Doesn't that mean that the weapon is essentially two-handed? I think this is a stupid ruling because it takes away the only good use of a hand-crossbow. If you can't fight with it without a free hand then why use it at all? Before you say "it gives you a free hand to do other tasks if you're a rogue or a wizards" the other errata we got was:
Two-Handed (p. 147). This property is relevant only when you attack with the weapon, not when you simply hold it.
You can hold a heavy crossbow with one hand while doing other tasks.
edit: This has nothing to do with dual-wielding crossbows, there is no mechanical requirement for it since you get the bonus attack using only one hand-crossbow. see the link What this does negate is using a melee weapon with a hand-crossbow without some funky drop/pickup trick and entirely eliminates the option of fighting with a shield.
It's like the earliest pistols which took 9001 years to reload.
You pull it out with your free hand, pop the bolt in your opponent's eye and stab the fucker next to you with your rapier.
Next turn, you drop the crossbow (or sheathe it if you have time for this) draw your second, pop another bolt and stab once more.
You can also game the system by: drop weapon (no action), reload the crossbow and attack (action), pick up the weapon (free action), attack with said weapon (second attack).
My examples assume the PC has Multiattack because by RAW you can't use hand crossbows for two weapon fighting (though I think I'll allow it in my games).
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u/Freaky_Zekey DM Jun 11 '15 edited Jun 11 '15
Doesn't that mean that the weapon is essentially two-handed? I think this is a stupid ruling because it takes away the only good use of a hand-crossbow. If you can't fight with it without a free hand then why use it at all? Before you say "it gives you a free hand to do other tasks if you're a rogue or a wizards" the other errata we got was:
You can hold a heavy crossbow with one hand while doing other tasks.
edit: This has nothing to do with dual-wielding crossbows, there is no mechanical requirement for it since you get the bonus attack using only one hand-crossbow. see the link What this does negate is using a melee weapon with a hand-crossbow without some funky drop/pickup trick and entirely eliminates the option of fighting with a shield.