D&D (2024) Why are weapon masteries limited?

[Steampunkette]

d4 damage and 20ft range?
it's more of a desperation than an option.

More seriously, though: That could easily be a ranged sneak attack. So 1d4+Gobs of d6s.

And it's not like most fights -have- particularly long ranges.

this is good combo, still somewhat bad range.

Granted, for sure. But it's the price you pay for a ranged option without wasting time swapping weapons!

FANTASTIC scene!!! Love it!

If anyone -hasn't- watched Excalibur I recommend it highly. One of the best examples of Arthuriana I've ever known. It doesn't get all the details right (even within its particular retelling of the legend), but it is incredibly well done and gives a great sense of the kinds of trials and tribulations that went on.

Plus you get Patrick Stewart, Liam Neeson, Helen Mirren, and Gabriel Byrne all pretty young in their acting careers.

Generationally great film, honestly.

 

[Bacon Bits]

As for golf-bagging, if you mean by that a combatant switching to an appropriate weapon for given situation, that I would to a certain degree definitely consider a feature and not a flaw. It is both interesting and realistic. Historically warriors tended to use wide variety of weapons and adapt based on situation. A single samurai might fight with a naginata, bow, katana, wakizashi or dual wield the latter two depending on the circumstances.

That seems to me to be a confusion between mastery and proficiency. Clearly, a Fighter can be proficient in all weapons. Mastery is another thing entirely. Either way, though, a Champion Fighter could have Mastery of four weapons and possess two Fighting Styles at level 7.

 

[ECMO3]

Meanwhile, the ability to switch... I just don't think it's going to come up in practice. In most games, you'll pick your kit at level 1 and stick to it. Your DM will dispense items that fit what fighting style, mastery, and feats you picked because they're not a jerk and they're not oblivious. So to me the swap rule is entirely there just because bad DMs exist and the rules need to account for that.

It has come up in my games. My Ranger started with Heavy Crossbow and Dagger and switched to Hand Axe and Dagger at level 2 if I find a great magic thrown weapon I will switch to that.

Also I don't think it is a bad DM to give random loot or if using an off the shelf product whatever is in the adventure. Rewarding players who choose versatile builds is not being a jerk either.

In a game I am playing (the same one above with the Ranger) the DM handed out a Staff of Striking at 2nd level which did not really fit any of the martials in the party ... so the Druid is using it.

As far as making narrative sense, changing masteries after a night or rest makes far more sense than fully healing your wounds with rest. At least when it comes to Masteries I can describe how it could work - you wake up and practice a bunch of routines with your two weapons to get ready for the day.

 

[Vaalingrade]

I ran into this problem at most tables I sat at in a 2e or 3e table when weapon specialization was allowed and used.

Whenever the wrong weapon dropped, if the fighter player didn't already have a higher +X weapon.... complaining,

It's the Ranger Favored Enemy for Weapons.

If MOST tables were complaining about it, I don't think it was a player-side problem.

How hard is it to just give useful treasure?

 

[ECMO3]

If MOST tables were complaining about it, I don't think it was a player-side problem.

How hard is it to just give useful treasure?

No harder than building a PC that doesn't require specific treasure.

We use dice for hit rolls, we use dice for ability scores, we use dice for saving throws, I don't see the problem with using dice for treasure.

 

[Horwath]

No harder than building a PC that doesn't require specific treasure.

so everyone plays a sorcerer then?

We use dice for hit rolls, we use dice for ability scores, we use dice for saving throws,

Ok, good

I don't see the problem with using dice for treasure.

sorry, but that is just bad DMing

 

[Guest 7037866]

so everyone plays a sorcerer then?

Not at all by any stretch of the imagination.

sorry, but that is just bad DMing

Not at all by any stretch of the imagination.

AD&D had treasure tables and IME people used them regularly. Sometimes a magic item or weapon came up that no one wanted or could use, and guess what, it wasn't a big deal. It was sold, traded, or given away to a retainer, ally, local ruler or whatever.

Just like DMs have used dice for random encounter tables and a whole slew of things... nothing "bad" about DMing that way.

You might not like it personally, but you are not the be-all-end-all judge of proper DMing. Right?

 

[Horwath]

Just like DMs have used dice for random encounter tables and a whole slew of things... nothing "bad" about DMing that way.

You might not like it personally, but you are not the be-all-end-all judge of proper DMing. Right?

I say because I've seen on DMs faces will to live drain from them in real time after they made custom magic items that were cool somewhat only to see the players next session "vendor trash" them at the 1st mage guild.

if you do not design treasure to your party needs, you might just give them a chest full of gold and an inventory list of the next city.

 

[Guest 7037866]

I say because I've seen on DMs faces will to live drain from them in real time after they made custom magic items that were cool somewhat only to see the players next session "vendor trash" them at the 1st mage guild.

Why would the DM care? You made something, the players found no value in it, so from now on just roll up items.

if you do not design treasure to your party needs, you might just give them a chest full of gold and an inventory list of the next city.

If you want to run your game that way, go ahead I suppose.

I randomly determine magic items and treasure the PCs get. I NEVER tailor treasure to "party needs" short of a story-driven element like a McGuffin or something.

Finding someone with 500-2000 gp to "buy" an unwanted magic item is not easy--who has that sort of gold?
If you do, finding someone with an item you actually want to buy and have the gold to pay them, also not easy typically.
Oh, and you have a lot of magic items and gold on you? Well, that will attract the attention of a lot of NPCs and creatures who would love to remove that burden from you.

The very idea of a "mage guild" with a list of magic items available for sale is a bit laughable IMO. Using the rules in Xanthar's for putting the word out to buy and sell anything beyond uncommon items is pricey and time consuming as well.

To be clear, if you want to tailor magic items, etc. there is nothing "wrong" about it--just not something I would do or prefer.

 

[Umbran]

sorry, but that is just bad DMing

Mod Note:
You don't like it? Fine.
You don't like it, so state as an objective fact that it is Bad, in an insulting way? Not fine.

Leave more space for folks to have fun playing in ways you don't like, please and thanks.