This information is intended for use with the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game.
At a Glance
I’m making a few changes to weapon proficiencies, for the Xaeyruudh campaign. They shall appear here because this blog is here partially for players in said campaign. Also, I’m open to thoughts and feedback from anyone on this subject and most others.
This is still a work-in-progress; additions and clarifications are needed.
Changes
- Bows are simple weapons.
- Crossbows are martial weapons.
- Sap is an exotic weapon; only rogues and halflings are automatically proficient.
- Scythe is an exotic weapon.
- Various weapons traced to particular cultures on Earth are exotic weapons outside corresponding cultures in the game world. This category includes: kama, kukri, nunchaku, sai, shuriken, and siangham.
- Staff is split into two proficiencies; a Simple proficiency for single-weapon use and an Exotic proficiency for use as a double weapon. All classes can use it as a single weapon; only Monks start with the double weapon proficiency.
- Expanding on the idea of bastard swords, there are 1.5h axes, clubs, flails, hammers, khopesh, maces, picks, and spears. The clubs, maces, and spears are simple if used 2h and martial if used 1h. The axes, flails, hammers, picks, and swords are martial if used 2h and exotic if used 1h.
- There are double hammers and double khopesh. All double weapons are exotic.
- The khopesh and all derivatives are exotic weapon proficiencies for all characters who don’t select one of the Mulhorand-specific regions at character creation. Unther isn’t close enough; Untheric forces use straight-bladed swords.
By Class
Barbarians: no change in proficiencies; still all simple and martial weapons. [refer to PH 25]
Bards keep proficiency with crossbows; they lose proficiency with whips. [refer to PH 28]
Clerics keep proficiency with crossbows. Clerics who choose the War domain gain proficiency with their patron deity’s “favored weapon” (and the associated Weapon Focus feat) regardless of whether the weapon is Simple/Martial/Exotic. [refer to PH 31]
Druids gain proficiency with bows and falchions. [refer to PH 34]
On a related note, the prohibition against druids utilizing metal armor and shields is lifted; letting them use metal weapons but not metal armor is inconsistent. They cannot use wildshape while wearing any full suit of armor, but that was probably already true.
Fighters: no change in proficiencies; still all simple and martial weapons. [refer to PH 38]
Monks gain proficiency with bows, scythes, sickles, and whips; they lose proficiency with crossbows. [refer to PH 40]
Paladins: no change in proficiencies; still all simple and martial weapons. [refer to PH 44]
Rangers: no change in proficiencies; still all simple and martial weapons. [refer to PH 47]
Rogues keep/gain proficiency with all crossbows (including repeating crossbows). [refer to PH 50]
Sorcerers: no change in proficiencies; still all simple weapons. [refer to PH 54]
Wizards gain proficiency with slings; they lose proficiency with crossbows. [refer to PH 56]
By Race
I’m adding this consideration, to expand/modify various notes such as “gnomes treat hooked hammers as martial weapons.” In each case, all members of these races have proficiency with the noted weapons, regardless of their class.
Dwarves are proficient with all axes and hammers.
Elves are proficient with all bows and swords.
Gnomes are proficient with all picks and hammers.
Halflings are proficient with all crossbows, net, sap, and sling.
Summary
Simple Weapons
1h and 2h clubs, maces, and spears
1.5h simple weapons used as 2h weapons
bows, dagger, dart, javelin, morningstar, sling, and staff (used as a single weapon)
kama, kukri, nunchaku, sai, shuriken, and siangham (in appropriate cultures)
Martial Weapons
1h and 2h axes, flails, hammers, picks, and swords
1.5h simple weapons used as 1h weapons
1.5h martial weapons used as 2h weapons
crossbows (except repeating crossbows), polearms
Exotic Weapons
1.5h martial weapons used as 1h weapons
double weapons (including staff)
repeating crossbows, sap, scythe, sickle, whip
kama, kukri, nunchaku, sai, shuriken, and siangham (outside appropriate cultures)
Questions for the Ages
Why would anyone think a bard should automatically be competent in whip use? I mean, sure, some of them are undoubtedly kinky, but… every single first-level bard? That thought puts a whole new spin on the taproom.
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