| Andrew Muttersbach |
I have always felt that the weapon proficiencies were a bit vague. When a PC has proficiency in "Simple Weapons" this translates into years of training in 19 different weapons from the PHB alone. I realise that the average length of a campaign doesn't actually cover that much time for the PC, but if your PC has been using, say, a morningstar exclusively for the last 10 levels, does it make sense that he can suddenly pick up a Sickle and be just as effective with it?
It seems to me that it takes a lot of effort, practice and time to become proficient with a weapon, never mind maintaining that proficiency. Does it make sense that a PC would spend their down-time retraining in 19 different weapons all the time? (To be truly proficient, you would have to train against all the different types of weapons with each weapon as well.)
Aside from that, yeah, it's hard to justify taking a low damage dealing weapon for flavour when your PC can just as easily use the big weapons. Yes, I realise that you can "specialize" in a specific weapon as you go up in levels, but how often is that weapon a Dagger or a even a Dart?
How about some sort of progression or point-buy for weapon proficiencies? Off the top of my head:
Feat = Simple Weapon Proficiency (spend three points on type of weapon).
- Unarmed Attacks = 1 point
- Light Melee Weapons = 1 point
- One-Handed Melee Weapons = 1 point
- Two-Handed Melee Weapons = 2 points
- Ranged Weapons = 2 points
* allow the feat to be taken multiple times at specific BAB's?
Mind you, I can't imagine that being proficient in the use of a Battleaxe would translate well to using a Flail (both Martial, One-Handed Melee Weapons). Maybe some kid of point buy within the Feat to gain proficiency in a specific weapon or two? With the cost increasing based on the damage die?
If anyone has a house rule about weapon proficiencies, now's the time to let us know. :)