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<blockquote data-quote="Henry" data-source="post: 730887" data-attributes="member: 158">I respectfully request that your source checks his facts.1977 to 1980 - First edition (penned by Gary Gygax) did NOT feature Rangers with automatic two weapon fighting. The only place fighting with two weapons is mentioned is in the 1E DMG, where it is noted that the base penalty is -2/-4; your reaction adjustment from your dexterity reduced this penalty, all the way down to 0/-1 for a user with an 18 DEX.1985 - In Unearthed Arcana (a 1st edition product), Dark Elf PC's were given the ability to use two weapons without penalty, regardless of DEX. This is because in Gary's D1-D3 and Q1 Series, he allowed Drow elf NPC's to use Short sword and Dagger together with&nbsp; no penalty.1987 - Drizzt Do-Urden is created by R.A. Salvatore. I do not have the scoop, but it is easy to see that Gary's Dark Elf precedent is likely what Salvatore picked up on for his novel.It is unclear what happened after this point - possibly the Ranger's two-weapon ability had something to do with Drizzt's popularity, I do not know. I do know the conscious decision was made to remove the Dark Elf and all special powers from viability as a PC race. In the 2E PHB it is stated that an elf can be any subtype (dark, wood, gray, etc.) but that their abilities are the same as high elves. Perhaps they wished to keep Drizzt's ability with two weapons legal? Unknown.But in 1st edition, Rangers did NOT have any special abilites with two weapons that other classes did not.In 1E, Even CLERICS could wield two weapons, as long as one was shorter than the other!</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Henry, post: 730887, member: 158"] I respectfully request that your source checks his facts. 1977 to 1980 - First edition (penned by Gary Gygax) did NOT feature Rangers with automatic two weapon fighting. The only place fighting with two weapons is mentioned is in the 1E DMG, where it is noted that the base penalty is -2/-4; your reaction adjustment from your dexterity reduced this penalty, all the way down to 0/-1 for a user with an 18 DEX. 1985 - In Unearthed Arcana (a 1st edition product), Dark Elf PC's were given the ability to use two weapons without penalty, regardless of DEX. This is because in Gary's D1-D3 and Q1 Series, he allowed Drow elf NPC's to use Short sword and Dagger together with no penalty. 1987 - Drizzt Do-Urden is created by R.A. Salvatore. I do not have the scoop, but it is easy to see that Gary's Dark Elf precedent is likely what Salvatore picked up on for his novel. It is unclear what happened after this point - possibly the Ranger's two-weapon ability had something to do with Drizzt's popularity, I do not know. I do know the conscious decision was made to remove the Dark Elf and all special powers from viability as a PC race. In the 2E PHB it is stated that an elf can be any subtype (dark, wood, gray, etc.) but that their abilities are the same as high elves. Perhaps they wished to keep Drizzt's ability with two weapons legal? Unknown. But in 1st edition, Rangers did NOT have any special abilites with two weapons that other classes did not. In 1E, Even CLERICS could wield two weapons, as long as one was shorter than the other! [/QUOTE]

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