Dwarf power-ups: Good or bad?

[ergeheilalt]

As You Like It ...

If I recall, Ed Stark said 3.5 would be gearing towards how people really play D&D. In the games I've played in, the DMs have always given weapon proficencies in Dwarven Weapons free to any dwarf who is a fighter type dwarf. Heck, once they gave a dwarven bard profieceny in the Waraxe instead of a rapier...

D&D as I like it ... go ahead and give free profs.

Erge

--Edit: On the ground of Half-Elves... I have been tossing arround the idea of giving them 2 favored classes. An Arcane Caster, the Human ability for "Any" ... sounds kinda silly, but in my campaign, Half-Elves are a bit more magical than other elves.

 

[Felon]

Re: As You Like It ...

If I recall, Ed Stark said 3.5 would be gearing towards how people really play D&D. In the games I've played in, the DMs have always given weapon proficencies in Dwarven Weapons free to any dwarf who is a fighter type dwarf.

Well, then IMO what Ed and the boys should've done is simply explain the concept of exotic weapons a little better, because as has been illustrated there are clearly some DM's who just didn't get it. They think a weapon's status as exotic has something to do with how often you see one, not with how difficult they are to wield (and that little point of game-balance where they're better than a comparable martial weapon).

Just curious, but is there anyone who thinks that if someone ran a campaign with only humans, that would mean there would simply be no exotic weapons?

I'm all for gearing the rules towards how people play, but apply that philosophy towards making a more sound game. Adopt house rules as official policy when they're smart house rules, not just because they're common house rules.

 

[Ravellion]

Re: Re: As You Like It ...

Well, then IMO what Ed and the boys should've done is simply explain the concept of exotic weapons a little better, because as has been illustrated there are clearly some DM's who just didn't get it. They think a weapon's status as exotic has something to do with how often you see one, not with how difficult they are to wield (and that little point of game-balance where they're better than a comparable martial weapon).

Indeed. They should have been referred to as "special (or Advanced) weapon proficiencies" from the very beginning. Oh well.

Rav

 

[Viktyr Gehrig]

The WF isn't too big a deal-- except that in my campaigns, the Gnomes won't have it, since the only two double weapons I allow are the double-bladed sword and the quarterstaff.

 

[Valiantheart]

The Dwarf is getting too much IMO. If the Dwarf is getting free Waraxe prof and the Gnome is getting free hook hammer, then the human fighter sure as hell better get free Bastard Sword prof. After all we invented the thing didnt we.

Half-Elves and Half-Orcs both need something.
I kinda like the idea of giving HE favored class Bard and 1 extra skill point per level.
Half-Orcs could use something like a weakened scent ability.

 

[I'm A Banana]

Yeah, the weapon familiarity is not as powerful as most people seem to think...other first level characters can do the same thing. It becomes just a choice between abilities...Do I want to spend a feat to get Dwarven Waraxe Proficiency with my Elf abilities, or do I want to give up my sword and bow proficiencies for that, and spend my feat on Iron Will?

Certainly, getting a bunch of martial weapon profs for free is much better than getting one exotic weapon a level lower....Blargh.

 

[Viktyr Gehrig]

The Dwarf is getting too much IMO. If the Dwarf is getting free Waraxe prof and the Gnome is getting free hook hammer, then the human fighter sure as hell better get free Bastard Sword prof. After all we invented the thing didnt we.

Half-Elves and Half-Orcs both need something.
I kinda like the idea of giving HE favored class Bard and 1 extra skill point per level.
Half-Orcs could use something like a weakened scent ability.

Or give Half-Orcs the real thing, since they're underpowered anyway.

 

[MadScientist]

If weapon familiarity is going to work the way I think it's going to work (i.e. a dwarf will be able to use the dwarven waraxe or urgrosh w/o penalty as if they had the EWP) it is a huge balance problem. Getting one EWP for free is much better than getting a few MWP's for free like the Elf does. Why? Because an elf Fighter, Ranger or Barbarian would get all of the martial proficiencies anyway, in these cases they are redundant. They are only useful if you have no "fighter type" levels, it which case you are generally a sub-optimal fighter anyway (uber cleric archers aside). In the case of a Dwarf fighter, that character gets to use a weapon that is superior to all the martial weapons for free! This is a clear advantage over "fighter types" from races w/o the free EWP.

The other thing I don't like about it is that it provides a strong incentive to create Dwarven fighters that use the Dwarven waraxe (or urgrosh) over all other weapons. There is no mechanical reason to use a warhammer over the dwarven waraxe for example. (Now the waraxe is clearly the superior weapon but requires a feat to use one handed). Why creat a dwarf fighter that doesn't use the waraxe or urgrosh? With the essentially free EWP there isn't much reason not to. I thought 3E was supposed to be about balance and tough choices? Giving away free EWP's seems counter to both of these ideals.

The dwarf is allready a strong race for all of the classes except the Sorcerer and Bard. They don't need a boost. Especially one that encourages sameness between dwarf fighter types and is dubious balance wise.

 

[mooby]

The free EWP is good, especially at lower levels.

If the DM wants to balance it out, just don't hand out magical Dwarven Waraxes. Heck, if they are exotic, they're assumed to be much more rare, and therefore won't be found in treasure piles.

 

[Nail]

If the DM wants to balance it out, just don't hand out magical Dwarven Waraxes. Heck, if they are exotic, they're assumed to be much more rare, and therefore won't be found in treasure piles.

Nice try.

If they are the best weapon for a dwarf to have, then more dwarves will have them. Therefore there should be plenty of magical ones (given a typical magic level).

AND

Exotic weapons are not "rarer" necessarily. They are simply more difficult to wield....hence the extra feat necessary to use them.