Changing Druidic weapons : unbalanced ?

[Plane Sailing]

The easiest thing to do is to just give them access to simple weapons. Happily in 3.5e they removed "oath" restrictions on weapons, so they can use any weapons they obtain access to via feats or multiclassing anyway.

 

[Staffan]

as i understood it, the weapon restrictions were based primarilly on what the weapon resembles; a club is like a slam attack, a sickle is like a talon, a spear is like a spine, a scimitar is like a ...really big claw.

the scimitar is a stretch, but it makes sense mostly. as for the sling, i really think it was just added bc druids needed a ranged weapon, which isnt a great reason, but its better than my original justification for it...

The sickle is the most archetypal of druidic weapons, because (a) it's moon-shaped, and druids often do some worshipping of things like the moon and the sun; and (b) druids use sickles to harvest their mistletoe (1e had rules about proper mistletoe being harvested by the druid himself using a gold sickle under a full moon or something like that - if you used "lesser" mistletoe, your spells were weakened).

However, 1e also didn't have any sickle in their weapon list. So, druids got scimitar instead, because they're both curved blades (nevermind that the sickle has the edge on the inside of the curve while the scimitar has it on the outside). And ever since, the scimitar has been sort of grandfathered into the druid's weapon list.

 

[Chacal]

The easiest thing to do is to just give them access to simple weapons. Happily in 3.5e they removed "oath" restrictions on weapons, so they can use any weapons they obtain access to via feats or multiclassing anyway.

Ooh .
I didn't knew that. I have some trouble thinking about a druid with a greatsword, still. But it certainly open the door to a broader list.
I think I'll stick with the "ex-living weapons" oath-based restrictions (Even if that rules out stone) and give them simple weapons plus a few ones (non composite bows, one or two culture based exotic weapons). And I'll adjust DR as previously mentioned.

Thanks for all the replies

Chacal

 

[skippy_the_witch]

In my campaign, I do not allow druids the use of the scimitar. It was added to give the druid a decent hth combat weapon, like the sling was for ranged weapons. Plus, the crescent shape was one of the original justifications, i.e. crescent of the moon.

A druid's magic is NOT disrupted by worked metal, otherwise you could prevent one from casting spells by wrapping a chain around his body (even if the chain didn't otherwise affect the druids movements or entrap him). Since the most common weapon/tool of the druid would be a knife, which is almost completely made of worked metal (unless you allow uncommon materials substitutes [crystal, obsidian, etc] to be very common). Thus, in my campaign, druids can use any simple weapon that contains no more worked metal than a dagger. Also, being as the Wild half-elves in my world are the only ones with aboriginal elven blood, they are the ones who have kept the ancient elven tradition of racial bow use (the elves of my world are actually invaders from an alternate world).

So my druids get proficiency with all simple weapons with no more worked metal than a dagger, certain racial weapons which follow those same restrictions, and maybe a few culturally significant "exotic" weapons which fit for hunters, herders, and foresters. Since the crossbow, while a simple weapon without much metal, it is too mechanical to fit for a druid.

Thus, druids are allowed:
dagger, punch dagger (if culturally appropriate), club, sickle, light or heavy mace (stone or like head), shortspear, long spear, quarterstaff, spear, dart, javelin, and sling. This is all of the basic Simple Weapons that qualify with my worked metal restrictions.

skippy
GM of the Cursed Earth

 

[Khaalis]

Our house rule on Druids is that they can use all simple weapons as well as the Scythe and Scimitar. They may also use any weapon that is the prefered weapon for their deity as well as racially preferred weapons without penalty. Druids are also proficient with all natural attacks (claw, bite, and so forth) of any form they assume with wild shape.

For example, in the Forgotten Realms, an Elven Druid of Aerdrie Faenya may wield the elven weapons of choice (Longsword, Rapier, and Bow); while Druids of Silvanus may wield any type of Hammer.

Scythe was added due to its application as a farming implement. Scythes are basically just larger versions of sickles. We also chose to keep the Scimitar due to it being a martial version of the curved class of blades similar to a scickle and scythe.