Say Alyria, Elven ranger wanted to go into the fields of spellcasting, would she still be able to use the weap. proficiency from her Ranger class to replace the NO weap. proficiency of a Wizard class? That is to say, could Alyria still use her longsword and shortsword as a Wizard, even though they have NO weapon proficiency?
Confusing I know, but I hope you guys can understand my question.
Blessed * Be! And thanx for the help in advance!
Say Alyria, Elven ranger wanted to go into the fields of spellcasting, would she still be able to use the weap. proficiency from her Ranger class to replace the NO weap. proficiency of a Wizard class? That is to say, could Alyria still use her longsword and shortsword as a Wizard, even though they have NO weapon proficiency?
Confusing I know, but I hope you guys can understand my question.
Blessed * Be! And thanx for the help in advance!
I'm near certian that the answer is yes. The wizards lack of a weapon proficiency is simply the case for players taking a wizard character. If a player really wants to they can spend a feat to get better weapon proficiencies. If they are so inclined they can just keep using their feats in this matter and get an Orc Double Axe if thats what they wanted to do. They won't normally pick up armour because of the arcane spell failure but really there is nothing that actually forbids them from pumping all the feats they gain every three levels into this until they can wear heavy armour. Its just a dumb idea due to the fact that they will suffer spell failure.
So your ranger has weapon proficiencies before he multi-classed into a wizard he, furthermore, has armour proficiencies. He does not loose either of them and can still use all the weapons he could use before he multi-classed and wear all the armour he was allowed to wear before multi-classing. The weapons he will surely keep using (but his lousy attack progression will soon make him much less effective with them compared with staying a pure Ranger) but he's going to have to get out of the armour (even though he knows how to wear it) or risk spell failure.
Say Alyria, Elven ranger wanted to go into the fields of spellcasting, would she still be able to use the weap. proficiency from her Ranger class to replace the NO weap. proficiency of a Wizard class? That is to say, could Alyria still use her longsword and shortsword as a Wizard, even though they have NO weapon proficiency?
Yes.
This is why (I think) it's a good idea to get a level in fighter before going on a caster class. It gives you a good starting hit die, and a bunch of weapon and armor proficiencies. This gives you the option to pick up a weapon and put on some good armor when you run out of spells and things get really ugly.
Ultradan
Say Alyria, Elven ranger wanted to go into the fields of spellcasting, would she still be able to use the weap. proficiency from her Ranger class to replace the NO weap. proficiency of a Wizard class? That is to say, could Alyria still use her longsword and shortsword as a Wizard, even though they have NO weapon proficiency?
In your example, the answer would be yes. However, there are classes that cannot use weapons they used to know how to use - for example, if you wanted to have a fighter/druid your druid classes will preclude you from using longswords, bows, and metal armor, even though you don't actually lose the knowledge of your fighter training.
Celric
In your example, the answer would be yes. However, there are classes that cannot use weapons they used to know how to use - for example, if you wanted to have a fighter/druid your druid classes will preclude you from using longswords, bows, and metal armor, even though you don't actually lose the knowledge of your fighter training.Celric
I've never heard of such a restriction... certainly a druid would be unable to use metal armor or shields, but why no bow or longsword?
- Ashavan
Back in 2nd ed and before Druids couldn't use worked metal items... except for a few things like their gold sickle and scimitar...
However in 3.5 a Druid has no proficiency with most weapons but can use any, they are still restricted as to armor.
This is why (I think) it's a good idea to get a level in fighter before going on a caster class. It gives you a good starting hit die, and a bunch of weapon and armor proficiencies. This gives you the option to pick up a weapon and put on some good armor when you run out of spells and things get really ugly.
Ultradan
While its got some benifits it also leaves you gaining spells slower. Furthermore having access to some extra weapons are not all that phenominal - the basic wizard does have access to simple weapons after all. Mostly what you get is a slew of armour proficiencies that you can't use due to the arcane spell failure.
Generally I'd rather either go all the way and aim to be an Eldritch Knight or the like or go straight after getting as many good spells as possible and depend on my spells to get me out of a jam - if I really want that long sword I can pick up martial weapons with a feat and not slow down my acquiring of spells.
After 5th or so its just such suicide to be in combat with a wizard that the ability to use a longsword is almost a detriment - if your down to that your dead anyway - better to have cast expeditous retreat and run away. Go toe to toe with an Ogre and your just going to die and having a longsword instead of a staff means little. At 10th you just might manage to go toe to toe occasionally with really good buffing spells - but by then you should have discarded the long sword and picked up the best magic staff you can find or buy.
All weapon proficiency means is that at some point you learned how to wield some weapon. Because you take a class that offers say only simple weapon proficiency doesn't stop you from what you already know. Elves, for instance, have proficiencies with the longsword and long bow (left some out I'm sure, don't have book at the moment)as a racial bonu and an Elf wizard can use both weapons because of his racial upbringing. If a class restricts specifically restricts you from using certain weapons or armor, as the Druid does, then you can no longer use those items and still advance in said class.
A bit from my Hoarde
All weapon proficiency means is that at some point you learned how to wield some weapon. Because you take a class that offers say only simple weapon proficiency doesn't stop you from what you already know. Elves, for instance, have proficiencies with the longsword and long bow (left some out I'm sure, don't have book at the moment)as a racial bonu and an Elf wizard can use both weapons because of his racial upbringing. If a class restricts specifically restricts you from using certain weapons or armor, as the Druid does, then you can no longer use those items and still advance in said class.
A bit from my Hoarde
I agree with everything dragonlvr said. Gotta get those 1st and 2nd Edition stuff out of our heads.
Ultradan