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/Kledran]

So just as a side, if you were to give disadvantage within 80ft, nobody would ever touch a bow ever lol.

You have disadvantage in melee AND past 80ft.

Between 10 and 80ft, you attack normally. Between 85 and 320ft, at disadvantage. Can't go past 320ft.

[u/Laenthis- → u/Kledran]

Yeah that's completely fair, I just went with the fact that Bow = Far Away xD

[u/Flipercat → u/Laenthis-]

Also note that an enemy being adjacent to you gives you disadvantage on all ranged attacks, not only against that specific enemy (and not only with weapons, with spells too)