Noob Question about Proficiency and Weapons

[Rochambeaux]

I've read and reread the rule book and searched online but I guess I'm missing something obviously simple.

How exactly does "proficiency" play into the game?

In looking at the weapon cards in the core set, there appear to be three "groups": (1) those with no reference to proficiency, (2) those that give an ability if you are proficient and (3) those that increase the difficulty check.

For group one, does this mean that any weapon without a reference to proficiency can be used by any character without weapon proficiency, i.e. can Marisiel use a standard Mace and roll her Strength/Meleee die +1D8?

Group 2 is self explanatory; I assume whatever the answer is to Group 1 would apply to Group with the exception of not being able to use the ability if you do not have weapon proficiency.

Group 3 is another puzzler: what exactly is the "difficulty check"? Does that reference the check to acquire or something else?

[Drunkenping]

You are correct in your interpretation for group one and two. Group three increases the difficulty of the combat check you are attempting to beat, if you are not proficient with weapons.

[Hawkmoon269]

To give an example, if Merisiel is making a combat check against a goblin commando who had a combat 9 check to defeat and uses a bastard sword, the check to defeat becomes a 13 because the bastard sword increases the check by 4 when used by a character without weapon proficiency. So she would roll her 1d8 strength + 1d10. She could discard it to add another 1d10, but either way she needs to roll a 13 or better.