I've been working on a d20Modern/Pathfinder blend to use for low magic/no magic settings (which I'll post details of once it's at a good enough place), and the current way weapon proficiency is handled just wouldn't work.
I'm not necessarily advocating the use of this in mine or anyone else's Pathfinder games, but I'm interested in hearing how it may or does work within the normal system, since having things be interchangeable is one of my primary concerns.
The Details
1) Simple and Martial weapons are no longer defined as such
2) Characters are instead proficient with weapon groups of their choosing, the exact number of which would character choice. For example, with this system all elves may be proficient with Bows and Light Blades, and then as a martial class they get to choose two additional groups.
3)These groups would span simple and martial weapons. You may be proficiency with daggers and kukri, but not with spears and ransuers.
4) Exotic weapons, for the most part, would still require their own feats for proficiency.
Thoughts?
I like this. A lot.
But the exotics really need to be better defined.
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For my regular PF game, I redefined the Martial Weapon Proficiency to grant proficiency with a weapon group instead of a single weapon. Exotic weapons are still one weapon per slot and the character must already be proficient with simple weapons and the relative weapon group. I think that it makes a bit more sense and doesn't really break anything.
I would think the same would work for you.
Some exotic weapons dont make as much sense in this context (falcata), but I think for the most part they do. Batsard sword would still he more or less the same deal; someone proficient with Two Handed Blades would be able to use it in two hands, but would require the full feat for proficiency one-handed.
At my table I often give extra skill points or proficiencies to players thst consistantly practice with a weapon/skill during down time, so it's less of an issue for me. I'm also considering decreasing the nonproficiency penalty to -2 (but keeping improvised weapons at -4) to encourage trying new things, but that I'm not sure about.
Another thing I like about this is it makes strategy with weapon choice a bit more important. A martial character wont necessarily be able to grab a bow, glaive, and longsword and have all his bases covered.