1e characters could use any weapon on their class lists even if not proficient, but with a non-proficiency penalty on their attack rolls.
A critique and review of the Fighter class
EDIT: no, I'm wrong, it did, I couldn't find the rules. It's on PHB page 36-37. Mea culpa, I blame my oldmanitis.
Garthanos
Arcadian Knight
Ah that is right, basic D&D had no proficiency limit. I cannot say I even saw Unearthed Arcana till 3e era.
Nor apparently is my memory good enough to remember it in the PHB
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Garthanos
Arcadian Knight
Yup there was a balance point ... though it you could get your mark strong enough your ac could get pretty high too and still work.
I think the most effective defender I had was, bizarrely enough, the strangest one. Dragonborn (fear) Fighter/Snapping Tetsudo. Far from the best Paragon Path (I took it on a dare, lol, as someone said there was no way it could be good), but I got to the point that the DM just gave up.
We had a large battle with a demon and a bunch of minions in the Shadowfell. I moved up, used my dragonfear to mark every enemy on the field (I even actually hit some with it, to my surprise!), used my minor action to use an Intimidate Utility power to give all enemies -5 to hit anyone other than me, action pointed (which gave me a +4 AC boost from Snapping Tetsudo) then full defensed (for another +4 AC).
The DM stopped the game to rant at me for a few minutes, since giving all his enemies -7 to hit anyone other than me, while I had just upped my AC by 8 gave him no good tactical options.
To which I replied, in my best Jack Sparrow impression, "Fighter!". I mean, forcing a Catch-22 was the whole point of the Defender role! And it wasn't like I could do that every turn.
But one turn was all my allies needed to seriously thin out the ranks.
We had a large battle with a demon and a bunch of minions in the Shadowfell. I moved up, used my dragonfear to mark every enemy on the field (I even actually hit some with it, to my surprise!), used my minor action to use an Intimidate Utility power to give all enemies -5 to hit anyone other than me, action pointed (which gave me a +4 AC boost from Snapping Tetsudo) then full defensed (for another +4 AC).
The DM stopped the game to rant at me for a few minutes, since giving all his enemies -7 to hit anyone other than me, while I had just upped my AC by 8 gave him no good tactical options.
To which I replied, in my best Jack Sparrow impression, "Fighter!". I mean, forcing a Catch-22 was the whole point of the Defender role! And it wasn't like I could do that every turn.
But one turn was all my allies needed to seriously thin out the ranks.
Garthanos
Arcadian Knight
Love the Catch-22 of the fighter
GMforPowergamers
Legend
well I have never stopped a game to rant, I have inbetween games asked players to rebuild less optimized after moments like this. "You got me... it was great, but I don't want to have to plan around you having that option every major encounter... and neither do you"
But we have a M.A.D. thought process even today with counterspell. 1 or 2 Npc/monsters useing it not an issue, a player getting it and having a BIG moment every few levels... great... if you as the player or I as the DM start useing it every encounter, then what's good for the goose is good for the gander and you will ALWAYS see the DM wins the arms race...
The issue is the other players. If 1 player gets an arms race with the monsters, it can leave the others behind.
And proficiency in Longsword and Broadsword were two completely different things!
For some weird reason, IIRC Monks had the fastest progression...with a limited selection to choose from...and open hand attacks anyways...
Does anything about the Monk class make sense? The DMG even has a hidden rule limiting even the Grand Master of Flowers to being unable to stun or kill a creature that is taller than 9' 2" and weighing more than 1100 pounds! You know, like a lot of high level opponents!
