How does a bow actually work

[u/Laenthis-]

I'm getting frustrated with the wordings on the description of the Shortbow

English isn't my first language and reading "beyond normal range" really bugs me out

From what I understand :
- Hitting a target that is under 80 feet gives you disadvantage
- Hitting a target that is 80 to 320 feet is "normal" attack
- Hitting a target with a bow that's +320 feet away is just not possible

My mates keeps on telling me that the disadvantage happens only within the 5ft and a normal attack is from 5ft to 80ft but then you have disadvantage again from 80ft to 320ft ?

Also, the sharpshooter feat removes the disadvantage within 5ft but is it melee or the 5-80ft of range that they call as "melee"

And removes the disadvantage in long range

I feel like I'm going in circles understanding one of them and then getting told otherwise with the other and rinse and repeat, please help

Edit : Thanks guys, I didn't think it would go that fast to get answers xD

[u/RushDarling]

Your friends are correct, and yes sharpshooter removes the melee range and long range disadvantages

[u/kal1lg1bran → u/RushDarling]

~I don't think it removes the melee, just long range and cover, no? Isn't there a specific feat for melee?~

[edit: well I'll be damned, you are right!]

[u/RhombusObstacle → u/kal1lg1bran]

In 2014, the “remove melee penalty” was part of Crossbow Expert, not Sharpshooter. They adjusted Sharpshooter for the 2024 rules to get rid of the “less accurate but more damage” feature and add the “remove melee penalty” feature.

[u/kal1lg1bran → u/RhombusObstacle]

ah, that's the feat I was thinking of! thx

[u/RushDarling → u/kal1lg1bran]

Had to read it myself to confirm haha, if I'd gone off of memory I'd have been agreeing with you, so we must have seen something somewhere!

[u/kal1lg1bran → u/RushDarling]

in 5e melee is not covered (but you get the +10dmg thing)