After a decade of playing, I still don't get it. [Archive] - Wizards Community

After a decade of playing, I still don't get it. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
TheGreaterBad
02-22-08, 06:51 AM So, I've been playing D&D since I was a wet behind the ears boy of ten (btw, D&D 2nd Ed, even a ten year old can get it). Since I've been playing I've always been confused by the druids. Not their selection spells, or what types of animals they can have as companions. No, my confusion with the druid comes from one of their weapon choices: Scimitar. If you look at the other weapons they seem to fit a more primitive theme of someone who doesn't need swords or axes to smash your face in. So my question becomes why has it been there and why is it still there?
Lawkeeper
02-22-08, 07:07 AM In the mind of the designers, scimitar = big sickle.

Look no further.;)
JaronK
02-22-08, 11:23 AM I'm convinced it was because one of the designer's girlfriends said "I want to be a Druid. I'm using a scimitar." So he said "no, primitive weapons only." Then she said "no sex for you, ever." And then he changed the book, and from then on Druids could use scimitars.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

JaronK
pigknight
02-22-08, 01:32 PM I'm convinced it was because one of the designer's girlfriends said "I want to be a Druid. I'm using a scimitar." So he said "no, primitive weapons only." Then she said "no sex for you, ever." And then he changed the book, and from then on Druids could use scimitars.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

JaronK

This is probably the correct answer.
The_Mad_Linguist
02-23-08, 05:21 PM Because if you have a druid with a dire shark animal companion, he *has* to use a scimitar.
Drackthor
02-23-08, 06:29 PM B CUZ SUMTIEM RANJUR DRIZZT GET BORIN SO I MAEK DURID BUT MAI DURID IS 4 FITE BUT HE NO FITE WITHOUT SCIMITAR B CUZ HE IS DRIZZT.
Mad_Jack
02-23-08, 07:45 PM Quite honestly, I think it was because they didn't want to totally nerf the druid by not allowing them any metal weapons, but they also didn't want to give them proficiency with a regular sword, and so the scimitar was the only thing that was around at the time and it seemed sort of exotic.
Optimator
02-23-08, 11:11 PM I don't know for sure, but I seem to remember reading about how in earlier editions the weapon restrictions were for thematic reasons. Something about the moon-shape or the sickle-similarity of scimitars. Nothing to do with metal or the ability and/or ease of wielding one.
jeremytaylor7
02-25-08, 06:43 PM I'm convinced it was because one of the designer's girlfriends said "I want to be a Druid. I'm using a scimitar." So he said "no, primitive weapons only." Then she said "no sex for you, ever." And then he changed the book, and from then on Druids could use scimitars.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

JaronK

LMAO!!! wait, people that play D&D have girlfriends that give it up?
Sinfire Titan
02-25-08, 08:04 PM Quite honestly, I think it was because they didn't want to totally nerf the druid by not allowing them any metal weapons, but they also didn't want to give them proficiency with a regular sword, and so the scimitar was the only thing that was around at the time and it seemed sort of exotic.

Jaron's answer is the more logical conclusion.
I_roll_ones
02-25-08, 08:54 PM My only guess is style reasons. I think that if they can't wear full plate, they should get some finessable weapon. I see druids as often being stealthy, sneaking around in the trees. Or at least, not tromping around and tripping over every little shrub, plant, log, mushroom and cute little forest animal in their way.

I'm still wondering why druids can cut down a magical, rare tree and make armor from it, but can't mine some metal and make armor from it. My only guess is that mining practices(Well, smelting for iron and such) even on small scales requires chopping down a lot of trees. On larger scales, you get both mines and rapid deforestation. You could just get someone to make a wall of metal and go to town, through they'd be one rich spell caster if they just started handing out metal right and left using that trick.

Or someone mistakenly associated it with primitiveness. I really wouldn't trust a scimitar from a culture with poor metal working ability, however. And if you're making ONE bladed thing from wood, you might as well do it with other things at that point, since what sorta of bladed weapon it is is a tad irrelevant now.
Sinfire Titan
02-25-08, 09:01 PM My only guess is style reasons. I think that if they can't wear full plate, they should get some finessable weapon. I see druids as often being stealthy, sneaking around in the trees. Or at least, not tromping around and tripping over every little shrub, plant, log, mushroom and cute little forest animal in their way.

I'm still wondering why druids can cut down a magical, rare tree and make armor from it, but can't mine some metal and make armor from it. My only guess is that mining practices(Well, smelting for iron and such) even on small scales requires chopping down a lot of trees. On larger scales, you get both mines and rapid deforestation. You could just get someone to make a wall of metal and go to town, through they'd be one rich spell caster if they just started handing out metal right and left using that trick.

Or someone mistakenly associated it with primitiveness. I really wouldn't trust a scimitar from a culture with poor metal working ability, however. And if you're making ONE bladed thing from wood, you might as well do it with other things at that point, since what sorta of bladed weapon it is is a tad irrelevant now.

That would be fine, if the Scimitar were a Light weapon or could be Finessed.
I_roll_ones
02-25-08, 09:21 PM That's my point, the scimitar is not finessable for who knows why. It can't be game breaking, as one class CAN make it finessable, it's identical in stats to the rapier(except that the scimitar is cheaper by five gold and weighs two more pounds), and unlike the rapier, no PHB race is automatically proficient with it. There might be one out there, but I don't know of one off-hand.

And why druids, who need a bit of dexterity to walk around the forest unless they want to simply wildshape all the time. But if they are, (not saying it's a bad idea, just for RP mechanics) then they don't really need a finessable weapon. But the ones who don't really should get one.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
TheGreaterBad 02-22-08, 06:51 AM	So, I've been playing D&D since I was a wet behind the ears boy of ten (btw, D&D 2nd Ed, even a ten year old can get it). Since I've been playing I've always been confused by the druids. Not their selection spells, or what types of animals they can have as companions. No, my confusion with the druid comes from one of their weapon choices: Scimitar. If you look at the other weapons they seem to fit a more primitive theme of someone who doesn't need swords or axes to smash your face in. So my question becomes why has it been there and why is it still there?
Lawkeeper 02-22-08, 07:07 AM	In the mind of the designers, scimitar = big sickle. Look no further.;)
JaronK 02-22-08, 11:23 AM	I'm convinced it was because one of the designer's girlfriends said "I want to be a Druid. I'm using a scimitar." So he said "no, primitive weapons only." Then she said "no sex for you, ever." And then he changed the book, and from then on Druids could use scimitars. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. JaronK
pigknight 02-22-08, 01:32 PM	I'm convinced it was because one of the designer's girlfriends said "I want to be a Druid. I'm using a scimitar." So he said "no, primitive weapons only." Then she said "no sex for you, ever." And then he changed the book, and from then on Druids could use scimitars. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. JaronK This is probably the correct answer.
The_Mad_Linguist 02-23-08, 05:21 PM	Because if you have a druid with a dire shark animal companion, he has to use a scimitar.
Drackthor 02-23-08, 06:29 PM	B CUZ SUMTIEM RANJUR DRIZZT GET BORIN SO I MAEK DURID BUT MAI DURID IS 4 FITE BUT HE NO FITE WITHOUT SCIMITAR B CUZ HE IS DRIZZT.
Mad_Jack 02-23-08, 07:45 PM	Quite honestly, I think it was because they didn't want to totally nerf the druid by not allowing them any metal weapons, but they also didn't want to give them proficiency with a regular sword, and so the scimitar was the only thing that was around at the time and it seemed sort of exotic.
Optimator 02-23-08, 11:11 PM	I don't know for sure, but I seem to remember reading about how in earlier editions the weapon restrictions were for thematic reasons. Something about the moon-shape or the sickle-similarity of scimitars. Nothing to do with metal or the ability and/or ease of wielding one.
jeremytaylor7 02-25-08, 06:43 PM	I'm convinced it was because one of the designer's girlfriends said "I want to be a Druid. I'm using a scimitar." So he said "no, primitive weapons only." Then she said "no sex for you, ever." And then he changed the book, and from then on Druids could use scimitars. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. JaronK LMAO!!! wait, people that play D&D have girlfriends that give it up?
Sinfire Titan 02-25-08, 08:04 PM	Quite honestly, I think it was because they didn't want to totally nerf the druid by not allowing them any metal weapons, but they also didn't want to give them proficiency with a regular sword, and so the scimitar was the only thing that was around at the time and it seemed sort of exotic. Jaron's answer is the more logical conclusion.
I_roll_ones 02-25-08, 08:54 PM	My only guess is style reasons. I think that if they can't wear full plate, they should get some finessable weapon. I see druids as often being stealthy, sneaking around in the trees. Or at least, not tromping around and tripping over every little shrub, plant, log, mushroom and cute little forest animal in their way. I'm still wondering why druids can cut down a magical, rare tree and make armor from it, but can't mine some metal and make armor from it. My only guess is that mining practices(Well, smelting for iron and such) even on small scales requires chopping down a lot of trees. On larger scales, you get both mines and rapid deforestation. You could just get someone to make a wall of metal and go to town, through they'd be one rich spell caster if they just started handing out metal right and left using that trick. Or someone mistakenly associated it with primitiveness. I really wouldn't trust a scimitar from a culture with poor metal working ability, however. And if you're making ONE bladed thing from wood, you might as well do it with other things at that point, since what sorta of bladed weapon it is is a tad irrelevant now.
Sinfire Titan 02-25-08, 09:01 PM	My only guess is style reasons. I think that if they can't wear full plate, they should get some finessable weapon. I see druids as often being stealthy, sneaking around in the trees. Or at least, not tromping around and tripping over every little shrub, plant, log, mushroom and cute little forest animal in their way. I'm still wondering why druids can cut down a magical, rare tree and make armor from it, but can't mine some metal and make armor from it. My only guess is that mining practices(Well, smelting for iron and such) even on small scales requires chopping down a lot of trees. On larger scales, you get both mines and rapid deforestation. You could just get someone to make a wall of metal and go to town, through they'd be one rich spell caster if they just started handing out metal right and left using that trick. Or someone mistakenly associated it with primitiveness. I really wouldn't trust a scimitar from a culture with poor metal working ability, however. And if you're making ONE bladed thing from wood, you might as well do it with other things at that point, since what sorta of bladed weapon it is is a tad irrelevant now. That would be fine, if the Scimitar were a Light weapon or could be Finessed.
I_roll_ones 02-25-08, 09:21 PM	That's my point, the scimitar is not finessable for who knows why. It can't be game breaking, as one class CAN make it finessable, it's identical in stats to the rapier(except that the scimitar is cheaper by five gold and weighs two more pounds), and unlike the rapier, no PHB race is automatically proficient with it. There might be one out there, but I don't know of one off-hand. And why druids, who need a bit of dexterity to walk around the forest unless they want to simply wildshape all the time. But if they are, (not saying it's a bad idea, just for RP mechanics) then they don't really need a finessable weapon. But the ones who don't really should get one.