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The following refers to the Heavy crossbow p.145 and Inappropriately sized weapons p. 144
Medium sized character. Heavy Crossbow up-sized to Large (2d8 damage) with a -2 penalty on attack rolls. Assuming we are using 2 hands to shoot, character is proficient with crossbows.
For the purposes of up-sizing a medium weapon to large, is the Heavy Crossbow a 2-handed weapon? I've seen several posts on these forums that suggest using a Large Heavy Crossbow.
Since ranged weapons are not in the category for light, one-handed or 2-handed weapons for the purposes of using a different size category of weapon, do I assume they can't be used? Or do I go by the text description of the weapon?
I assume that the heavy crossbow is a 2 handed weapon- it can't be used by a creature one size category smaller (medium character using a Large Heavy Crossbow). If I assume that the Heavy Crossbow is a 1-handed weapon I would have to shoot the Large version with both hands incurring a -6 (-4 for using the crossbow 1-handed as a medium, and -2 for the large size category).
Is there an official ruling on this somewhere?
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| 1 person marked this as FAQ candidate. |
The description of the heavy crossbow answers your questions.
Crossbow, Heavy: You draw a heavy crossbow back by turning a small winch. Loading a heavy crossbow is a full-round action that provokes attacks of opportunity.
Normally, operating a heavy crossbow requires two hands. However, you can shoot, but not load, a heavy crossbow with one hand at a –4 penalty on attack rolls. You can shoot a heavy crossbow with each hand, but you take a penalty on attack rolls as if attacking with two one-handed weapons. This penalty is cumulative with the penalty for one-handed firing.
If the weapon is inappropriately-sized, those penalties also apply.
Thus, a Medium-sized creature using both hands could shoot, but not load, a Large Heavy Crossbow with a -6 penalty to the attack roll.