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<blockquote data-quote="Szatany" data-source="post: 5869010" data-attributes="member: 21178">Agreed - proficiencies are unnecessary.As it is, weapons are fairly similar to each other. The main difference when using a weapon A versus weapon B doesn't come from the weapon itself, but rather from ability score (if A and B don't use the same one), and from powers.Now, the main reason I see for proficiencies is to herd players into certain play styles. For example, clerics are proficient with heavy armor and maces because designers want player clerics to wear heavy armor and wield maces. But this can be achieved in different ways. If there are no armor proficiencies but clerics still have an ability to cast spells in heavy armor, they will still use it. Similar solution should be available to martial characters with weapon groups. If designers want barbarians to run around with two-handed weapons, they should give barbarians abilities or bonuses when they use two-handers. There's no need to add a separate subsystem of proficiencies that accomplished exactly the same for no visible gain.Not a valid comparison. It would be valid if a wizard could cast ANY wizard spell, but with a -4 penalty is he didn't know it.If wizard's spells known worked like proficiencies, they would also deserve to be axed. And rogues do know all skills (untrained ones), just like everyone else.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Szatany, post: 5869010, member: 21178"] Agreed - proficiencies are unnecessary. As it is, weapons are fairly similar to each other. The main difference when using a weapon A versus weapon B doesn't come from the weapon itself, but rather from ability score (if A and B don't use the same one), and from powers. Now, the main reason I see for proficiencies is to herd players into certain play styles. For example, clerics are proficient with heavy armor and maces because designers want player clerics to wear heavy armor and wield maces. But this can be achieved in different ways. If there are no armor proficiencies but clerics still have an ability to cast spells in heavy armor, they will still use it. Similar solution should be available to martial characters with weapon groups. If designers want barbarians to run around with two-handed weapons, they should give barbarians abilities or bonuses when they use two-handers. There's no need to add a separate subsystem of proficiencies that accomplished exactly the same for no visible gain. Not a valid comparison. It would be valid if a wizard could cast [B]ANY[/B] wizard spell, but with a -4 penalty is he didn't know it. If wizard's spells known worked like proficiencies, they would also deserve to be axed. And rogues do know all skills (untrained ones), just like everyone else. [/QUOTE]

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