Weapon Prof. Replacement [Archive] - Wizards Community

Weapon Prof. Replacement [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Seghan
08-03-07, 09:44 PM What do people think of replacing a listed weapon proficiency of a class with another similar weapon of equal (or even lesser) power for flavor reasons. I'd like to create a psion who uses a longbow, and proposed to the DM that I replace the Heavy Crossbow proficiency with Longbow. I don't see where there would be a problem, it certainly wouldn't be an upgrade. Less damage, less range, more expensive, the only pluses being that it is a bit lighter and has a higher crit (over a shorter range), and that it fits my desired fluff. He seems rather amenable to the idea, but we are all reluctant to make piecemeal mechanical changes without a lot of thought. The consensus of like minded individuals would help our collective indecision. Thanks.
Orchomenos
08-03-07, 09:56 PM It's usually a good thing to change your weapon proficiency for flavour reason. But you must be sure that it is really equivalent or lesser.

Reloading a Longbow is a Free Action, while reloading an heavy crossbow is a full-round action, move action if you have the Rapid Reload feat. That means even with a BAB of +6/+1 and Rapid SHot, you can fire your Heavy Crossbow only once a round, while you can fire your longbow has many time as you have attacks available in a given round.
But given you're a psion with mediocre BAB and that you'll probably be spending your feats on something else than Point Blank Shot and Rapid Shot, I don't see any problem with that.
Fithero
08-03-07, 09:58 PM Why not just take a feat to use it?
TheAnthroDM
08-03-07, 10:18 PM Longbow > Crossbow

Trade the morning star, as it is a very effective and useful weapon.
Seghan
08-03-07, 10:23 PM Why not just take a feat to use it?

I don't wanna. :D

Long answer, I certainly could, and I'm willing if that's what the DM decides. To my thinking however, if I can add to the appropriateness of the game's flavor without giving myself a real mechanical advantage, maybe I can avoid paying a penalty of a feat slot. I didn't think of the load speed though, I need to think on that.
Seghan
08-03-07, 10:26 PM Trade the morning star, as it is a very effective and useful weapon.

Yeah, that's a good idea. I got caught up in the similarity of ranged weapons.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Seghan 08-03-07, 09:44 PM	What do people think of replacing a listed weapon proficiency of a class with another similar weapon of equal (or even lesser) power for flavor reasons. I'd like to create a psion who uses a longbow, and proposed to the DM that I replace the Heavy Crossbow proficiency with Longbow. I don't see where there would be a problem, it certainly wouldn't be an upgrade. Less damage, less range, more expensive, the only pluses being that it is a bit lighter and has a higher crit (over a shorter range), and that it fits my desired fluff. He seems rather amenable to the idea, but we are all reluctant to make piecemeal mechanical changes without a lot of thought. The consensus of like minded individuals would help our collective indecision. Thanks.
Orchomenos 08-03-07, 09:56 PM	It's usually a good thing to change your weapon proficiency for flavour reason. But you must be sure that it is really equivalent or lesser. Reloading a Longbow is a Free Action, while reloading an heavy crossbow is a full-round action, move action if you have the Rapid Reload feat. That means even with a BAB of +6/+1 and Rapid SHot, you can fire your Heavy Crossbow only once a round, while you can fire your longbow has many time as you have attacks available in a given round. But given you're a psion with mediocre BAB and that you'll probably be spending your feats on something else than Point Blank Shot and Rapid Shot, I don't see any problem with that.
Fithero 08-03-07, 09:58 PM	Why not just take a feat to use it?
TheAnthroDM 08-03-07, 10:18 PM	Longbow > Crossbow Trade the morning star, as it is a very effective and useful weapon.
Seghan 08-03-07, 10:23 PM	Why not just take a feat to use it? I don't wanna. :D Long answer, I certainly could, and I'm willing if that's what the DM decides. To my thinking however, if I can add to the appropriateness of the game's flavor without giving myself a real mechanical advantage, maybe I can avoid paying a penalty of a feat slot. I didn't think of the load speed though, I need to think on that.
Seghan 08-03-07, 10:26 PM	Trade the morning star, as it is a very effective and useful weapon. Yeah, that's a good idea. I got caught up in the similarity of ranged weapons.