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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Elder-Basilisk" data-source="post: 297926" data-attributes="member: 3146">I'm not so certain that a character wouldn't be considered a master swordsman (assuming that the character is proficient with swords) at the attainment of a certain attack bonus. After all, a character with with a +5 BAB hits as often as the same character with +4 BAB and weapon focus. . . .What I would imagine is this: Being considered a master of X weapon generally occurs at a fixed game mechanical point (which will vary depending upon the power level of the game).For a low powered game, I would imagine that a character who has a BAB of +6 and weapon specialization in a weapon would be considered a master of the weapon. Weapon specialization is required because it allows the wielder to do more damage with the weapon--and is the only technique to permit that. BAB +6 is the cut off point because that is the point at which the character in noticably quicker than other warriors (the first iterative attack).This would mean that only fighters could be considered weapon masters but hey, they do put in the training (4 levels of it to be precise) to do that and others don't. . . .For a higher powered game (probably D&D core power levels), I would require weapon specialization and/or improved critical (perhaps both) and a +11 BAB (the second iterative attack--another mechanical point that would have clearly visible in game effects) to be considered a master swordsman or whatever.Alternately, I might require the weapon master prestige class or the WoT blademaster prestige class. I'm somewhat hesitant to do so, however, because it seems to me that there should be distinct differences between schools teaching mastery of the same weapon--the roaring lion school focusses on power and strength (power attack, sunder, cleave, great cleave, improved sunder) in their mastery of the longsword whereas the biting wind school focusses on finesse (dodge, mobility, expertise, spring attack, whirlwind attack, improved weapon focus, ki whirlwind) in their mastery of the longsword. Clearly, if I require weaponmaster levels to be considered a master of the longsword, all masters of the longsword will start to look pretty similar and will focus on expertise/mobility/etc. That would keep me from ever having the duel between two masters of different styles of longsword fighting since only one of them would be a "blademaster."</blockquote>

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