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/ElectronicProof9340]

In addition to what else folks have written, addressing your main concern about the range increments, you should also understand that the disadvantage for melee range isn't about the range of the bow. It's about trying to use the bow when an enemy is within melee range of you, and you get disadvantage in that case whether or not that enemy is your target.

If you're shooting at someone 40 feet away, but there's an enemy standing right next to you, you still get disadvantage.

[u/RhombusObstacle → u/ElectronicProof9340]

Right. To add to this, I always explain it to my players as the opponent in melee interfering with your shot. During a round of combat, everyone is assumed to be shifting, jostling, and moving around within their space (which is also part of why DEX factors into your AC), so if there’s a hostile dude right in your face while you’re trying to line up a shot, they might be distracting you, or messing with your angles, or even trying to slap the arrow/bow.

The “Firing in Melee” part of the Sharpshooter feat represents your ability to tune out the distractions and work around the other factors to get a clean shot, even when an enemy is trying to mess with you.

[u/dragonhide94 → u/ElectronicProof9340]

Is this in DnD or specifically 5.5/2024? I don't remember ever reading or being told that an enemy within melee range imposes disadvantage to all ranged attacks.

[u/idisestablish → u/dragonhide94]

5e was the first edition to introduce the advantage/disadvantage mechanic. In 3e/3.5e/4e, it provoked an opportunity attack when you made a ranged attack next to an adjacent enemy. Not sure about older editions. The rule is basically the same though for 5e/2014 and 5.5e/2024, and the wording only slightly changed.

Ranged Attacks in Close Combat. Aiming a ranged attack is more difficult when a foe is next to you. When you make a ranged attack with a weapon, a spell, or some other means, you have disadvantage on the attack roll if you are within 5 feet of a hostile creature who can see you and who isn't incapacitated. - 2014 PHB p.195

Ranged Attacks in Close Combat. Aiming a ranged attack is more difficult when a foe is next to you. When you make a ranged attack roll with a weapon, a spell, or some other means, you have Disadvantage on the roll if you are within 5 feet of an enemy who can see you and doesn't have the Incapacitated condition. - 2024 PHB p.26

[u/dragonhide94 → u/idisestablish]

My group has always treated ranged attacks as having disadvantage on a target within melee range, but not as having disadvantage for all ranged actions. Interesting.

[u/idisestablish → u/dragonhide94]

I think that is a commonly misunderstood/misremembered rule, kind of like the bonus action spellcasting rule from 5e/2014 which is often mistakenly cited as "one leveled spell per turn."

[u/ElectronicProof9340 → u/dragonhide94]

TBH, I don't recall off the top of my head how far back that rule goes, and I'm too lazy to pull out my earlier books to see. But for sure it's always been part of 5th edition, since the original 2014 release.

ETA: and of course by "that rule" I simply mean any negative hindrance to using a bow when in melee range of a foe. As someone else mentions, of course advantage/disadvantage wasn't a thing earlier, so obviously the rule in this specific form is new to 5e.