cleric weapon question [Archive] - Wizards Community

cleric weapon question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Dragonsbane1313
10-20-04, 09:39 PM I thought I read somewhere that a Cleric automatically gains proficiency with their god's favored weapon, but now I can't find it. Can someone tell me if this is correct? THANKS!
Murmos
10-20-04, 09:44 PM Core D&D rules state that a cleric with the War Domain gets free Martial Weapon Proficiency and Weapon Focus with the deity's favored weapon--if it is a martial weapon. This is 3.5; if I'm not mistaken, 3.0 just gives the Martial Weapon Proficiency.

I know of at least one DM on this board who just gives clerics the Martial Weapon Proficiency for their deity's favored weapon. It doesn't seem dreadfully unbalancing to me.

Either way, if the favored weapon is an exotic, the cleric must take the Exotic Weapon Proficiency feat.
Shard of Suzail
10-20-04, 10:32 PM I play a cleric of a death god, but my domains are death and knowledge. Thus i did not get martial proficiency and couldnt make use of a magic scythe my gm included as a loot item.

So, I practiced with the weapon and took a level of fighter. This gave me martial proficiency and i also picked up "weapon finesse: touch attacks" as a bonus feat, which really helps me.

You get a great deal from taking a fighter level and i recommend it for clerics.

I now use a magical bastard sword that one of our fighters used (his is now dead and plays a wizard). True i must use it two handed, but with my fighter level, i can still wave it around and enjoy its special abilities. I may even pick up the feat to use it one handed.

Its nice to have those options, multiclass fighter cleric is a good thing, dont feel that you have to have the war domain or that all clerics should get martial proficiency free.

I wouldnt just buy the martial feat though, unless you were doing some specific cleric class build. Better to get the fighter level and all the perks. Its more fun working that training in as a roleplay story too.
Talanall
10-20-04, 10:35 PM A lot of DMs houserule that clerics get proficiency with their deity's favored weapon. Mine does. I also use that houserule when I am the DM. I seem to recall, as well, that at least one WotC designer uses it, and that it was supposed to make it into 3.5's cleric, but fell through the cracks.
Dragonsbane1313
10-20-04, 10:38 PM Thanks a lot!!! I think I am going to make that a house rule for my campaign since it does not seem too overpowering at all.
Shard of Suzail
10-21-04, 12:14 PM *sigh*
dragnkpr
11-14-04, 07:59 PM That's a good houserule, but it lessens the benefits of taking the war domain.
To make sure the domain is still as useful, I suggest giving those who take it weapon focus instead.
Talanall
11-14-04, 11:56 PM To make sure the domain is still as useful, I suggest giving those who take it weapon focus instead. Er. You need to check the core rulebooks again. It DOES grant Weapon Focus in the deity's favored weapon.
FriendoftheDork
11-16-04, 10:19 AM I use the house rule as well, that a cleric has to spend a martial weapon proficiency to gain proficieny with.. say shurikens is just silly. Those with the best martial weapons have the war domain as well. And weapon focus with +0 bab is pretty good :)
kam_Islash
11-16-04, 10:27 AM Just out of curiosity, can a healing domain cleric wield a warhammer?

///
CzarGarrett
11-16-04, 10:35 AM Warhammer is a martial weapon, so unless the cleric has Healing and War as Domains, then no.

Well, the cleric could, but there's that whole non-profiency penalty thing.
Tmpst2Prphsy
11-18-04, 04:44 AM don't forget favored soul from CD gets free proficiency with deity's favored weapon, then weapon focus, then specialization, then wings at 17th.
class abilities that give u feats are fun.
pres_man
11-18-04, 04:18 PM I think it is not too broken to give clerics proficiency with their deity's favored weapon as long as the weapon is a simple (which they already get), light martial, or one-handed martial. Giving them a two-handed martial or exotic proficiency is a little strong. Likewise I would limit a cleric taking the war domain with out a deity to the above.

For a cleric of a deity that has a two-handed martial or exotic weapon as their favored, I would give them proficiency with a one-handed martial weapon similiar to their deity's weapon.

e.g. cleric of Kord would get proficiency in longsword not greatsword.
cleric of Nerull would get proficiency in ??? not scythe. (??? I'm thinking maybe kukri, scimitar, or heavy pick)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Dragonsbane1313 10-20-04, 09:39 PM	I thought I read somewhere that a Cleric automatically gains proficiency with their god's favored weapon, but now I can't find it. Can someone tell me if this is correct? THANKS!
Murmos 10-20-04, 09:44 PM	Core D&D rules state that a cleric with the War Domain gets free Martial Weapon Proficiency and Weapon Focus with the deity's favored weapon--if it is a martial weapon. This is 3.5; if I'm not mistaken, 3.0 just gives the Martial Weapon Proficiency. I know of at least one DM on this board who just gives clerics the Martial Weapon Proficiency for their deity's favored weapon. It doesn't seem dreadfully unbalancing to me. Either way, if the favored weapon is an exotic, the cleric must take the Exotic Weapon Proficiency feat.
Shard of Suzail 10-20-04, 10:32 PM	I play a cleric of a death god, but my domains are death and knowledge. Thus i did not get martial proficiency and couldnt make use of a magic scythe my gm included as a loot item. So, I practiced with the weapon and took a level of fighter. This gave me martial proficiency and i also picked up "weapon finesse: touch attacks" as a bonus feat, which really helps me. You get a great deal from taking a fighter level and i recommend it for clerics. I now use a magical bastard sword that one of our fighters used (his is now dead and plays a wizard). True i must use it two handed, but with my fighter level, i can still wave it around and enjoy its special abilities. I may even pick up the feat to use it one handed. Its nice to have those options, multiclass fighter cleric is a good thing, dont feel that you have to have the war domain or that all clerics should get martial proficiency free. I wouldnt just buy the martial feat though, unless you were doing some specific cleric class build. Better to get the fighter level and all the perks. Its more fun working that training in as a roleplay story too.
Talanall 10-20-04, 10:35 PM	A lot of DMs houserule that clerics get proficiency with their deity's favored weapon. Mine does. I also use that houserule when I am the DM. I seem to recall, as well, that at least one WotC designer uses it, and that it was supposed to make it into 3.5's cleric, but fell through the cracks.
Dragonsbane1313 10-20-04, 10:38 PM	Thanks a lot!!! I think I am going to make that a house rule for my campaign since it does not seem too overpowering at all.
Shard of Suzail 10-21-04, 12:14 PM	sigh
dragnkpr 11-14-04, 07:59 PM	That's a good houserule, but it lessens the benefits of taking the war domain. To make sure the domain is still as useful, I suggest giving those who take it weapon focus instead.
Talanall 11-14-04, 11:56 PM	To make sure the domain is still as useful, I suggest giving those who take it weapon focus instead. Er. You need to check the core rulebooks again. It DOES grant Weapon Focus in the deity's favored weapon.
FriendoftheDork 11-16-04, 10:19 AM	I use the house rule as well, that a cleric has to spend a martial weapon proficiency to gain proficieny with.. say shurikens is just silly. Those with the best martial weapons have the war domain as well. And weapon focus with +0 bab is pretty good :)
kam_Islash 11-16-04, 10:27 AM	Just out of curiosity, can a healing domain cleric wield a warhammer? ///
CzarGarrett 11-16-04, 10:35 AM	Warhammer is a martial weapon, so unless the cleric has Healing and War as Domains, then no. Well, the cleric could, but there's that whole non-profiency penalty thing.
Tmpst2Prphsy 11-18-04, 04:44 AM	don't forget favored soul from CD gets free proficiency with deity's favored weapon, then weapon focus, then specialization, then wings at 17th. class abilities that give u feats are fun.
pres_man 11-18-04, 04:18 PM	I think it is not too broken to give clerics proficiency with their deity's favored weapon as long as the weapon is a simple (which they already get), light martial, or one-handed martial. Giving them a two-handed martial or exotic proficiency is a little strong. Likewise I would limit a cleric taking the war domain with out a deity to the above. For a cleric of a deity that has a two-handed martial or exotic weapon as their favored, I would give them proficiency with a one-handed martial weapon similiar to their deity's weapon. e.g. cleric of Kord would get proficiency in longsword not greatsword. cleric of Nerull would get proficiency in ??? not scythe. (??? I'm thinking maybe kukri, scimitar, or heavy pick)