Difference between revisions of "Weapon Proficiencies"

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Characters of a given class have proficiencies based upon what their instructors were willing to teach, according to their prejudices. Depending on the class, players may have many choices or few. When choosing a weapon for everyday use, characters should consider power, the cost of the weapon, its utility, special factors concerning its use, the weapon’s effect upon certain monsters, the range, the weapon’s weight, how many hands it requires and whether the weapon is made for hand-to-hand combat, or [[Melee|melee]], hurling or firing. Choosing a weapon can be a difficult aspect of making a character that survives.
 
Characters of a given class have proficiencies based upon what their instructors were willing to teach, according to their prejudices. Depending on the class, players may have many choices or few. When choosing a weapon for everyday use, characters should consider power, the cost of the weapon, its utility, special factors concerning its use, the weapon’s effect upon certain monsters, the range, the weapon’s weight, how many hands it requires and whether the weapon is made for hand-to-hand combat, or [[Melee|melee]], hurling or firing. Choosing a weapon can be a difficult aspect of making a character that survives.
  
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The complete [[Weapons List|weapons list]] shows the damage that weapons cause, the number of hands needed to wield them, the chance of their breaking in the case of a [[Critical Hits & Fumbles|fumble]] and the type of weapon they are (hand-to-hand, hurled or fired).
 
The complete [[Weapons List|weapons list]] shows the damage that weapons cause, the number of hands needed to wield them, the chance of their breaking in the case of a [[Critical Hits & Fumbles|fumble]] and the type of weapon they are (hand-to-hand, hurled or fired).
  
Note that characters are limited from using any weapon that is longer than they are tall, with the exception of pole arms, which are designed for a particular kind of fighting. Pole arms include the corseque, glaive, guisarme, halberd, lance and pike. Lances may only be used on horseback.
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Note that characters are limited from using any weapon that is longer than they are tall, with the exception of pole arms, which are designed for a particular kind of fighting. Pole arms include the [[Corseque (weapon)|corseque]], [[Glaive (weapon)|glaive]], [[Guisarme (weapon)|guisarme]], halberd, lance and pike. Lances may only be used on horseback.
  
 
== New Proficiencies ==
 
== New Proficiencies ==
  
 
As the character improves in level, new proficiencies may be acquired to augment the character’s versatility. These weapons may be chosen from the lists above (the only weapons the character is able to use at all), or some character classes may receive instruction in [[Give Proficiency (sage ability)|gaining a different weapon]], if they make the effort.
 
As the character improves in level, new proficiencies may be acquired to augment the character’s versatility. These weapons may be chosen from the lists above (the only weapons the character is able to use at all), or some character classes may receive instruction in [[Give Proficiency (sage ability)|gaining a different weapon]], if they make the effort.
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<br>
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{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin-left: 15px; background-color:#d4f2f2;"
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|-
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! Character !! Weapons Available
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|-
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| [[Assassin (class)|assassin]], [[Fighter (class)|fighter]],<br>[[Paladin (class)|paladin]], [[Ranger (class)|ranger]] or<br>[[Soldier-at-Arms (profession)|soldier-at-arms]] || any weapon
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|-
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| [[Bard (class)|bard]] || [[Ankus (weapon)|ankus]], [[Bola (weapon)|bola]], [[Club (weapon)|club]], [[Crossbow (weapon)|crossbow]] (light), [[Dagger (weapon)|dagger]], [[Dart (weapon)|dart]], javelin,<br>quarterstaff, scimitar, short hammer, short sword,<br>sling, spear, warhammer
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|-
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| [[Cleric (class)|cleric]] || [[Bo Stick (weapon)|bo stick]], club, [[Flail (weapon)|flail]], [[Godentag (weapon)|godentag]], [[Mace (weapon)|mace]], [[Maul (weapon)|maul]], [[Morning Star (weapon)|morning star]],<br>quarterstaff, short hammer, sling staff sling, warhammer
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|-
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| [[Commoner (non-player character)|commoner]] || pitchfork, short axe, short hammer
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|-
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| [[Comrade (lay combatant)|comrade]] || club, quarterstaff
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|-
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| [[Druid (class)|druid]] || bola, club, dagger, dart, javelin, sling spear, trident,<br>warhammer
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|-
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| [[Illusionist (class)|illusionist]] or [[Mage (class)|mage]] || ankus, club, dagger, dart, quarterstaff
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|-
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| [[Monk (class)|monk]] || bo stick, club, dagger, dart, glaive, godentag, hand axe, javelin,<br>jo stick, long sword, [[Pike weapon|pike]], quarterstaff, scimitar, short axe,<br>short hammer, short sword, spear, trident
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|-
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| [[Thief (class)|thief]] || ankus, [[Bastard Sword (weapon)|bastard sword]], bola, [[Broad Sword (weapon)|broad sword]], club, dagger, dart,<br>godentag, hand crossbow, long sword, quarterstaff, scimitar, short sword, sling
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|}
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The table shows the number of initial weapons each class receives, the non-proficiency penalty and the levels at which new weapons are gained. The non-proficiency penalty refers to the character’s adjustment [[Roll to Hit|to hit]] with the weapon in melee. The number of [[Experience Level|experience levels]] needed for the character’s next proficiency after 1st level describes how many levels the character has to improve before another proficiency can be gained.
  
[[File:Weapon-proficiencies-03.jpg|thumb|left|390px|]]
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{| class="wikitable" style="float:left; margin-right: 15px; text-align: center; background-color:#d4f2f2;"
This table shows the number of initial weapons each class receives, the non-proficiency penalty and the levels at which new weapons are gained. The non-proficiency penalty refers to the character’s adjustment [[Roll to Hit|to hit]] with the weapon in melee. The number of [[Experience Level|experience levels]] needed for the character’s next proficiency after 1st level describes how many levels the character has to improve before another proficiency can be gained.
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|-
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! Class !! Initial No. !! Non-Proficiency<br>Penalty !! Levels for New<br>Proficiency
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|-
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| assassin || 3 || -2 || every 4 levels
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|-
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| bard || 2 || -4 || every 5 levels
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|-
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| cleric || 2 || -3 || every 4 levels
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|-
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| druid || 2 || -4 || every 5 levels
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|-
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| fighter || 4 || -2 || every 3 levels
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|-
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| illusionist || 1 || -5 || every 6 levels
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|-
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| mage || 1 || -5 || every 6 levels
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|-
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| monk || 1 || -3 || every 2 levels
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|-
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| paladin || 3 || -2 || every 3 levels
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|-
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| ranger || 3 || -2 || every 3 levels
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|-
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| thief || 2 || -3 || every 4 levels
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|}
  
 
Thus, a 1st level cleric would gain a new proficiency at 5th level, then another at 9th and another at 13th. A monk would gain proficiencies at 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th and so on.
 
Thus, a 1st level cleric would gain a new proficiency at 5th level, then another at 9th and another at 13th. A monk would gain proficiencies at 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th and so on.
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See Also,<br>
 
See Also,<br>

Latest revision as of 04:51, 13 January 2024

Weapon-proficiencies-01.jpg

Characters of a given class have proficiencies based upon what their instructors were willing to teach, according to their prejudices. Depending on the class, players may have many choices or few. When choosing a weapon for everyday use, characters should consider power, the cost of the weapon, its utility, special factors concerning its use, the weapon’s effect upon certain monsters, the range, the weapon’s weight, how many hands it requires and whether the weapon is made for hand-to-hand combat, or melee, hurling or firing. Choosing a weapon can be a difficult aspect of making a character that survives.

At the start, characters are able to employ a limited number, which may be affected by the character background generator. The first table shown indicates the weapons from which a character can choose, based on their class. These are weapons in which the character has received some training, during the time they received their class instruction. Further training is possible, but not at 1st level (see below).

The complete weapons list shows the damage that weapons cause, the number of hands needed to wield them, the chance of their breaking in the case of a fumble and the type of weapon they are (hand-to-hand, hurled or fired).

Note that characters are limited from using any weapon that is longer than they are tall, with the exception of pole arms, which are designed for a particular kind of fighting. Pole arms include the corseque, glaive, guisarme, halberd, lance and pike. Lances may only be used on horseback.

New Proficiencies

As the character improves in level, new proficiencies may be acquired to augment the character’s versatility. These weapons may be chosen from the lists above (the only weapons the character is able to use at all), or some character classes may receive instruction in gaining a different weapon, if they make the effort.

Character Weapons Available
assassin, fighter,
paladin, ranger or
soldier-at-arms
any weapon
bard ankus, bola, club, crossbow (light), dagger, dart, javelin,
quarterstaff, scimitar, short hammer, short sword,
sling, spear, warhammer
cleric bo stick, club, flail, godentag, mace, maul, morning star,
quarterstaff, short hammer, sling staff sling, warhammer
commoner pitchfork, short axe, short hammer
comrade club, quarterstaff
druid bola, club, dagger, dart, javelin, sling spear, trident,
warhammer
illusionist or mage ankus, club, dagger, dart, quarterstaff
monk bo stick, club, dagger, dart, glaive, godentag, hand axe, javelin,
jo stick, long sword, pike, quarterstaff, scimitar, short axe,
short hammer, short sword, spear, trident
thief ankus, bastard sword, bola, broad sword, club, dagger, dart,
godentag, hand crossbow, long sword, quarterstaff, scimitar, short sword, sling

The table shows the number of initial weapons each class receives, the non-proficiency penalty and the levels at which new weapons are gained. The non-proficiency penalty refers to the character’s adjustment to hit with the weapon in melee. The number of experience levels needed for the character’s next proficiency after 1st level describes how many levels the character has to improve before another proficiency can be gained.

Class Initial No. Non-Proficiency
Penalty
Levels for New
Proficiency
assassin 3 -2 every 4 levels
bard 2 -4 every 5 levels
cleric 2 -3 every 4 levels
druid 2 -4 every 5 levels
fighter 4 -2 every 3 levels
illusionist 1 -5 every 6 levels
mage 1 -5 every 6 levels
monk 1 -3 every 2 levels
paladin 3 -2 every 3 levels
ranger 3 -2 every 3 levels
thief 2 -3 every 4 levels

Thus, a 1st level cleric would gain a new proficiency at 5th level, then another at 9th and another at 13th. A monk would gain proficiencies at 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th and so on.


See Also,
Character Creation
Combat
Player Characters