Druids, shafted again?

[lukelightning]

Who's to say you're a forest druid? Maybe you're one of those funny river druids!

 

[drdevoid]

This was a conscious design decision. In 3.0, druids had proficiency with the longspear.

Perhaps with the power up of the druid class during the revision, the designers needed to throw the other simple weapon proficiency only classes a bone.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

In which case, luke, you want trident, net, gaff, hook, rope/lasso, dagger, cutlass as your weapon list.

Really, the Druid weapon list overall is due to the historical inspiration for the class. The limitation against the longspear is primarily because its impractical for the class' primary environs.

 

[Victim]

Druids, shafted again?

I don't understand. These words all make sense individually, but put together like that they make no sense.

Druids are already good enough without the zone of control that a reach weapon provides. And it's not like you can't get proficiency with it via feats or multiclassing.

 

[Fenris]

Druids can use a longspear. They don't have any weapon restrictions to violate.

They just take a -4 penalty unless they gain proficiency somehow.

-Hyp.

Ah, I was extending the armor restrictions to weapons. Reading words that were not there.

However my original question still stands. However the answer seems to be "Because".

 

[Nail]

However my original question still stands. However the answer seems to be "Because".

Why not?

Or: Why can't a wizard use a long sword? It's only a bigger dagger......

 

[Deset Gled]

Why not?

Or: Why can't a wizard use a long sword? It's only a bigger dagger......

Or for that matter, why can't they weild a 15' stick and have a reach of 15'?

Why not a 20' stick and have 20' reach?

Why not a 100' stick and have 100' reach?

 

[frankthedm]

I let druids have the longspear and even a greatclub that is made without metal.

Or for that matter, why can't they weild a 15' stick and have a reach of 15'?

I'd let them have the awl pike, though a 15' long stick will be inconvienent at times.

Why not a 20' stick and have 20' reach?

That long and i say it has to be set on the ground Vs charge to be used without a -4 to hit.

Why not a 100' stick and have 100' reach?[/

Now you are being silly.

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

Flavorwise, you would never use a longspear for hunting -- it would be absurd in any terrain.

Mechanically speaking, it would be attractive when fighting Small or larger animals. But a character class design should be based on flavor and game balance, rather than how cool it would be to have another bennie.

It is undoubtedly a design decision to restrict the Druid to sucky weapons and armor. That is an oft overlook facet of the Druid in the eternal "Druid is Overpowered" threads -- absent Wildshape the Druid is only slightly better than the Wizard in melee and quite a bit weaker than everyone else.

 

[Nyaricus]

Really, the Druid weapon list overall is due to the historical inspiration for the class. The limitation against the longspear is primarily because its impractical for the class' primary environs.

mmmm, while the druid shares the tree-huggerness of the Celtic Druids, the class got he short end of the stick when it comes to "historical accuracy". Shapeshifting wasn't one of their fortes

IMC, here's what I do (using weapon group profs):

Druid - Druids no longer are restricted to Druid or Spear Weapon Groups. They may now choose from Bows, Clubs and Maces, Entangling Weapons, Spears and Throwing Spear Weapon Groups. However this does mean that the Scimitar is a restricted weapon [it was a poor inclusion anyway]. Heavy and Light Maces, which are traditionally composed of metal, are restricted as well.

This is using my version of weapon groups, found here

Anyways, if using the MESSy(stem) (Martial Exotic Simple System) then I'd give druids the Greatclub, whip, net, longspear, short and longbows and trident. I really don't know why they don't ahve bows though...