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

[Voadam]

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

My error. You are correct. A dagger = a longsword = a greatsword, and all are inferior to a scimitar or falchion.

 

[Altamont Ravenard]

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?

It's all about style, baby!

AR

 

[Saeviomagy]

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.

Because he's an ELF. Geeze, some people just don't get it.

 

[Mouseferatu]

Well, I'm going to go against the grain on this, apparently. While I can see tweaking domains of specific gods, I'm opposed to the notion of automatically giving clerics proficiency in their deity's favored weapon. Suppose you're playing a thin, spindly cleric of Thor, one focused more in supporting others in battle than waging war yourself. Why should you be proficient in the warhammer? The fact that a god uses a weapon does not, IMO, automatically mean that every cleric is trained in the use of that weapon, particularly less martial clerics. If the Thor example doesn't do it for you, how about Elhonna?

(Then again, I think it's silly that every god has a favored weapon. When was the last time Demeter or Frigga engaged in battle? This is one of those "D&D-isms" that I could do without, honestly.)

 

[coyote6]

Well, I'm going to go against the grain on this, apparently. While I can see tweaking domains of specific gods, I'm opposed to the notion of automatically giving clerics proficiency in their deity's favored weapon. Suppose you're playing a thin, spindly cleric of Thor, one focused more in supporting others in battle than waging war yourself. Why should you be proficient in the warhammer?

But why is that thin, spindly cleric proficient in heavy mace, morningstar, longspear, and heavy crossbow? "Thin and spindly" isn't a disqualifier for proficiency with any melee weapon. You can have a Str 5 character wielding a greatsword.

Give him enough levels at 3/4 BAB, and he'll be whupping up on the big hulking farm boys, too.

 

[Spatula]

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.

It's not like Moradin and Corellon are the only dwarven & elven gods in existance (yes, they're the only ones in the PHB, but the dwarven/elven pantheons have been around since 1e as I'm sure you know). They're just the heads of their respective pantheons.

Does the character of Zeus/Odin/Ra/whoever represent everything that's important to the cultures that spawned them?

 

[Mouseferatu]

But why is that thin, spindly cleric proficient in heavy mace, morningstar, longspear, and heavy crossbow? "Thin and spindly" isn't a disqualifier for proficiency with any melee weapon. You can have a Str 5 character wielding a greatsword.

Give him enough levels at 3/4 BAB, and he'll be whupping up on the big hulking farm boys, too.

You're right, I could have phrased that more clearly, and chosen a better example.

My point was simply that being a cleric of God X does not and should not automatically incline a given cleric to use the weapon of God X. Sometimes it's not appropriate for gods even to have weapons, but I've been through that already.

In fact, I rather like the idea that it shows extra dedication on the part of the cleric to learn his deity's martial weapon, even though it does require spending a feat.

 

[mearls]

Does the character of Zeus/Odin/Ra/whoever represent everything that's important to the cultures that spawned them?

My take on it is that, since Moradin et al are generally seen as having made the various non-human races, there should be a clearer connection to them. Since Moradin forged the dwarves, they should have a closer reflection to them, IMO. I also like the idea of the non-human gods having clerics who sort of fit the iconic attitudes and abilities of the race.

I hear you about using the entire pantheon for each, but it pretty much goes back to what I said above. It makes sense to me that the head of the pantheon would be more in touch with what a race is supposed to be about.

I still can't get over that the dwarf clerics in the D&D minis game all have warhammers. It just seems to fit, but the rules don't really support it unless you take a truly lame feat choice (Martial Weapon Proficiency).

 

[Darklone]

Mouseferatu: I feel your pain ... gods of peace and favored weapons. Well... But if I start to rant about that topic, I'm pretty soon at the good old "Clerics in fullplate???" rant. Nonono. Not today.

Cloistered clerics go. Ask Robin Hood.

 

[Gez]

The favored weapon bit was also there to rationalize the fact that 2e priests weren't allowed to use piercing or slashing weapons. Now, it's "some clerics use the mace because it's their deity's favored weapon" rather than "all clerics use the mace because they don't have the choice".

Anyway, I don't see why a god of peace couldn't have a favored weapon. In a D&D world, conflict is often impossible to avoid. A god of peace would thus promote a non-lethal weapon. Like the net.