From: tgt33358@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Deus Imperator)
Subject: Re: AD&D 2ed. Weapon Specialization
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Date: Tue, 7 Apr 1992 17:54:55 GMT

In article <6APR199210545213@zeus.tamu.edu> mpk9716@zeus.tamu.edu (Health Man) writes:
>
>	Did anyone read the last Dragon that stated a Fighter can have
>a specialization in only one weapon?  According this the Dragon, the
>first printing of the Players Handbook and the Fighters Handbook are in
>error when they say a fighter can specialize in more than one weapon.  I had
>figheters that were specialized in many weapons, this new outlook takes
>away much of that power.  But, it does make some sense that one can only
>be SPECIALZED in a single weapon.  
>
>	So, all you fighters better be carefull when you pick you weapon
>specialization--you only get one now.
>
>	For those of you who also read this article in the Dragon.  Tell me,
>do you think the Kits get the free specialization in addition to the normal
>one? or what?
>
>Michael
>

I always loved Madmartigan in Willow, where, in the enemy camp, after the 
hysterical pixie dust scene, he picks up a strange sword, and starts swinging
with the ease of his old weapon.  There's something about the swordsman
at a "Choose your weapon" duel where he picks up some outlandish sword,
and whittles the challenger to pieces.
	Thus when the Complete Fighter's Handbook came out, with Tight and
Broad groups, I inwardly rejoiced.  Finally, a way to simulate the derring
do we see so often in movies.  However, the true problem came at higher
levels.  For three slots, you became proficient in umpteen million blade
weapons.  Then for just another -bang- instant specialization.  I smelled
rape in the wind.
	THen I was presented with an absolutely fascinating character by
a good friend a few years ago.  He was double specialized in darts, and
asked that since it was such a  piddly weapon (you NEVER find magical darts
lying around the evil mages' keep), he wanted to know if he could pump
every slot he got into darts, saying he was going to be inhumanly accurate
with the dart.  So I created a rule:  every specialization slot after 
double specialization got you +1/+1, or +1 to hit and damage.  
	And surprisingly, it did not affect game balance.  Your milage may
vary, since my games tended to go away from pure mechanics, and much more into
roleplaying, but with the disarm and sap rules in the fighter's handbook,
coupled with the ability to get really good with a single weapon, made 
the fighters in my campaign more distinctive.  THe best example was a 
fighter who pumped everything into quarterstaff.  When the party first met 
him, they looked at his brawny muscles (18/46) and utter lack of armor, 
and wondered what the hell was going on.  He explained he was a fighter, 
and refused a +1 longsword when proffered later.  He soon proved to be an
unholy menace with that staff, however, easily surpassing those others with
magical weapons.  So much so, that the party was convinced the staff was
magical.  So they swiped it, and went after him (the staffer had pissed a
few party members off).  Imagine their surprise when he grabbed a broom, 
and proceeded to wipe the floor with them.  Of course, the penalty to all
this occured when they came across undead that could only be hit by magic.
He was poop out of luck.
	Similarly, the only weapon you need dread is the longsword, since
there seem to be SO many magical ones.  Boosting naturally someone's 
ability, plus with magical bonuses, amkes for a threashing machine.  If
this happens, start making notes in your modules that the gods frown
on his uncreative arrogance, (Longswords really ARE the best weapons, but
far too common for my liking) and start polymorphing weapons the fighter finds
into magical cutlasses, bastard swords, and rapiers, to make the guy 
wince.
	Basically, multiple specialization is justified by the ability 
to multiple specialize in a non-weapon proficiency, with each slot giving
you a +1 bonus.  IN a good campaign with equal value given to skills as
well as weapons, such an increase ought to be equitable to an increase with
a weapon.  As I've stated, your milage may vary.
-- 
Thanatos, DeathUrge, Master of a Bunch of Stuff tgt33358@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu
"Why would you think a priest any more moral than the rest of us?  Heavens
 sake's child, why do you think they're called 'Father?'"
					-The Company of Wolves