I'm playing as a fairy ranger in the next game I'm in. I can't use a longbow because I'm a fairy, and therefore small. Can I trade it for a shortbow before the game starts?
That's pretty much all I need to know for now. Sorry if this is a duplicate.
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2\$\begingroup\$ Is it an organized play that has to strictly follow rules? Or is it a home game? \$\endgroup\$– MołotCommented Aug 21 at 0:15
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5\$\begingroup\$ @GuybrushMcKenzie Or, lean into it and seek out other sources of disadvantage that provide you some benefit. Fighting while under darkness, fog cloud, or at long range helps keep you safe and your attacks can't get any worse than they already are. \$\endgroup\$– KirtCommented Aug 21 at 1:54
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5\$\begingroup\$ What did your DM say? \$\endgroup\$– enkryptorCommented Aug 21 at 7:12
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4\$\begingroup\$ Just a detail for those unfamiliar: creatures that are Small in size can't use weapons with the Heavy key word. Longbows are Heavy. \$\endgroup\$– Jason_c_oCommented Aug 21 at 13:26
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4\$\begingroup\$ Heavy Creatures that are Small or Tiny have disadvantage on attack rolls with heavy weapons. A heavy weapon's size and bulk make it too large for a Small or Tiny creature to use effectively. \$\endgroup\$– KirtCommented Aug 21 at 15:11
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This is easy to solve, and you shouldn't have any problem making this work:
you receive equipment based on a combination of your class and background. Alternatively, you can start with a number of gold pieces based on your class... [table follows] (PHB p.143, "Starting Equipment," emphasis mine.)
At worst, you can just roll for gold and buy, among other things, a shortbow rather than a longbow. Downside: you might not end up with as much stuff as you would have had.
Better (hopeful) solution for you: take the standard starting equipment, sell the longbow, and buy a shortbow off the rack with the proceeds. The standard resale for undamaged weapons is half their list price (PHB p.144, "Selling Treasure"), a longbow lists at 50gp, a shortbow at 25gp, and Bob's your uncle. (A generous GM might let you "trade" your starting longbow for a shortbow and some gold, but maybe not all 25gp of the price difference.)
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\$\begingroup\$ Related: Choosing equipment options at character creation \$\endgroup\$– KirtCommented Aug 21 at 1:35
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7\$\begingroup\$ Also, re: "Downside: you might not end up with as much stuff as you would have had." True, you could roll poorly - but this analysis shows that a ranger, on average, will roll 94% of the starting value of selected equipment, even if the equipment was selected for maximum value. It's pretty good odds you will get enough for a shortbow and most other things you would want. \$\endgroup\$– KirtCommented Aug 21 at 1:49