Martial Weapon Proficiency

[neferphras]

So i have seen this ruled different ways at different tables and i am wondering if anyone out there has a final ruling reference i can link to.

When you take Martial Weapon Proficiency feat do you

A. Gain access to one Weapon (say Great Sword)

B. Gain access to sub category (say 2 handed Martial Weapons)

C. Gain access to all martial weapons.

I am really looking for a link to an official ruling. If none exists i will tag this thread for an FAQ update.

[SlimGauge]

A: One type, such as Longswords. You're not going to get a FAQ on this, it's both pretty clear and well known. The feat does exactly what it says it does, nothing more.

B: If the feat meant "Martial Weapon GROUPS" (as per fighter weapon training groups), it would SAY groups.

C: No, that's a class feature, listed under "Weapon and Armor Proficiency"

Martial Weapon Proficiency

edit: Is ninja speed faster than Ludicrous Speed ?

[fretgod99]

As written, you gain proficiency with one weapon and one weapon only.

Martial Weapon Proficiency wrote:

Martial Weapon Proficiency (Combat)

Choose a type of martial weapon. You understand how to use that type of martial weapon in combat.

Benefit: You make attack rolls with the selected weapon normally (without the non-proficient penalty).
Normal: When using a weapon with which you are not proficient, you take a –4 penalty on attack rolls.
Special: Barbarians, fighters, paladins, and rangers are proficient with all martial weapons. They need not select this feat.
You can gain Martial Weapon Proficiency multiple times. Each time you take the feat, it applies to a new type of weapon.

I understand why people may house rule it differently, but the language is hard to read any other way. Each time you take the feat, you get proficiency with one single type of martial weapon. You can take the feat again, you can select a new one.

EDIT: Ninja speed beats formatting every time.

[MotherGoose]

Before i actually read it i was under the impression it gave you proficiency with all martial weapons after reading it its clear I have no idea what im talking about!!!

From reading its clearly not C. Choose a type of martial weapon. You understand how to use that type of martial weapon in combat. You can gain Martial Weapon Proficiency multiple times. Each time you take the feat, it applies to a new type of weapon.

I guess the real question is what does the feat mean when it says "type of weapon"

[Brf]

The biggest confusion is from the word "type". In the Equipment section, it uses "type" for weapon type-of-damage, but in the fighter's Weapon Mastery, it uses "type" to mean a single weapon.

[neferphras]

yeah C i put out there for contrast, though one PFS GM did say the ruling was C. Really to me it is between A and B and the word 'type' is the problem. I have seen the rulings between a and b vary from table to table with some frequency.

[SlimGauge]

There is this rules quote.

"Damage

If your attack succeeds, you deal damage. The type of weapon used determines the amount of damage you deal. "

But there's also this confusion of weapon "type". (but I'm sure this is type of DAMAGE not type of WEAPON).

"Type: Weapons are classified according to the type of damage they deal: B for bludgeoning, P for piercing, or S for slashing. Some monsters may be resistant or immune to attacks from certain types of weapons."

[Scavion]

fretgod99 wrote:

Martial Weapon Proficiency wrote:

Martial Weapon Proficiency (Combat)

Choose a type of martial weapon. You understand how to use that type of martial weapon in combat.

Benefit: You make attack rolls with the selected weapon normally (without the non-proficient penalty).
Normal: When using a weapon with which you are not proficient, you take a –4 penalty on attack rolls.
Special: Barbarians, fighters, paladins, and rangers are proficient with all martial weapons. They need not select this feat.
You can gain Martial Weapon Proficiency multiple times. Each time you take the feat, it applies to a new type of weapon.

Re-quoted for emphasis. Weapon not Weapons. You only get proficiency with 1 weapon when you take Martial Weapon Proficiency.

[Kazaan]

By contrast, some classes get, say, proficiency with "all martial weapons". That's a class feature that sort of serves as an "uber proficiency" with a whole category of weapons. When it says proficiency with a "type" of weapon, it means that any particular Longsword you pick up, you're proficient with. There's a trait called Heirloom Weapon that gives you a weapon and a number of choices of bonus to apply to it, one of which being proficiency, that all apply to that "specific" weapon. That means if you took Heirloom Weapon for a Longsword, it would be only that specific Longsword that you gain either Proficiency, +1 on AoOs, or +2 on one type of combat maneuver. Which means if you pick up a different Longsword, those bonuses wouldn't apply. So when it says a "type" of weapon, it means any Longsword you may come across, including over-sized or under-sized ones.

[neferphras]

I dont necessarily disagree with anyone that says the choice here is A. but i really think the word 'type' makes his confusing enough to have a FAQ put out on it.

[David St. Augustine]

Just seems as a general rule, with feats or spells or what-have-you, if it seems to good to be true, it probably is (with DnD/Pathfinder), which is exactly why we take the Simple/Martial/Exotic weapon feat to mean just 1 weapon per feat, though the Armor Prof feats give you access to all the armor in the group!