Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 RubenRybnikk Nov 16, 2014 7:15:16	I am somewhat new to D&D and have a questions regarding hand crossbows. Can you dual wield them? It would seem that you can't. If that is the case, what is the benefit of them over a regular crossbow or bow?
#2 mellored Nov 16, 2014 7:58:41	There's a big debate over this. i would allow it, and also allow crossbow + shield. Some people think you need a free hand to reload it, which would make it a bit pointless.
#3 OoftaMeg Nov 16, 2014 9:04:37	Without the use of feats, two weapon fighting is limited to light melee weapons.  With two weapon fighting you can take a bonus action to attack with your off-hand weapon (you add your normal proficiency bonus to attack, you do not add your ability modifier to damage).  If the weapon also has the thrown property you can throw both.  A strict reading of RAW says you can only draw one weapon per turn.     So without feats you can dual-throw handaxes or daggers but not dual-wield hand crossbows.   With the Crossbow Expert feat you can fire a loaded hand crossbow as part of your attack as a bonus action.   However, the debate boils down to whether or not you can reload a hand crossbow when you have a hand crossbow in the other hand.  It really comes down to DM discretion, whether you believe the word "loaded" means anything, whether you can load after firing, etc, etc, etc.   So ultimately ask your DM before you take the Crossbow Expert feat and see what they think.
#4 jonathonhawke Nov 16, 2014 10:55:46	Without the use of feats, two weapon fighting that grants a mechanical benefit is limited to light melee weapons.  Nothing in the rules prevents a character from wielding a weapon in each hand, but it grants him no additional attacks unless a specific rule is invoked (such as Two-Weapon Fighting).
#5 Ahglock Nov 16, 2014 11:16:37	mellored wrote:
(Reply to #5) FrogReaver	Ahglock wrote:
#7 Jay_Ibero_911 Nov 16, 2014 12:08:37	FrogReaver wrote:
#8 Zardnaar Nov 16, 2014 22:19:18	There is also no real point to dual wielding crossbows even with the crossbow expert feat as the off hand attack and the extra shot both require a bonus action. In fact you are better off not dual wielding and just use the extra shot as RAW you do not get to add dex to damage with the off hand weapon unless you have the dual wield style. And then you woudl be better off with the archery style anyway.
#9 jonathonhawke Nov 16, 2014 22:52:15	Zard, dual-wielding hand crossbows with the Crossbow Expert feat has absolutely nothing to do with the two-weapon fighting rule. Two-Weapon fighting allows a bonus attack when using two light melee weapons, and disallows the ability bonus to damage on the bonus attack. Crossbow Expert allows a bonus attack when using a one-handed weapon and a "loaded" hand crossbow in your hand, and follows the general rule that adds ability bonus to damage.
#10 CFK Nov 17, 2014 5:08:45	RubenRybnikk wrote:
#11 Timborama Nov 17, 2014 5:49:06	Long story short, before this thread ALSO becomes 3+ pages of back-and-forth:   Talk to your DM about it. See what there stance on the feat is, in general, as well as if they believe you cannot reload a weapon without a free hand.   If they think it's too strong, maybe try to make a compromise ("Hey, if I take this feat, I promise not to ALSO take Sharpshooter, and/or be an assassin). If they think you need a free hand to reload it (because "realism") then maybe ask if you can either shoot with the same hand crossbow twice, but with another empty hand, or if you can "shift" your weapon into your other hand and use your now free hand to reload it (either for free, or using your "object interaction" action).