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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Elder-Basilisk" data-source="post: 927902" data-attributes="member: 3146">If it would be totally overpowered for humans, half-orcs, and half-elves to get an additional bonus feat (or even a predetermined feat like strong soul, iron will, luck of heroes, etc) then what does that say about dwarves, gnomes, and elves (already as strong a choice as human for most character concepts) effectively getting one or two free predetermined feats?Why not? In a fantasy world, humans are a race like any other. If all other races have proclivities to certain exotic weapons that enable them to use them without spending a feat, why wouldn't humans have a proclivity to certain weapons?Then maybe humans, half-elves, and half-orcs should get weapon familiarity: bastard sword.Non-fighter elves use those weapons. Elves who are fighters, barbarians, rangers, or paladins have no particular incentive to use longswords or rapiers unless it fits with their character concept.And where does this information come from? The elf information is largely a reflection of the D&D rules as they have come down to us over three editions. (In LotR and the Silmarillion, elves do use a lot of swords and bows but so does everyone else. The only distinctions in armarment is that Gil Galad is mentioned to have carried a spear and the Galadrim and elves of the mirkwood were known as archers). The dwarves information is a reflection of Warhammer. (Before people start on LotR, they might want to consider the weapons of dwarves other than Gimli. The dwarves of the Silmarillion were noted for the masks they wore in battle rather than their weapons and the most notable blow any of them struck was, IIRC a dwarf from Nogrod or Belegost who stabbed Glaurung with a dagger. Thorin used a sword. And Dain's dwarves carried great mattocks when they marched to the battle of the five armies). And as far as I know, outside of Warhammer, orcs had no special use for two handed weapons before 3e. (In LotR, they used pretty much every weapon everyone else did).Sure. But that's setting dependent. If FR, clerics of Torm and Haela Brightaxe probably bump greatsword a couple spots up on the list. In Greyhawk, flails, and longswords or battle-axes get a boost depending upon the version of Heironeous in use. In your campaign, it's anyone's guess until you tell us.With fighter as a favored class, you can count on a lot of dwarves taking at least one level. (IME, the only dwarf characters I've seen without fighter levels are a couple of clerics and a wizard (and the wizard is 1st level). And with waraxe familiarity, there will be few dwarves who choose a d8 one-handed weapon.I would predict no warhammers. It's equal to the battle axe but strictly inferior to the waraxe. Greatsword is at least as common among dwarves I've played with as greataxe and I would predict that it would become more popular vis a vis the greataxe rather than less since, as a two handed weapon, its mechanical superiority to the waraxe is slightly more pronounced than the greataxe's. Thus, if a character is going to take a two handed weapon, the greatsword makes more sense.And I suspect you'll still see quite a few morning stars in the "no martial weapon proficiency camp."OK, I'll admit rapier belongs on the list. However, levels of fighter or ranger look pretty attractive to rogues and with thinblade familiarity too, it would be equivalent to getting two feats with the fighter level or an extra feat with the ranger level. Favored class rules are probably the only thing that would hold most elvish rogues back.And rogues may use composite shortbows. I've only seen one non-halfling character ever carry one though.However, I think quibbling about the details of probable weapon distributions misses the point--a game with "weapon familiarity" type abilities will see a marked decrease in the variety of weapons used. (And, IMO, given dwarves other advantages +2 save vs spells, +2 saves vs. poison, +2 con, +1 to hit certain races, +4 AC vs. giants, etc. the weapon usage by fighters could well hit 60% dwarven waraxe, 40% everything else).</blockquote>

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