How does Crossbow Expert ignoring the Loading Property interact with the Speed Factor initiative variant?

Question

We're playing a game with the Speed Factor initiative variant, which gives bonuses and penalties to your initiative every round based on what weapons and actions you're using. Ranged, Loading weapons apply a -5 penalty.

This player is thinking of taking the Crossbow Expert feat, which allows you to ignore the Loading property on Crossbows. If you ignore the property, does it still count as a Loading weapon for other rules purposes, such as Speed Factor?

I'm inclined to say yes. Just because you ignore the property's rule doesn't mean it's not still a loading weapon.

Answer 1

Ignore the Loading Property

As you stated, the text for Crossbow Expert says

You ignore the loading property of crossbows with which you are proficient.

It does not say to ignore it in specific cases, but to generally ignore it if you are proficient.

If you are ignoring the property, then the property is not relevant for Speed Factor.

Return on Investment

Note also that the character has chosen to invest in a very limited resource (ASIs) in order to improve their initiative and crossbow speed use. It makes sense logically that ignoring the Loading property lets them fire faster, and letting them fire faster improves their Speed Factor initiative. In addition, they have significantly invested in this as opposed to taking another feat or an ASI.

Another Option - Alert Feat

If the player is looking to purely offset the -5 for the loading property (they don't have extra attack and therefore bypassing loading isn't an issue), then the Alert Feat may be an equivalent choice.

• You gain a +5 bonus to initiative.

• You can't be surprised while you are conscious.

• Other creatures don’t gain advantage on attack rolls against you as a result of being unseen by you.

Alert vs Crossbow Expert

So which is better for your player? That's going to be up to them and will matter if they have more than on attack during a turn and if they plan on using the crossbow in melee range.