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Message: <blockquote data-quote="AbdulAlhazred" data-source="post: 6078961" data-attributes="member: 82106">Its also not strictly true that "all weapons were the same" in OD&D (pre-Greyhawk). The two-handed sword dealt 2d6 damage (IE double that of other weapons). This was a significant loss for especially low-level melee PCs that often lacked shields and magic weapons. There were other things too. A dagger, spear, or hand axe could be thrown, a pole arm could be used to strike from a distance or against a charge (no real explicit rules, but you would consult Chainmail, or else the DM was expected to come up with something if the player tried it). Maces were OK weapons, but not great, even in the early days. Remember, stats counted for very little, the cleric and the fighter had very similar hit points, etc. The MAIN thing that made the fighter better in combat was better weapons, better armor, and eventually better to-hit. So I have to agree, clerics lacked full weapon access for mechanical reasons. I know that was the opinion prevailing amongst the group I played OD&D with back in the day because we talked about it. Once in a while someone talked the DM into allowing a cleric with spears or whatever. It was always debated if it was changing game balance.</blockquote>