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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Jer" data-source="post: 3768816" data-attributes="member: 19857">That's exactly what I would argue - get rid of all penalties and assume that non-proficient is the baseline.  Build the weapon stats around that assumption and then give some kind of bonus for being proficient with a weapon.  As it stands now, the write-ups for weapons assume that you're proficient with the weapon being used, but I'd argue that shouldn't be the baseline - the assumption should be that you're NOT proficient with the weapon and proficiency should let you use it better.With what's been said regarding 4e so far, I might solve this using the damage the weapon does - a character proficient in a weapon is allowed to add his level to damage done with the weapon, while if you aren't proficient you can only ever do the "baseline" damage with the weapon.  I might also suggest that only proficient characters can make critical hits with a weapon - if you're not proficient, you can use the weapon but you'll never be able to get those key strikes in no matter how lucky you get.</blockquote>