Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Xeviat-DM 05-19-04, 01:19 AM	Unearthed Arcana brought weapons a long way, by making them into grouped proficiencies. Along with that, each class only knows a certain amount of weapon groups, giving the fighter a nice edge over their warrior companions. But I personally feel that the system can be taken one step down the line. The fighter got me thinking: A supremely high dex fighter will not want to deal with heavy, or even medium armor. Varients like the Thug suggest that the character could gain something in return for the lost proficiencies, but they never seem to be enough (in fact I feel that the Thug is unbalanced without the feat at level one). So, here is my new system. I hope you like it. I've also taken some weapon balance liberties on the weapons which I feel are unbalanced. Enjoy. --------------------- At first level, a character gains a number of starting proficiency feats based on their starting class. Like maximized hit points and x4 skill points, these are only granted at the first charater level; a character who later multiclasses will not gain any additional proficiency feats unless otherwise stated. Each class has a number of starting proficiency feats, as listed below: Fighter: Simple Weapons, plus any other 8 Barbarian, Knight: Simple Weapons, plus any other 6 Cleric, Druid, Rogue, Savant: Any 4 Sorcerer: Any 2 Wizard, Psion: Any 1 These proficiencies may be spent one's armor, shield, and weapon proficiencies, as well as a small number of weapon specific feats. Every time one's BAB reaches a multiple of 4 (4, 8, 12, 16, and 20), they recieve a free proficiency feat. Here is the list of feats from the PHB which are eligable for proficiency feats: Armor Proficiency (light) -Armor Proficiency (medium) --Armor Proficiency (heavy) Exotic Weapon Proficiency (double weapons) Exotic Weapon Proficiency (single weapons) Improved Unarmed Strike Martial Weapon Proficiency (axes) Martial Weapon Proficiency (bows) Martial Weapon Proficiency (curved blades) Martial Weapon Proficiency (flails) Martial Weapon Proficiency (hammers and picks) Martial Weapon Proficiency (heavy blades) Martial Weapon Proficiency (light blades) Martial Weapon Proficiency (polearms) Shield Proficiency -Tower Shield Proficiency Simple Weapon Proficiency (claws and fists) Simple Weapon Proficiency (crossbows) Simple Weapon Proficiency (maces and clubs) Simple Weapon Proficiency (simple blades) Simple Weapon Proficiency (spears) Simple Weapon Proficiency (thrown weapons) Weapon Focus -Weapon Specialization --Weapon Mastery ---Greater Weapon Focus ----Greater Weapon Specialization -----Grand Mastery All feats retain their prerequisities, and martial weapon proficiencies are given the added prerequisite of a BAB of +1 or higher (this precludes non-warriors from selecting martial weapon proficiencies at first level). The following is a list of all the weapons which fit into each proficiency: Simple Claws and Fists Punching dagger, spiked gauntlet Crossbows Hand crossbow, heavy crossbow, light crossbow Maces and Clubs Club, light mace, heavy mace, greatclub, quarterstaff, sap, morningstar, light flail Simple Blades Sickle, Machete, dagger (non-throwing), sai Spears Javelin, longspear, shortspear, trident, light spear Thrown Weapons Dart, shuriken, sling Martial Axes Handaxe, battleaxe, greataxe, waraxe (2-h) Curved Blades Falchion, (katana) (2-h), scimitar Bows Shortbow, longbow Flails and Chains Flail, heavy flail Heavy Blades Longsword, greatsword, bastard sword (2-h) Light Blades Dagger (with throwing), kukri, rapier, short sword Picks and Hammers Light pick, heavy pick, light hammer, warhammer, scythe Polearms Glaive, guisarm, halberd, ranseur, lance, trident Exotic Exotic Double Weapons -Axe Double axe, urgrosh (must also have polearms) -Flail Dire flail -Heavy Blades Two-bladed sword -Picks and Hammers Hooked hammer -Polearms Urgrosh (must also have axes) Exotic Weapons -Axe Waraxe (1-h) -Crossbows Repeating heavy crossbow, repeating light crossbow -Curved Blades (Katana) -Flails Spiked chain -Heavy Blades Bastard sword (1-h) -Thrown Weapons Bolas Lastly, the list of weapons and their statistics, which will be followed by a break down of my melee weapon balancing system.
Xeviat-DM 05-19-04, 01:41 AM	Melee Weapon Balance System Light: 1d4 20/x2 One-Handed: 1d6 20/x2 Two-Handed: 1d8 20/x2 Size: +1/-1 per creature size category difference Simple: 1 point Martial: 2 points Exotic: 3 points Values Reach (R): 1/2 point Disarming (D): 1/2 point Tripping (T): 1/2 point +1 Die size: 1 point 19-20 critical range: 1 point x3 critical multiplier: 1 point Throwing Range: 1 point +2 Die size: 2 points 18-20 critical range: 2 points x4 critical multiplier: 2 points Double Headed: 2 points Adjacent Reach (Ar): 2 points Cannot be disarmed (Cd): 2 points Ave Range Gain 1 1 1 - 1d2 1.5 1-2 .5 1d3 2 1-3 .5 1d4 2.5 1-4 .5 1d6 3.5 1-6 1 1d8 4.5 1-8 1 1d10 5.5 1-10 1 2d6 7 2-12 1.5 2d8 9 2-16 2 2d10 11 2-20 2 4d6 14 4-24 3 4d8 18 4-32 4 Simple Dmg Crit Range Type Special Alt Unarmed Attacks (No Proficiency Required) Gauntlet 1d3 20x2 - B - Unarmed Strike 1d3s 20x2 - B SCd Light Melee Dagger 1d4 19x2 - P or S - Light Flail 1d6 20x2 - B D Nunchaku Light Mace 1d6 20x2 - B - Light Spear 1d6 20x2 - P - Saingham Punching Dagger 1d4 20x3 - P - Katar Parrying Dagger 1d4 20x2 - B DD Sai Sap 1d6 20x2 - B S Blackjack Sickle 1d6 20x2 - S T Kama Spiked Gauntlet 1d4 20x2 - P Cd One-Handed Melee Club 1d6 20x2 10 ft. B - Jo Heavy Mace 1d8 20x2 - B - Machete 1d6 19x2 - S - Morningstar 1d8 20x2 - B and P - Shortspear 1d6 20x2 20 ft. P - Two-Handed Melee Greatclub 1d10 20x2 - B - Longspear 1d8 20x3 - P R Quarterstaff 1d6/1d6 20x2 - B D Bo Spear 1d8 20x2 20 ft. P - Martial Dmg Crit Range Type Special Alt Light Melee Axe, throwing 1d6 20x2 10 ft. S - Dagger 1d4 19x2 20 ft. P or S - Hammer, light 1d4 20x3 20 ft. B - Handaxe 1d6 20x3 - S - Pick, light 1d4 20x4 - P - Sword, short 1d6 19x2 - P - Kukri 1d4 18x2 - S - Wakisashi One-Handed Melee Battleaxe 1d8 20x3 - S - Flail 1d8 20x2 - B DT Longsword 1d8 19x2 - S - Pick, heavy 1d6 20x4 - P - Rapier 1d6 18x2 - P - Scimitar 1d6 18x2 - S - Trident 1d8 20x2 10 ft. P - Warhammer 1d8 20x3 - S - Two-Handed Melee Falchion 2d4 18x2 - S - Glaive 1d10 20x3 - S R Greataxe 1d10 20x3 - S - Heavy Flail 1d10 20x2 - B DT Greatsword 1d10 19x2 - S - Guisarm 2d4 20x3 - S TR Halberd 1d10 20x3 - S or P C Lance 1d8 20x3 - P RM Ranseur 2d4 20x3 - P DR Scythe 2d4 20x4 - S or P - Exotic Dmg Crit Range Type Special Alt One-Handed Melee Bastard Sword 1d10 19x2 - S - ? 1d8 18x2 - S - Katana Waraxe 1d10 20x3 - S - Two-Handed Melee Double Axe 1d8/1d8 20x3 - S - Spiked Chain 2d4 20x2 - S ArDT Dire Flail 1d8/1d8 20x2 - B - Hooked Hammer 1d8/1d6 20x3/x4 - B/P - Two-bladed S. 1d8/1d8 19x2 - S - Urgrosh 1d8/1d8 20x3 - S/P -
Xeviat-DM 05-20-04, 03:33 PM	Nothing? Nobody?
Kalis Atrud 05-21-04, 12:34 AM	I like it. Very well thought out. Though medium rogues will miss the shortbow, rapier, and short sword proficiencies they could get at level 1. Also, Psychic warriors can't take even martial weapon proficiencies at first level(unless they changed the 3/4 base attack growth in 3.5). So, uh OA Samurai, fighter variant or knight in your list?
Xeviat-DM 05-21-04, 01:25 AM	The OA samurai was the inspiration for my Knight. But the OA samurai is a little weak when compared to a fighter (when taking into consideration the limitations that the code of bushido puts on a character's actions). My Knight possesses immunity to fear as of 3rd level, and starting at second level they get limited access to the Bard's songs (inspire courage, greatness, and heroism). I've posted it on the classes board before.
Xeviat-DM 05-21-04, 01:29 AM	OH, BTW, because characters get proficiencies every 4 bab, rogues and other characters will be able to pick up new weapons. Psychic Warriors, Templar (non-alignment paladin varient), Rangers, and Bards are 15 level advanced classes in my world, and the Psychic Warrior, Templar, and Ranger all start out as a warrior before picking up spell caster levels to meet the PrC requirements. The way I've done my system also curbs multiclass abuses, and makes picking your starting class a much more difficult choice. Your first level not only grants you max hp, but x4 skill points, and your first set of proficiency feats. A swashbuckling fighter/rogue will need to decide what is more important to them, starting with rapier proficiency, or having more skill points. PS: I will add a Basic Weapon Proficiency, which will include the Club, Dagger, and Quarterstaff, because every humanoid should know how to use sticks and knives. Remember, the dagger cannot be thrown with the simple weapon proficiency feat.
Thelon Fairblade 05-21-04, 08:01 AM	(I actually didn't know that about dagger throwing...) My "concern" is that you effectively allow fighter-types to trade in armor profs they aren't going to use for worthwhile feats. If you have a charatcer with 14 DEX, get rid of Heavy Armor for Weapon Focus in your preferred weapon! Cleric, 16 DEX (4 profs): Simple Weapons, Weapon Focus Flail, Light Armor, Shields. Heck, even the Sorc could pick: Simple Weapons, Weapon Focus: Crossbow. Knight: (Simple for free), Exotic: Bastard Sword, Weapon Focus Bastard Sword, Light Armor, Medium Armor, Heavy Armor, Shield. What did the Knight lose? Martial Weapons for Bastard Sword (katana) and WF: Bastard Sword (katana)... But, YMMV...
Kalis Atrud 05-21-04, 02:35 PM	Your cleric and sorceror can't get Weapon Focus, Thelon, Weapon Focus requires +1 bab.
Xeviat-DM 05-21-04, 03:52 PM	Sorry, you've got a few things mistaken. The Cleric, Rogue, Sorcerer, Wizard, and Druid must select each individual simple weapon proficiency, only the warriors get all simple weapons for free. And yes, I am aware that I'm allowing high dex fighters to spend their proficiencies in focus. High Dex fighters are typically low str fighters, so they need some type of edge. Additionally, I am going to increase the strength of medium and heavy armors. Lastly, I'm considering making the exotic (single) and exotic (double) proficiencies into feats rather than proficiencies. You didn't seem to have read the UA section on this; if you select exotic weapon (single) you become proficient in all the exotic weapons related to the weapon groups you are proficient in. Because this can give you monumental gain, a bonus to every weapon you'll use, it should probably be a feat. ------------ Here's a quick guess at how I'll alter armors: Armor AC Max Dex ACP ASF Light Padded +1 +8 -0 5% Leather +2 +6 -0 10% Studded Leather +3 +5 -1 15% Chain shirt +4 +4 -2 20% Medium Hide +4 +5 -3 20% Scale mail +5 +4 -4 25% Chainmail +6 +3 -5 30% Breastplate +7 +2 -4 25% Heavy Splint mail +8 +2 -7 40% Banded mail +9 +1 -6 35% Half-plate +10 +0 -7 40% Full plate +10 +1 -6 35% Remember everyone, wearing medium and heavy armor has a cost in skills (semi-important) and speed (very important). This penalty means that the armor needs to give some type of tangable benefit other than the "reward" for getting to possess a lower dexterity score (which comes with its own drawbacks). Armor costs something to wear, albeit not as much because they are proficiency feats, but it's a cost none the less.