Free Weapon Proficiency Feat - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Free Weapon Proficiency Feat

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
saxaholic
May 26, 2008 20:27:16 I'm toying with the idea of allowing my players a free weapon proficiency feat. The reasoning OOC is that I run small groups (two-three PCs), and they hesitate to burn a feat to use a weapon, but feel too restricted by class options. I think it will expand on the "anything can happen in Eberron," and let them feel more attached to *their* weapon as opposed to the longsword they received at basic training.

The reasoning IC is that we're playing Eberron a little further in the future, where tensions are running high and most citizens grow up with the means to defend themselves.

What restrictions would you place on it? I was thinking that I may make a short list for them to pick from based on the race/region they're from.
#2
revvecor
May 26, 2008 20:42:39 Beyond their region of origin and racial heritage giving them weapons as you have said. I would allow my PCs the free feat if it was based on their background. For example;
a scythe if they were a farmer.
a bow if they were a hunter.
a pole-arm if they were a guard.

Personally I would only allow them to do if if there was a reason for it, not just because they didn't want to spend a feat.
#3
mort_q
May 26, 2008 21:20:15 I'd give 'em the exotic weapon profiency feat of something racially or regionaly appropriate.
#4
nomadicc
May 27, 2008 17:02:33 My friends and I have run a couple campaigns where we allow characters to take a free weapon proficiency for every +5 BAB. This allows fighter types to use exotics without wasting a feat slot on the weapon... they aren't worth the slot, 99% of the time...
#5
vegetalss4
May 28, 2008 13:57:43
My friends and I have run a couple campaigns where we allow characters to take a free weapon proficiency for every +5 BAB. This allows fighter types to use exotics without wasting a feat slot on the weapon... they aren't worth the slot, 99% of the time...

that 1 % being the spiked chain?

op topic i think this sound like a good idea, that i dont belive will be game breaking.
#6
naturax
May 28, 2008 16:39:42 Seriously, let them take whatever they want and don't think twice about it. Players usually get really happy when they can use cool equipment, and I doubt the extra feat is going to be game-breaking, and even then, at least it's fair to all the PCs.
#7
Edymnion
May 28, 2008 19:53:08
My friends and I have run a couple campaigns where we allow characters to take a free weapon proficiency for every +5 BAB. This allows fighter types to use exotics without wasting a feat slot on the weapon... they aren't worth the slot, 99% of the time...

Agreed. Every ing time a new weapon gets put in a book, its a blankity blank exotic weapon that, aside from granting +2 to Knowledge (Ass Scratching Techniques) would have been perfectly fine as a martial weapon.

Anyway, I would restrict the weapons they could gain proficiencies in, if I were you. Make a list of weapons that you think are okay, and let them pick from that.
#8
uliahhafengrim
May 29, 2008 12:44:25 Whenever I start a campaign I always try to give players a little something extra on the side. If players are having fun, then I'm going to have fun. If that means I throw a little extra power their way, I'm not too worried.

Although, giving my min-maxing warforged with the Adamantine Body feat an extra pair of arms may have been a little too much (no, you can't have 3 shields--the bonuses don't overlap). It did make for some interesting roleplaying.

"I'm the only one of my kind! I'm unique!" - Crunk

"He's the only one of his kind. I must have him to study and dissect" - Any high level artificer NPC the party encounters
#9
Ardegrath
May 29, 2008 12:59:00 IF you have read Oakspar's thread http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=471897
in one of them he mentioned that as rewards he would sometimes give players feats that generally aren't show stoppers or things that were not too powerful. Having a single weapon proficiency is not too powerful, and if everyone has it regardless of race and place of origin then it wouldn't be unbalanced since that would mean also that all their enemies would too.

It is a nice idea that way you could say that your father taught you too use the greatsword when you where young and after his death you became a rogue, but still knew how to use it. Not the most powerful feat and while it means that your rogue has a great sword it isn't broken at least from my point of view.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 saxaholic May 26, 2008 20:27:16	I'm toying with the idea of allowing my players a free weapon proficiency feat. The reasoning OOC is that I run small groups (two-three PCs), and they hesitate to burn a feat to use a weapon, but feel too restricted by class options. I think it will expand on the "anything can happen in Eberron," and let them feel more attached to their weapon as opposed to the longsword they received at basic training. The reasoning IC is that we're playing Eberron a little further in the future, where tensions are running high and most citizens grow up with the means to defend themselves. What restrictions would you place on it? I was thinking that I may make a short list for them to pick from based on the race/region they're from.
#2 revvecor May 26, 2008 20:42:39	Beyond their region of origin and racial heritage giving them weapons as you have said. I would allow my PCs the free feat if it was based on their background. For example; a scythe if they were a farmer. a bow if they were a hunter. a pole-arm if they were a guard. Personally I would only allow them to do if if there was a reason for it, not just because they didn't want to spend a feat.
#3 mort_q May 26, 2008 21:20:15	I'd give 'em the exotic weapon profiency feat of something racially or regionaly appropriate.
#4 nomadicc May 27, 2008 17:02:33	My friends and I have run a couple campaigns where we allow characters to take a free weapon proficiency for every +5 BAB. This allows fighter types to use exotics without wasting a feat slot on the weapon... they aren't worth the slot, 99% of the time...
#5 vegetalss4 May 28, 2008 13:57:43	My friends and I have run a couple campaigns where we allow characters to take a free weapon proficiency for every +5 BAB. This allows fighter types to use exotics without wasting a feat slot on the weapon... they aren't worth the slot, 99% of the time... that 1 % being the spiked chain? op topic i think this sound like a good idea, that i dont belive will be game breaking.
#6 naturax May 28, 2008 16:39:42	Seriously, let them take whatever they want and don't think twice about it. Players usually get really happy when they can use cool equipment, and I doubt the extra feat is going to be game-breaking, and even then, at least it's fair to all the PCs.
#7 Edymnion May 28, 2008 19:53:08	My friends and I have run a couple campaigns where we allow characters to take a free weapon proficiency for every +5 BAB. This allows fighter types to use exotics without wasting a feat slot on the weapon... they aren't worth the slot, 99% of the time... Agreed. Every ing time a new weapon gets put in a book, its a blankity blank exotic weapon that, aside from granting +2 to Knowledge (Ass Scratching Techniques) would have been perfectly fine as a martial weapon. Anyway, I would restrict the weapons they could gain proficiencies in, if I were you. Make a list of weapons that you think are okay, and let them pick from that.
#8 uliahhafengrim May 29, 2008 12:44:25	Whenever I start a campaign I always try to give players a little something extra on the side. If players are having fun, then I'm going to have fun. If that means I throw a little extra power their way, I'm not too worried. Although, giving my min-maxing warforged with the Adamantine Body feat an extra pair of arms may have been a little too much (no, you can't have 3 shields--the bonuses don't overlap). It did make for some interesting roleplaying. "I'm the only one of my kind! I'm unique!" - Crunk "He's the only one of his kind. I must have him to study and dissect" - Any high level artificer NPC the party encounters
#9 Ardegrath May 29, 2008 12:59:00	IF you have read Oakspar's thread http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=471897 in one of them he mentioned that as rewards he would sometimes give players feats that generally aren't show stoppers or things that were not too powerful. Having a single weapon proficiency is not too powerful, and if everyone has it regardless of race and place of origin then it wouldn't be unbalanced since that would mean also that all their enemies would too. It is a nice idea that way you could say that your father taught you too use the greatsword when you where young and after his death you became a rogue, but still knew how to use it. Not the most powerful feat and while it means that your rogue has a great sword it isn't broken at least from my point of view.