It doesn't really specify, but I don't think "dropping" your bow would use your 1 free INTERACTING WITH OBJECTS AROUND YOU. If you drop it, you then have to go pick it up later, but it's safer if you stow it.
Yeah I've always wondered that. The only thing that'd change is I'd be able to "switch" weapons the same turn. But that's only useful if I want to have an opportunity attack open with my sword. Taking 2 turns to switch weapons doesn't seem terrible when the free action can be used whenever.
My group has always interpreted it as stowing requires an action. Dropping it on the ground is free.
It doesn't make sense that I can shoot a bow twice then carefully strap it to my back and also then draw my sword. But dropping the first weapon and then drawing sword as part of the move then yes.
Probably a clarification that is always good to tweet to Jeremy Crawford to see how RAI.
My group has always interpreted it as stowing requires an action. Dropping it on the ground is free.
It doesn't make sense that I can shoot a bow twice then carefully strap it to my back and also then draw my sword. But dropping the first weapon and then drawing sword as part of the move then yes.
Probably a clarification that is always good to tweet to Jeremy Crawford to see how RAI.
Sorce, read through INTERACTING WITH OBJECTS AROUND YOU in the link darkwonders posted.
A player gets 1 "free" object interaction a turn. If they want to interact with a 2nd object that will cost them an Action. The exception is the Rogue: Thief who can do it as a Bonus Action.
This means a Player can draw a weapon and attack in a single turn.
A Player could attack and then stow a weapon.
But you would have to do these on different turns. (Caveat being the Rogue: Thief)
My group has always interpreted it as stowing requires an action. Dropping it on the ground is free.
It doesn't make sense that I can shoot a bow twice then carefully strap it to my back and also then draw my sword. But dropping the first weapon and then drawing sword as part of the move then yes.
Probably a clarification that is always good to tweet to Jeremy Crawford to see how RAI.
I think we're all in agreement. Switching from one weapon to another while still having both weapons on your person would require a full action - Free action to store one, and the main action to equip the 2nd.
I was just curious since bladesong requires you to have a 1 handed weapon to work. So I could attack range, then store the weapon, prep bladesong to have the extra AC until my next turn and then grab my rapier the following turn with my free action.
Technically speaking there is nothing preventing you to draw your one hand melee weapon while holding your bow with your offhand. You can't use your bow (or if your melee weapon is versatile you can't use it two handed) but there is nothing against holding something in your offhand otherwise a feat or class ability specifies it. For example most human (or anyone with no dark vision) would need their offhand to hold torches in dark dungeons anyway unless magical light is provided someway.
My group has always interpreted it as stowing requires an action. Dropping it on the ground is free.
It doesn't make sense that I can shoot a bow twice then carefully strap it to my back and also then draw my sword. But dropping the first weapon and then drawing sword as part of the move then yes.
Probably a clarification that is always good to tweet to Jeremy Crawford to see how RAI.
Apologies, I know this post has old balls at this point, but I would like to piggyback off the topic.
My group just started playing for the first time and we are having an argument about switching weapons in combat.
I am a Gnome-Ranger with Two-Weapon Fighting.
Here is an example of three turns that I think are allowed, but my group doesn't.
Turn 1 - I use my bow and arrow. Then, a monster engages with me. Turn 2 - Since I don't want to roll disadvantage with my bow, I would use my free interaction to pull a sword instead of an arrow and engage in melee with that one sword. Ex, my bow stays in left hand and my right unsheathes and uses the sword. Turn 3 - Assuming monster is no longer engaged with me, I then would have to sheathe the sword and give up my action, if I wanted to go back to bow and arrow on my next turn.
Turn 3, you can sheathe as your one free draw/sheathe interaction without preventing you from firing with the bow using your action. Drawing an arrow as part of an attack with an Ammunition is even free-er than other free object interactions- otherwise, you'd never be able to make more than one attack per round with such a weapon.
Otherwise, yeah, all of that is fine. Two-Handed weapons, such as a bow, require two hands to wield (i.e., make an attack with), but that doesn't mean that they require two hands to hold while you aren't using them to make an attack. Carrying a Longbow in one hand in no way interferes with your ability to hold and wield a one-handed weapon like a Longsword in the other, or cast spells requiring a free hand, or whatever.
Based on other activities in combat, would the following scenario be legal?
As a Bladesinger:
Action- Use my bow to make an attack.
Free Action - Store my bow
Bonus action - Activate bladesong.
Then on my following turn, I can draw my 1 handed weapon and continue with combat as I see fit.
Yes, it follows the rules.
It doesn't really specify, but I don't think "dropping" your bow would use your 1 free INTERACTING WITH OBJECTS AROUND YOU. If you drop it, you then have to go pick it up later, but it's safer if you stow it.
Yeah I've always wondered that. The only thing that'd change is I'd be able to "switch" weapons the same turn. But that's only useful if I want to have an opportunity attack open with my sword. Taking 2 turns to switch weapons doesn't seem terrible when the free action can be used whenever.
My group has always interpreted it as stowing requires an action. Dropping it on the ground is free.
It doesn't make sense that I can shoot a bow twice then carefully strap it to my back and also then draw my sword. But dropping the first weapon and then drawing sword as part of the move then yes.
Probably a clarification that is always good to tweet to Jeremy Crawford to see how RAI.
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I rule this way, as long as the Chatacter had the weapon out at the start of his/her turn.
Technically speaking there is nothing preventing you to draw your one hand melee weapon while holding your bow with your offhand. You can't use your bow (or if your melee weapon is versatile you can't use it two handed) but there is nothing against holding something in your offhand otherwise a feat or class ability specifies it. For example most human (or anyone with no dark vision) would need their offhand to hold torches in dark dungeons anyway unless magical light is provided someway.
There you go.
Apologies, I know this post has old balls at this point, but I would like to piggyback off the topic.
My group just started playing for the first time and we are having an argument about switching weapons in combat.
I am a Gnome-Ranger with Two-Weapon Fighting.
Here is an example of three turns that I think are allowed, but my group doesn't.
Turn 1 - I use my bow and arrow.
Then, a monster engages with me.
Turn 2 - Since I don't want to roll disadvantage with my bow, I would use my free interaction to pull a sword instead of an arrow and engage in melee with that one sword.
Ex, my bow stays in left hand and my right unsheathes and uses the sword.
Turn 3 - Assuming monster is no longer engaged with me, I then would have to sheathe the sword and give up my action, if I wanted to go back to bow and arrow on my next turn.
Am I wrong or are they jerks? Thanks.
Turn 3, you can sheathe as your one free draw/sheathe interaction without preventing you from firing with the bow using your action. Drawing an arrow as part of an attack with an Ammunition is even free-er than other free object interactions- otherwise, you'd never be able to make more than one attack per round with such a weapon.
Otherwise, yeah, all of that is fine. Two-Handed weapons, such as a bow, require two hands to wield (i.e., make an attack with), but that doesn't mean that they require two hands to hold while you aren't using them to make an attack. Carrying a Longbow in one hand in no way interferes with your ability to hold and wield a one-handed weapon like a Longsword in the other, or cast spells requiring a free hand, or whatever.
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I'm going to make this way harder than it needs to be.