D&D 5E Can a rogue train in longbow to gain proficiency?

[aco175]

Have your character start researching magic bows that granted proficiency as part of their magic. Come up with a history and some sample powers that legend says was part of the bow's magic. If one of my characters showed interest in something like this, I would go with it and be able to make up an adventure. Everyone wins this way.

 

[UNSpectre]

Hound your gm for bracers of archery. This can have unintended consequences.

 

[Xeviat]

There's a feat that gives you +1 Str or Dex and proficiency in 4 weapons.

There's a feat that gives you proficiency in 3 skills or tools. This seems to imply that proficiency in weapons is worth less than proficiency in skills.

There's a variant rule for training skills or tools with downtime. Thus, it seems perfectly reasponable to ask about training weapons in downtime.

This also means that maybe we shouldn't have a simple/martial weapon distinction and just make the weapons balanced with each other. But that might be going too far ...

 

[Hriston]

From Dragon, Vol. VI, No. 1 (July, 1981), p 22: Use of a fired weapon such as a bow, crossbow, or sling requires [d12 + 5] months and must be taught by a member of any fighting class.

Personally, I'd allow the training to be conducted by any character proficient with the weapon. Training is complete, and proficiency is gained once 10 XP are earned using the weapon.

 

[Whirlingdervish]

I allow for the training in almost anything tools, weapons, skills and languages.... however i don't use the downtime rules training involves using the skill, language,tool or weapon in play

 

[n0nym]

I allow my players to spend "Quest XP" during downtime in order to become proficient in weapons, armors, etc... It's a special kind of XP they get from doing side quests and discovering hidden lore, secret places and generally getting interested in the world's background.

They can't use this kind of XP to level up (I use milestones), but they're usually very happy to get some since it allows them to "customize" their characters.

I also allow them to trade their gold for Quest XP. The gold is assumed to serve as payment for trainers, materials, etc...

 

[CapnZapp]

Are there rules options for a character class to train for specific weapon proficiency? If anyone can point me to the rules reference.

Not directly - no, there are no rules for picking up an individual weapon proficiency.

If you don't use the customization options of Chapter 6, the answer is "no". To keep the game simple, you can only ever use the weapons you start out with.

But the game does contains optional rules if this is important to you: Chapter 6.

If you do use multiclassing, simply take a level of Fighter (or Barbarian, etc).

If you do use Feats, take the Weapon Master feat for four individual weapon proficiencies.

 

[Queer Venger]

I'd point to the rule that says anything can happen if you can convince your DM it should. So it's start there. (Why is a shortbow not sufficient, would be my first question).

The player obtained an Oathbow, which is a longbow, after defeating the White dragon at the end of HotDQ, (I modified the treasure award).

 

[Queer Venger]

Not directly - no, there are no rules for picking up an individual weapon proficiency.

If you don't use the customization options of Chapter 6, the answer is "no". To keep the game simple, you can only ever use the weapons you start out with.

But the game does contains optional rules if this is important to you: Chapter 6.

If you do use multiclassing, simply take a level of Fighter (or Barbarian, etc).

If you do use Feats, take the Weapon Master feat for four individual weapon proficiencies.

To be clear, can the rogue in question, who is 9th, take 1 level class of fighter, then switch back to rogue to gain the longbow proficiency?

 

[Caliban]

Per Chapter 7 (Treasure), there are special rewards other than magic items you can give characters. One of those is training (page 231) - which can result in proficiency in a skill, or in a feat. That feat could be the Weapon Master Feat.

If the feat seems like to much, I personally don't see a problem with using the Training reward to grant a single weapon proficiency.