"Now what?"

[Celebrim]

Sounds like a good plan. Stick to it.

As a DM I have a certain degree of randomness in what I give out. I don't try to give the players what they need unless they absolutely need it to solve a puzzle I've planned for them. For instance, if the party has to fly across a chasm, I don't count on the party having fly equipment available at the time. I stash a fly potion (or three) somewhere ahead of the chasm. If the party has to defeat something with DR, and no one in the party has a magic weapon, then there is probably a weapon in room with the critter (or nearby). But if I'm placing a magic sword, I'm probably not going to put a bastard sword just because I know the fighter took the exotic weapon proficiency or not put it if he didn't.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

Yeah, curse all those one trick pony fighters who take Weapon Focus and Specialization.

Wait, you took Improved Crit too? MIN MAXER!!!

Don't forget the munchkin rogues who take Weapon Finesse!

 

[Grundle]

i'm the type of dm that just gives out what i think is appropriate. i hate giving out weapons specific to the players idea of where they want their character to go because that just tends to lead to people min/maxing even that much more.

honestly... the players have no idea what they're gonna find so they better not make themselves one trick ponies.

joe b.

Thats a good point. However, when I DM I like to plant treasures that for the most part fit with the characters. It makes for more satisfied players and can help maintain a magic-is-special feel to the campaign by reducing the PCs desire to seek out MagicMarts, etc. to trade in the stuff they found for the stuff they "really" want.

That said, this sort of thing could certainly become ridiculous if taken to Monty-Hall-ish extremes.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

It makes for more satisfied players

Especially if the player in question plays a weapon master with a rapier, having all feats you can imagine for that weapon (w.focus, w.specialization, improved crit, power crit, w. finesse) and wants a good rapier, and no longsword or axe or whatever.

 

[Thanee]

I don't think that would be a valid reason. If you play in a campaign where magic items are scarce, you better not overspecialize and hope for the DM to toss the right weapon in your direction!

Bye
Thanee

 

[hong]

Just let someone polymorph any object the rapier into a polearm... oh wait, you said low magic!

I'd also not let the rapier dictate your future!

Just don't overspecialize, as many others have mentioned, so you can still use the rapier, if the necessity arises.

As a ranger, there's nothing stopping him using the rapier, no matter what feats he chooses....

 

[Kae'Yoss]

I don't think that would be a valid reason. If you play in a campaign where magic items are scarce, you better not overspecialize and hope for the DM to toss the right weapon in your direction!

So you say that it's a bad Idea to commit yourself to a single weapon? It's better to do everything, but do nothing properly? I would not let the DM force me into a roll like that. It's no real world we're playing in. It's a fantasy world. And it's only there to provide fun. In a certain way, that world has to revolve around the player characters. If I play RPG, I want to have fun. If my version of fun in that party should be playing "warrior that specializes in the use of the (insert weapon here)", I don't wanna hear the DM say things like "But if you use that weapon, you'll probably never have a magical weapon."

 

[Thanee]

That's right, of course, but I was speaking of the specific case of a campaign where magic items are scarce, and a character specializing in a single weapon from the begin on (especially if it is some uncommon weapon), might end up never having a proper magic weapon then, unless the DM decides to be merciful.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Kae'Yoss]

That's right, of course, but I was speaking of the specific case of a campaign where magic items are scarce, and a character specializing in a single weapon from the begin on (especially if it is some uncommon weapon), might end up never having a proper magic weapon then, unless the DM decides to be merciful.

Why shouldn't he? It's his job to please the players and supply them with adventure. Why should he punish players who don't want to be longsword fighter #2545871 or your-average-dwarf-with-a-axe-and-a-shield? If it's a low-magic campaign, it's probably OK that not every hedge wizard sells those weapons by the dozen, but a DM that doesn't include such a weapon is a DM I call a self-absorbed, pedantic jerk. It can be difficult for the player to obtain such a weapon - it can even be a quest, and what's a better quest for the weapon master to find the very best glaive? - but it should just not be impossible. I say it again: reason one for playing D&D is having fun.

 

[Thanee]

No, not impossible... but not automatic either!

Bye
Thanee