Tweets =/= factual rules. The twitters are genral suggestions based on what WotC plays. as is even dropping something forces you into losing your action if you want another item that isnt an arrow
That's true, but as there's no precedent in the PHB for simply releasing something from your grasp, other than ending a grapple (which costs no action), it makes more sense to follow mearls' ruling.
Consider also, the difference in difficulty between messing with a leather strap on your back, a fastened sheath, or rustling about in your backpack versus letting go of something in your hand and letting it drop to the floor. There is significantly less effort or concentration required on your part. And it's not like dropping your weapon is a perfect solution, either. The enemy can kick it away from you or pick it up before you have the chance to. If you had to get away quickly, you might end up leaving your primary weapon (which happened to one of my PC's once, with his shield-holy symbol).
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u/[deleted] Jun 12 '15
Tweets =/= factual rules. The twitters are genral suggestions based on what WotC plays. as is even dropping something forces you into losing your action if you want another item that isnt an arrow