Without the War domain, what's the point of a cleric's favored weapon?

[Biohazard]

I don't have my book in front of me, so forgive me if I get some facts wrong. But here's what I remember from purusing my PHB last night.

If a cleric uses his/her deity's favored weapon, and chooses War as a domain, then the cleric gains martial proficiency and (I think) Weapon Focus with the weapon. Or some kind of bonus, anyway.

Then I noticed that some deities do not have War as a domain, yet these deities still have favored weapons. So with those deities, what's the point of having the favored weapon, if it doesn't grant the cleric any special benefit to use the weapon?

Or does it?

 

[Arnwyn]

"Weapon of the Deity" spell is one.

 

[Plane Sailing]

Spiritual Weapon spell.

Additionally the listing of these weapons gives worshippers (including non-clerics) a good steer for a chosen weapon.

Clerics can always use a martial weapon feat if they wish too.

 

[Darklone]

...what's the point of having the favored weapon, if it doesn't grant the cleric any special benefit ...

Why do I always think about cleric players when I hear this kind of question?

What about the F-word? Flavor?

 

[Inconsequenti-AL]

Why do I always think about cleric players when I hear this kind of question?

What about the F-word? Flavor?

Yuck! {Spits}

Tastes like fluff.



IIRC the Favoured Soul gets proficiency with simple weapons and their gods favoured weapon... as well as focus and specialisation later.

 

[DragonLancer]

Flavour and roleplaying. Not everything has to be based on the rules. The deity has a favoured weapon, so its standard for most of his priests to use that favoured weapon.

 

[Voadam]

For the shape of Spiritual weapon. And even that has no rule effect, a dagger one is the sam mechanically as a greatsword or a whip of a two-bladed sword.

I don't remember any other rule effect in the core rules.

 

[Storm Raven]

For the shape of Spiritual weapon. And even that has no rule effect, a dagger one is the sam mechanically as a greatsword or a whip of a two-bladed sword.

Well, there is one effect: the spiritual weapon takes on the critical threat range and multiplier of the weapon it assumes the form of.

 

[Raflar]

...Then I noticed that some deities do not have War as a domain, yet these deities still have favored weapons. So with those deities, what's the point of having the favored weapon, if it doesn't grant the cleric any special benefit to use the weapon?

Or does it?

In my campaigns I house ruled that all Clerics are proficient with their Deity's Favoured Weapon. I know some people will argue about getting a free feat (Maritial or Exotic) but in truth it never distrupts my games... and any power-gamer that would abuse this rule, wouldn't be playing in my games anyway.

I personally like the Favoured Weapon, it adds a nice little touch to the faith. Helping to separate Cleric A (wearing pale blue robes and weilding a staff) from Cleric B (in Full Plate carrying a Fiery Spiked Chain).. which would you go to for healing?

 

[mearls]

In my campaigns I house ruled that all Clerics are proficient with their Deity's Favoured Weapon. I know some people will argue about getting a free feat (Maritial or Exotic) but in truth it never distrupts my games... and any power-gamer that would abuse this rule, wouldn't be playing in my games anyway.

I do the same. It seems a bit silly to me that Moradin, god of the war-like, favored class fighter dwarves, doesn't have the war domain. His clerics can't use any of the classic dwarf weapons without a feat. That's pretty much the exact justification I use for the house rule.

I've also never understood why Corellon has the War domain instead of Magic. It seems weird that the iconic god of the elves is a warrior rather than a spellcaster. That's another case for the house rules file.