Thank you for making my day. I was just reading this thread in the hopes it answered a very different question about people house ruling ranged attacks from prone, when I stumbled into the back and forth, not quite arguing, and then the bad math. Then I saw your post and had a genuine chuckle. Take care and keep up the great work.
Sometimes a special ability or spell tells you that you have advantage or disadvantage on an ability check, a saving throw, or an attack roll. When that happens, you roll a second d20 when you make the roll. Use the higher of the two rolls if you have advantage, and use the lower roll if you have disadvantage. For example, if you have disadvantage and roll a 17 and a 5, you use the 5. If you instead have advantage and roll those numbers, you use the 17.
If multiple situations affect a roll and each one grants advantage or imposes disadvantage on it, you don't roll more than one additional d20. If two favorable situations grant advantage, for example, you still roll only one additional d20.
If circumstances cause a roll to have both advantage and disadvantage, you are considered to have neither of them, and you roll one d20. This is true even if multiple circumstances impose disadvantage and only one grants advantage or vice versa. In such a situation, you have neither advantage nor disadvantage.
When you have advantage or disadvantage and something in the game, such as the halfling's Lucky trait, lets you reroll or replace the d20, you can reroll or replace only one of the dice. You choose which one. For example, if a halfling has advantage or disadvantage on an ability check and rolls a 1 and a 13, the halfling could use the Lucky trait to reroll the 1.
You usually gain advantage or disadvantage through the use of special abilities, actions, or spells. Inspiration can also give a character advantage. The DM can also decide that circumstances influence a roll in one direction or the other and grant advantage or impose disadvantage as a result.
Sometimes a D20 Test is modified by Advantage or Disadvantage. Advantage reflects the positive circumstances surrounding a d20 roll, while Disadvantage reflects negative circumstances.
Now I might be missing something, but this is the only information i seem to find on Advantage. I don't see anything dictating 5' but that it's not out there.
My big thing I'm trying to find out about is If I have a reach weapon and I am attacking a creature that is standing next to one of my party members, would i not have advantage on that melee attack? I get not having ranged attacks at advantage in this scenario but if I am front and center with my pike it seems more of a favorable condition. But ultimately it just seems like that's up to the DM.
Sometimes a special ability or spell tells you that you have advantage or disadvantage on an ability check, a saving throw, or an attack roll. When that happens, you roll a second d20 when you make the roll. Use the higher of the two rolls if you have advantage, and use the lower roll if you have disadvantage. For example, if you have disadvantage and roll a 17 and a 5, you use the 5. If you instead have advantage and roll those numbers, you use the 17.
If multiple situations affect a roll and each one grants advantage or imposes disadvantage on it, you don't roll more than one additional d20. If two favorable situations grant advantage, for example, you still roll only one additional d20.
If circumstances cause a roll to have both advantage and disadvantage, you are considered to have neither of them, and you roll one d20. This is true even if multiple circumstances impose disadvantage and only one grants advantage or vice versa. In such a situation, you have neither advantage nor disadvantage.
When you have advantage or disadvantage and something in the game, such as the halfling's Lucky trait, lets you reroll or replace the d20, you can reroll or replace only one of the dice. You choose which one. For example, if a halfling has advantage or disadvantage on an ability check and rolls a 1 and a 13, the halfling could use the Lucky trait to reroll the 1.
You usually gain advantage or disadvantage through the use of special abilities, actions, or spells. Inspiration can also give a character advantage. The DM can also decide that circumstances influence a roll in one direction or the other and grant advantage or impose disadvantage as a result.
Sometimes a D20 Test is modified by Advantage or Disadvantage. Advantage reflects the positive circumstances surrounding a d20 roll, while Disadvantage reflects negative circumstances.
Now I might be missing something, but this is the only information i seem to find on Advantage. I don't see anything dictating 5' but that it's not out there.
My big thing I'm trying to find out about is If I have a reach weapon and I am attacking a creature that is standing next to one of my party members, would i not have advantage on that melee attack? I get not having ranged attacks at advantage in this scenario but if I am front and center with my pike it seems more of a favorable condition. But ultimately it just seems like that's up to the DM.
You do not generally get advantage on an attack roll just because an ally is standing near the target, no. Some monsters with a feature called Pack Tactics do get this, but it's not a general rule.
You do not generally get advantage on an attack roll just because an ally is standing near the target, no. Some monsters with a feature called Pack Tactics do get this, but it's not a general rule.
This appears to have been dropped from the 2024 books. I wonder if we will see it return in a later book.
I see, the way i learned is you got the advantage if it were 2 on 1 (friendly) within melee reach and the opposite if it was 2 on 1 (unfriendly). And of course nulled out if 2 on 2 etc etc... but then it boiled down to whether there was some other type of thing giving advantage such as a spell, feat, etc etc.
But I've only been playing for a few years and with a pretty set group of people, so it's interesting to learn how others handle the game mechs
I see, the way i learned is you got the advantage if it were 2 on 1 (friendly) within melee reach and the opposite if it was 2 on 1 (unfriendly). And of course nulled out if 2 on 2 etc etc... but then it boiled down to whether there was some other type of thing giving advantage such as a spell, feat, etc etc.
But I've only been playing for a few years and with a pretty set group of people, so it's interesting to learn how others handle the game mechs
I think a lot of people don’t care for this sort of thing because it makes it too easy to get advantage and makes other ways of getting advantage feel less impactful, particularly since advantage from multiple sources doesn’t stack. It’s also harder for people to visualize if you’re not playing on a physical grid map. I think this is why it was only an optional rule in the original 5e books and removed entirely from the new ones.
I think a lot of people don’t care for this sort of thing because it makes it too easy to get advantage and makes other ways of getting advantage feel less impactful, particularly since advantage from multiple sources doesn’t stack. It’s also harder for people to visualize if you’re not playing on a physical grid map. I think this is why it was only an optional rule in the original 5e books and removed entirely from the new ones.
On the other hand, positioning feels less impactful both in terms of surrounding an enemy and preventing the enemy from surrounding you.
I see, the way i learned is you got the advantage if it were 2 on 1 (friendly) within melee reach and the opposite if it was 2 on 1 (unfriendly). And of course nulled out if 2 on 2 etc etc... but then it boiled down to whether there was some other type of thing giving advantage such as a spell, feat, etc etc.
But I've only been playing for a few years and with a pretty set group of people, so it's interesting to learn how others handle the game mechs
I think a lot of people don’t care for this sort of thing because it makes it too easy to get advantage and makes other ways of getting advantage feel less impactful, particularly since advantage from multiple sources doesn’t stack. It’s also harder for people to visualize if you’re not playing on a physical grid map. I think this is why it was only an optional rule in the original 5e books and removed entirely from the new ones.
That sounds like a really big red flag? Like why would u punish people who are melee/martials/non-full casters which heavily rely on feats for stuff? Like yes there are subclasses that can help them but u are still limiting ur player, why? For what? Bc u cant dm? U just push them to minmax even more and make the fighter even more restricted? Yeah, i would leave if i hear this.
Well you forget that both longbows and heavy crossbows (typically what ranged fighters/rangers end up using) have the heavy trait, so it would be like trying to make a attack with a secondary weapon while holding a greatsword or maul. Most of the time the DM would give you disadvantage on this, I seen people cast spells while using a two handed weapon but that is mostly due to the fact your just waving the empty hand or a spell focus/component around.
Also its alot faster and easier just to run up, shoot with your really good weapon rather than your crummy back up weapon
Old discussion, but fwiw, if you're wielding a longbow correctly, you hold the weapon in your offhand, load the arrow with your primary hand, draw the string to your ear on your primary hand side and release. Your primary hand is now free to draw a sword and swing if desired, while the bow remains sitting idly in your offhand. No need to stow the weapon or drop it on the ground. A heavy crossbow would be similar. Your offhand would be clutching the forward grip (or whatever it's called) to support the front end of the crossbow, while your primary hand loads the bolt and squeezes the trigger. Afterward, primary hand can drop the shoulder stock to draw a sword and swing, while the crossbow is held in the offhand. This is a bit trickier to do than with a longbow simply because, with a crossbow, the whole weapon is on the primary side, while with a longbow, only the top end is on the primary side (the bow gets tipped slightly to the primary side to keep the arrow in place). But it's definitely still doable.
Old discussion, but fwiw, if you're wielding a longbow correctly, you hold the weapon in your offhand, load the arrow with your primary hand, draw the string to your ear on your primary hand side and release. Your primary hand is now free to draw a sword and swing if desired, while the bow remains sitting idly in your offhand. No need to stow the weapon or drop it on the ground. A heavy crossbow would be similar. Your offhand would be clutching the forward grip (or whatever it's called) to support the front end of the crossbow, while your primary hand loads the bolt and squeezes the trigger. Afterward, primary hand can drop the shoulder stock to draw a sword and swing, while the crossbow is held in the offhand. This is a bit trickier to do than with a longbow simply because, with a crossbow, the whole weapon is on the primary side, while with a longbow, only the top end is on the primary side (the bow gets tipped slightly to the primary side to keep the arrow in place). But it's definitely still doable.
It's not really clear whether unequipping a weapon is required to switch to holding it with one hand as opposed to wielding it, ready to fire. There is nothing explicitly one way or the other so it should be fine. As usual, discuss it with your DM.
That said, there is no primary hand or secondary hand in 5e, so which hand you are using for what doesn't really matter.
Also, it is worth noting that dropping and stowing/sheathing your weapon are both the same effort. Picking your weapon back up is also the same effort as drawing it, but if it is on the ground, it is an unattended item, can be picked up by someone else, and/or can be knocked away from you (or vice versa) making picking it back up challenging. Always stow/sheath your weapon unless you have a really good reason to do otherwise.
Thank you for making my day.
I was just reading this thread in the hopes it answered a very different question about people house ruling ranged attacks from prone, when I stumbled into the back and forth, not quite arguing, and then the bad math. Then I saw your post and had a genuine chuckle.
Take care and keep up the great work.
Advantage and Disadvantage
Sometimes a special ability or spell tells you that you have advantage or disadvantage on an ability check, a saving throw, or an attack roll. When that happens, you roll a second d20 when you make the roll. Use the higher of the two rolls if you have advantage, and use the lower roll if you have disadvantage. For example, if you have disadvantage and roll a 17 and a 5, you use the 5. If you instead have advantage and roll those numbers, you use the 17.
If multiple situations affect a roll and each one grants advantage or imposes disadvantage on it, you don't roll more than one additional d20. If two favorable situations grant advantage, for example, you still roll only one additional d20.
If circumstances cause a roll to have both advantage and disadvantage, you are considered to have neither of them, and you roll one d20. This is true even if multiple circumstances impose disadvantage and only one grants advantage or vice versa. In such a situation, you have neither advantage nor disadvantage.
When you have advantage or disadvantage and something in the game, such as the halfling's Lucky trait, lets you reroll or replace the d20, you can reroll or replace only one of the dice. You choose which one. For example, if a halfling has advantage or disadvantage on an ability check and rolls a 1 and a 13, the halfling could use the Lucky trait to reroll the 1.
You usually gain advantage or disadvantage through the use of special abilities, actions, or spells. Inspiration can also give a character advantage. The DM can also decide that circumstances influence a roll in one direction or the other and grant advantage or impose disadvantage as a result.
Sometimes a D20 Test is modified by Advantage or Disadvantage. Advantage reflects the positive circumstances surrounding a d20 roll, while Disadvantage reflects negative circumstances.
Now I might be missing something, but this is the only information i seem to find on Advantage. I don't see anything dictating 5' but that it's not out there.
My big thing I'm trying to find out about is If I have a reach weapon and I am attacking a creature that is standing next to one of my party members, would i not have advantage on that melee attack? I get not having ranged attacks at advantage in this scenario but if I am front and center with my pike it seems more of a favorable condition. But ultimately it just seems like that's up to the DM.
You do not generally get advantage on an attack roll just because an ally is standing near the target, no. Some monsters with a feature called Pack Tactics do get this, but it's not a general rule.
pronouns: he/she/they
This appears to have been dropped from the 2024 books. I wonder if we will see it return in a later book.
How to add Tooltips.
My houserulings.
Yes, Flanking, Facing and some Combat Options are not in the 2024 core rulebooks.
I see, the way i learned is you got the advantage if it were 2 on 1 (friendly) within melee reach and the opposite if it was 2 on 1 (unfriendly). And of course nulled out if 2 on 2 etc etc... but then it boiled down to whether there was some other type of thing giving advantage such as a spell, feat, etc etc.
But I've only been playing for a few years and with a pretty set group of people, so it's interesting to learn how others handle the game mechs
I think a lot of people don’t care for this sort of thing because it makes it too easy to get advantage and makes other ways of getting advantage feel less impactful, particularly since advantage from multiple sources doesn’t stack. It’s also harder for people to visualize if you’re not playing on a physical grid map. I think this is why it was only an optional rule in the original 5e books and removed entirely from the new ones.
pronouns: he/she/they
On the other hand, positioning feels less impactful both in terms of surrounding an enemy and preventing the enemy from surrounding you.
Edit: grammar.
How to add Tooltips.
My houserulings.
It's a good point. I agree with you.
That sounds like a really big red flag? Like why would u punish people who are melee/martials/non-full casters which heavily rely on feats for stuff? Like yes there are subclasses that can help them but u are still limiting ur player, why? For what? Bc u cant dm? U just push them to minmax even more and make the fighter even more restricted? Yeah, i would leave if i hear this.
👇
Old discussion, but fwiw, if you're wielding a longbow correctly, you hold the weapon in your offhand, load the arrow with your primary hand, draw the string to your ear on your primary hand side and release. Your primary hand is now free to draw a sword and swing if desired, while the bow remains sitting idly in your offhand. No need to stow the weapon or drop it on the ground. A heavy crossbow would be similar. Your offhand would be clutching the forward grip (or whatever it's called) to support the front end of the crossbow, while your primary hand loads the bolt and squeezes the trigger. Afterward, primary hand can drop the shoulder stock to draw a sword and swing, while the crossbow is held in the offhand. This is a bit trickier to do than with a longbow simply because, with a crossbow, the whole weapon is on the primary side, while with a longbow, only the top end is on the primary side (the bow gets tipped slightly to the primary side to keep the arrow in place). But it's definitely still doable.
It's not really clear whether unequipping a weapon is required to switch to holding it with one hand as opposed to wielding it, ready to fire. There is nothing explicitly one way or the other so it should be fine. As usual, discuss it with your DM.
That said, there is no primary hand or secondary hand in 5e, so which hand you are using for what doesn't really matter.
Also, it is worth noting that dropping and stowing/sheathing your weapon are both the same effort. Picking your weapon back up is also the same effort as drawing it, but if it is on the ground, it is an unattended item, can be picked up by someone else, and/or can be knocked away from you (or vice versa) making picking it back up challenging. Always stow/sheath your weapon unless you have a really good reason to do otherwise.
How to add Tooltips.
My houserulings.