I cant find what to do if you move away from someone using a ranged weapon. Do they get to hit you as a improvised weapon? Do they get to punch you?
Is anyone proficient in an Improvised Weapon attack?
Wakrob
Going by older editions, ranged weapons dont give you an opportunity attack.This is a problem ive always had with ranged weapons in DnD. I would say yes. I dont understand why someone trained with ranged weapons cant attack effectivly with their traget right next to them. there is a reason why the term Point Blank exist.
While that's not in the rules it is certainly reasonable. In my modern game I use it with firearms. If you move more than 5 feet out of cover it provokes an attack of opportunity from any enemy more than 5 feet from you, and who has LOS on you.
Because drawing a bow that fast is kind of stupid - why can't you fire at that rate all the time if you're that fast? Modern firearms would make more sense in this regard.
I'd look at the rules and see if they prohibit the bow wielder kicking at a passing target.
RAW, Phb 195. AoO are strictly melee attacks. Your DM may allow an improvised weapon attack with the bow. Improvised weapon attacks are not well prescribed by RAW but I would allow this per my reading of Phb 147. I don't think there is a definitive answer to that question, just a lot of argument. Unless you have a free hand you can't make an unarmed melee attack. It's up to your DM whether a 2H bow only uses two hands when attacking or whether it always uses two hands while equipped. It's a subject somewhat debated on this forum. Keep in mind that unless you have a level of monk you use your strength for the hit and damage roll of unarmed strikes and improvised weapons. So, even if your DM allows an attack of either form it's likely to have a negligible effect on the combat.
Opportunity attacks can't be ranged attacks. From p. 74 of the basic rules: "To make the opportunity attack, you use your reaction to make one melee attack against the provoking creature."
You can stab him with the arrow as an improvised attack or kick him in the butt as an unarmed one I guess...
Unarmed attacks are 1+Str damage. And pretty much everyone has proficency in it.
Improvised attacks are 1d4+Str damage. But you need to take tavern brawler to get proficency.
mellored wrote:
Irithil wrote:
Irithil wrote:
Also consider giving an item which has existed in previous editions. Bows that can be used as if they were Quarterstaves (for Longbows) or Clubs (or Shortbows). Make it magic or not, make it a feat or not. But they'll be proficient with it, at least!
That said, the only other options are 1d4+STR but no proficiency, or 1+STR with proficiency (or a third option of a lenient DM!). I'm pretty cool with that being the standard, to be honest!
Many monsters have a ranged weapon and a melee weapon in their possession. If you move away from an enemy who has a bow, what's to keep them from attacking you with that daggar or short sword they're carrying during the OA? Would most of you rule that they can't do that since they're holding the ranged weapon and, since it isn't their turn, they wouldn't get the incidental action of drawing the daggar for the OA?
alienux wrote:
I rather like this easy to miss bit of the equipment rules.
Ammunition.
You can use a weapon that has the ammunition property to make a ranged attack only if you have ammunition to fire from the weapon. Each time you attack with the weapon, you expend one piece of ammunition. Drawing the ammunition from a quiver, case, or other container is part of the attack. At the end of the battle, you can recover half your expended ammunition by taking a minute to search the battlefield.
If you use a weapon that has the ammunition property to make a melee attack, you treat the weapon as an improvised weapon (see “Improvised Weapons” later in the section). A sling must be loaded to deal any damage when used in this way.
All of this discussion ignores the reason that opportunity attacks are made with melee weapons. It is assumed that when you are fighting with a melee weapon, you are attempting to make attacks and defend against attacks constantly (the number of attacks per round is somewhat of an abstraction that tells you how many of your blows potentially land). The idea of an opportunity attack is that if someone doesn't withdraw carefully, but instead just turns around and retreats carelessly, they are no longer carefully parrying blows. The situation is not analagous to ranged weapon attacks. You aren't 'parrying' arrows with your sword. There is no reason why you are *more* threatened by a ranged weapon when you are adjacent than you are when you are further away (in fact, generally speaking, the reverse is true). So I don't really get where this desire is coming from except a misunderstanding of what the rules are trying to abstract.
paulstrait wrote:
OoftaMeg wrote:
While I'm not sure it makes quite as much sense with non firearms, I think that it's perfectly reasonable to state that if you end your movement outside of cover, enemies with ranged weapons that have LOS on you and are outside of 5 feet from you, may use their reaction to make an oppotunity attack on you.
Huntsman57 wrote:
I took Tavern Brawler feat partly for this very reason, opens up a world of melee options for my Crossbow wielding Ranger, and with an 18lb Heavy Crossbow there is little concern of breaking anything but noses when I bash opponenets in the face with the solid oak butt stock. The feat also put me at an 18 Str so they're gonna feal it. (Switch hitter build, 18Str, 14Dex with Archery Style to balance out the attack bonus) Also hoping to have some fun grappling opponents my wolf trips 
mellored wrote:
Undrhil wrote:
Melee weapons always add your mod (strength or dex)
• For attacks with melee weapons, use your Strength modifier for attack and damage rolls. A weapon that has the finesse property, such as a rapier, can use your Dexterity modifier instead.
Assuming of course you think an unarmed attack qualifies as a melee weapon.
"for attack and damage rolls."
Undrhil wrote:
Huntsman57 wrote:
Options:
1. If an orc is running by me (Opportunity Attack trigger), I try to smack him with crossbow butt (improvised weapon melee attack).
2. If an orc is running by me (Opportunity Attack trigger), I try to punch him (simple weapon melee attack).
I'm not sure if I'd allow reactions to load ammunition or draw a weapon, but that's my opinion.
OoftaMeg wrote:
I would think it all depends on the situation. There is no cut and dry answer because when role-playing situations so many variables exist. WHen did the target leave the Archers space? did they wait for the Archer to be in mid draw before taking off? How much space is around them, narrow tunel or open field?
Overall my point is that you have to clearly state your intent as a player and then trust the DM to judge the situation fairly to tell the best story possible.
Clutchbone wrote:
Timborama wrote:
Illithidbix wrote: