Looking at a possible house rule...

[Graywolf777]

So a few months ago, we took a break from our regular campaign, as one of our regular players couldn't make it, and did a short campaign that lasted only a few sessions. (Until our regular player would once again be available.)

While creating characters, one of my players asked me that if he played an Inquisitor of Irori, would he get improved unarmed strike. At the time I ruled that no he would simply be proficient with an unarmed strike, as every other PC with simple weapon proficiency was, and he went with a different deity.

Now as time went on this bothered me. It's not as if giving him that ability would have been game breaking. And I started to think of all the times that I've seen players look at a deity for their cleric (and to a lesser extent, Inquisitor) and decide to go another route because of the favored weapon. And I started to think wouldn't it make sense that said holy warriors would receive some sort of special training with their deity's favored weapon?

As such I'm considering the following house rule for Clerics (And any other class that receives proficiency with their deity's favorite weapon.)

Deity's favorite weapon is Martial or Exotic - No Change

Deity's favorite weapon is Simple - Character receives Weapon Focus with that weapon.

Deity's favorite weapon is an unarmed strike - Character receives Improved Unarmed Strike as a bonus feat.

So what do you think? Is it game breaking? Bad Idea? Or reasonable house rule?

[Thomas Long 175]

I always thought that IUS was basically weapon proficiency with unarmed attacks.

There's no one that is "non proficient" with unarmed attacks. It's a simple weapon. Taking that deity would be the equivalent of getting nothing for the weapon area.

[Cerberus Seven]

Considering that without Improved Unarmed Strike they'd be provoking attacks of opportunity for attacking with their deity's favored 'weapon', no, not game breaking at all.

[Sphynx]

I agree, it's a good House Rule.

[Mortuum]

I use this! So far it has not come up, but I am certain it's straight up universally better than the official rules.

[Da'ath]

Mortuum wrote:

I use this! So far it has not come up, but I am certain it's straight up universally better than the official rules.

I do the same (since 3.X). The character (monster, npc, or pc) gains proficiency with the deity's favored weapon (or improved unarmed strike in the case of unarmed as a favored weapon). If they're already proficient or already have improved unarmed strike, they gain weapon focus.

Edit: This goes for all divine classes (in my setting, all divine classes must select a deity).