarding the loading property, to ignore it, I think the text should be similar to Repeating Shot: "... it ignores the Loading property if it has that property."

I would say that the glimmering moonbow, while not stated in the description, is probably just a light crossbow. 

My reason for saying this is because to agree with another user, it would have repeating shot. To answer your second question, I would say it is probably piercing, but ask you dm if there would be any house rules on it, for example piercing on one side of the d4 and radiant on the other.

It remind me of this previous thread  https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/dungeons-dragons-discussion/rules-game-mechanics/148273-dragonwing-bow-as-crossbow?

Quote from Plaguescarred >>

To me the fact that there are magic weapons (any bow) and (any crossbow) is a clear indication that they're mutually exclusive.

 That doesn't follow -- if crossbows are bows, then "any bow" includes crossbows, but "any crossbow" doesn't include bows.

I think they're intended to be separate, but it's not clearly specified either way. However, if "bow" includes "crossbow", then there's no way to say "just bow bows, not crossbows".

It'd just say Magic Weapon (longbow or shortbow) in that case. Like when they only want specific types of swords for something.

I believe the intent is for this one to be only for shortbows and longbows, while Starshot Crossbow is instead for the crossbows.

They seem to have moved away from potentially ambiguous weapon groupings in more recent books (like the 2024 Crossbow Expert explicitly listing all three types of crossbows) which I think is a good move.

The item description for the Glimmering Moonbow on this site specifically lists the applicable weapons as the Shortbow and Longbow only. No crossbows.

Quote from jl8e >>

Quote from Plaguescarred >>

To me the fact that there are magic weapons (any bow) and (any crossbow) is a clear indication that they're mutually exclusive.

 That doesn't follow -- if crossbows are bows, then "any bow" includes crossbows, but "any crossbow" doesn't include bows.

I think they're intended to be separate, but it's not clearly specified either way. However, if "bow" includes "crossbow", then there's no way to say "just bow bows, not crossbows".

 But i don't think crossbows are bows as i already explained.

Rule-wise there is no weapons group type like in previous editions, all magic Weapons say about type is:

Weapons

A magic weapon is typically a magical version of a weapon from “Equipment”. Some magic weapons specify the type of weapon they are in their descriptions, such as a Longsword or Longbow. If no weapon type is specified, you may choose the type or determine it randomly.