From: barth@wam.umd.edu (Kevin J. Barth)
Subject: Re: Improving a skill with a weapon
Keywords: who reads key words?
Organization: University of Maryland, College Park
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1992 04:22:49 GMT

In article <1992Aug23.043308.23332@u.washington.edu> scythe@byron.u.washington.edu (The Grim Reaper) writes:
>In my campaign, there is a fighter who has devoted himself to
>the study (and eventual mastery) of the quarterstaff.  He has
>specialized in the weapon, and it is usually the only
>weapon he uses.  So my question is, where to go from here?
>Under current second edition rules, there is nothing more for him
>to learn with the weapon.  There seems to be no way for him
>to improve at the staff.  Does anyone out there has an idea for
>allowing him to further improve?  Perhaps special attacks, or 
>something if he devotes a number of profiency slots?
>Any creative DMs out there?
>
>                                                  

Here are some ideas that I have DM'd and/or played over the years

1) Just because it doesn't appear in 2nd edition rules doesn't mean that
   you can't use the 1st edition double specialization rules...In case you
   aren't aware, an additional prof slot beyond specialization means the
   character used to be double specialized, and got +3 both to hit and to
   damage.

2) In my own campaign I allow characters to take an unlimited number of prof
   slots in a weapon, and the bonus is equal to the number of slots that they
   have taken.  Thus, if a fighter takes 6 prof slots in longsword, then his
   attacks with that weapon are at +6/+6.

3) Let the player come up with new fighter proficiencies, applicable only
   to that weapon, which allow bonus attacks or damage.  For example:

   Blockage (Fighter Proficiency)
   
   When this proficiency is chosen by a character who already has ambidexterity,
   multiple weapon use is possible to a higher extent than is normally possible.
   A character using a one-handed weapon may use the same weapon in both hands
   and may attack freely with both in each hand.  Furthermore, , the character
   may, for each attack that he is otherwise entitled to, block a single attack
   with his second hand.  Thus, a character who is entitled to 3 attacks per
   round may make those attacks, while simultaneously blocking three attacks
   tith the other hand.  While using this proficiency, and the intention to
   do so must be announced at the beginning of the combat round, no offensive
   attacks may be made with the second hand - thus the aforementioned character    would have to choose between making 4 attacks per round and making 3 attacks
   and 3 parries.

4) let the character take additional proficiency slots which will permit him
   to hit creatures which may normally be hit by magical weapons.  a character
   taking one additional slot can now hit monsters normally only hit by +1
   weapons, one with two additional slots can hit all creatures hit only by
   +2 weapons, and so on.  These bonuses are not cumulative with any bonuses to
   hit from magical weapons, thus a character with a sword +2 and who has 
   allotted one additional slot to this ability would NOT be able to hit
   creatures hit only by +3 weapons!

Hope some of these might be helpful

Kevin Barth
barth@wam.umd.edu


  

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