Clerics of the Silver Flame and archery [Archive] - Wizards Community

Clerics of the Silver Flame and archery [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Dragonsblood
04-24-07, 02:54 AM I just started in a new campaign as a player, and decided to make a Dwarf cleric of the Silver Flame. As I'm sure you all know, the longbow is the favored weapon of the religion. The problem, to myself and my DM's surprise, is that clerics are not automatically proficient with their religion's favored weapon! Is this an oversight in the game's design? Or am I overlooking a rule somewhere? I know I could just burn the feat and take the proficiency if I want to be a good cleric, but that seems a little silly. Especially when the example cleric on page 230 of the campaign setting book has no such proficiency feat, yet has a good attack bonus and masterwork longbow.

So what's your take on this?
DBlizzard
04-24-07, 03:11 AM I just started in a new campaign as a player, and decided to make a Dwarf cleric of the Silver Flame. As I'm sure you all know, the longbow is the favored weapon of the religion. The problem, to myself and my DM's surprise, is that clerics are not automatically proficient with their religion's favored weapon! Is this an oversight in the game's design?

No religion automatically gives you the ability to use the favored weapon of that religion in D&D. The closest you can find are religions with the war domain, which gives you proficiency and weapon focus with the weapon. Unfortunately, the Silver Flame doesn't have this domain.

The Silver Pyromancer class gives it to you, but it's a more arcane oriented prestige class. Personally, I've always thought each religion should have at least one prestige class to personalize the cleric (such as the three orders of St. Cuthbert in Greyhawk). If I were to design a Silver Flame class it would either give you proficiency in longbow, or require it (giving something else to balance out the "lost" feat).

You also can always carry the bow, but be pretty bad at it. IIRC, one of the novels has a character like that.
Kaizer_Ryu
04-24-07, 03:18 AM I say it's an oversight, but that's how I play. IMO, a Cleric should be automatically proficient with his/her/its diety's favored weapon, since it would likely be part of their tradition and thus incorporated into the "Apprentice" stage of training.

They could have "Rediculously Oversized 3-handed Anime Sword (bludgeoning damage :D)" as the favored weapon and I'd still be ok with it. If only for the mental image.
WolfHati
04-24-07, 03:20 AM You could always pick the war domain and be from a more martial sect of the Silver Flame. It's not like you need to be that restrictive of domains in Eberron when its fits with the idea of the religion. Eberron allows for a great deal of flexibility with worship and clerics, considering its nature. Getting hung up on the fact that a domain isn't explicitly stated for a religion when it would be almost impossible for there not to exist a sect of the Silver Flame that focused on battle and warfare is kinda silly.
bob_schroeder
04-24-07, 12:43 PM Player´s Guide to Eberron page 29
Sects of the Silver Flame
The Knights Militant have the War domain
OneWinged4ngel
04-24-07, 01:22 PM I just started in a new campaign as a player, and decided to make a Dwarf cleric of the Silver Flame. As I'm sure you all know, the longbow is the favored weapon of the religion. The problem, to myself and my DM's surprise, is that clerics are not automatically proficient with their religion's favored weapon! Is this an oversight in the game's design? Or am I overlooking a rule somewhere? I know I could just burn the feat and take the proficiency if I want to be a good cleric, but that seems a little silly. Especially when the example cleric on page 230 of the campaign setting book has no such proficiency feat, yet has a good attack bonus and masterwork longbow.

So what's your take on this?

Personally, I've houseruled that Clerics of the Silver Flame get a bow proficiency for free, since they use archery for meditation and all that.

Of course, if you want to go by RAW... take the War domain.
Arcane Guyver
04-24-07, 02:49 PM Or you could just take a level of Fighter to get proficiency plus a bonus feat (Point Blank Shot FTW). It'll stunt your divine progression just a little.
Dragonsblood
04-24-07, 03:01 PM Player´s Guide to Eberron page 29
Sects of the Silver Flame
The Knights Militant have the War domain

This should work. I've always liked the war domain anyway, and it fits my character concept well.

Thanks everyone.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Dragonsblood 04-24-07, 02:54 AM	I just started in a new campaign as a player, and decided to make a Dwarf cleric of the Silver Flame. As I'm sure you all know, the longbow is the favored weapon of the religion. The problem, to myself and my DM's surprise, is that clerics are not automatically proficient with their religion's favored weapon! Is this an oversight in the game's design? Or am I overlooking a rule somewhere? I know I could just burn the feat and take the proficiency if I want to be a good cleric, but that seems a little silly. Especially when the example cleric on page 230 of the campaign setting book has no such proficiency feat, yet has a good attack bonus and masterwork longbow. So what's your take on this?
DBlizzard 04-24-07, 03:11 AM	I just started in a new campaign as a player, and decided to make a Dwarf cleric of the Silver Flame. As I'm sure you all know, the longbow is the favored weapon of the religion. The problem, to myself and my DM's surprise, is that clerics are not automatically proficient with their religion's favored weapon! Is this an oversight in the game's design? No religion automatically gives you the ability to use the favored weapon of that religion in D&D. The closest you can find are religions with the war domain, which gives you proficiency and weapon focus with the weapon. Unfortunately, the Silver Flame doesn't have this domain. The Silver Pyromancer class gives it to you, but it's a more arcane oriented prestige class. Personally, I've always thought each religion should have at least one prestige class to personalize the cleric (such as the three orders of St. Cuthbert in Greyhawk). If I were to design a Silver Flame class it would either give you proficiency in longbow, or require it (giving something else to balance out the "lost" feat). You also can always carry the bow, but be pretty bad at it. IIRC, one of the novels has a character like that.
Kaizer_Ryu 04-24-07, 03:18 AM	I say it's an oversight, but that's how I play. IMO, a Cleric should be automatically proficient with his/her/its diety's favored weapon, since it would likely be part of their tradition and thus incorporated into the "Apprentice" stage of training. They could have "Rediculously Oversized 3-handed Anime Sword (bludgeoning damage :D)" as the favored weapon and I'd still be ok with it. If only for the mental image.
WolfHati 04-24-07, 03:20 AM	You could always pick the war domain and be from a more martial sect of the Silver Flame. It's not like you need to be that restrictive of domains in Eberron when its fits with the idea of the religion. Eberron allows for a great deal of flexibility with worship and clerics, considering its nature. Getting hung up on the fact that a domain isn't explicitly stated for a religion when it would be almost impossible for there not to exist a sect of the Silver Flame that focused on battle and warfare is kinda silly.
bob_schroeder 04-24-07, 12:43 PM	Player´s Guide to Eberron page 29 Sects of the Silver Flame The Knights Militant have the War domain
OneWinged4ngel 04-24-07, 01:22 PM	I just started in a new campaign as a player, and decided to make a Dwarf cleric of the Silver Flame. As I'm sure you all know, the longbow is the favored weapon of the religion. The problem, to myself and my DM's surprise, is that clerics are not automatically proficient with their religion's favored weapon! Is this an oversight in the game's design? Or am I overlooking a rule somewhere? I know I could just burn the feat and take the proficiency if I want to be a good cleric, but that seems a little silly. Especially when the example cleric on page 230 of the campaign setting book has no such proficiency feat, yet has a good attack bonus and masterwork longbow. So what's your take on this? Personally, I've houseruled that Clerics of the Silver Flame get a bow proficiency for free, since they use archery for meditation and all that. Of course, if you want to go by RAW... take the War domain.
Arcane Guyver 04-24-07, 02:49 PM	Or you could just take a level of Fighter to get proficiency plus a bonus feat (Point Blank Shot FTW). It'll stunt your divine progression just a little.
Dragonsblood 04-24-07, 03:01 PM	Player´s Guide to Eberron page 29 Sects of the Silver Flame The Knights Militant have the War domain This should work. I've always liked the war domain anyway, and it fits my character concept well. Thanks everyone.