Proficiency Slots

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Just how important IS it that my fighters have any profiency points in certain weapons?

To whit - I got Minsc carrying all kinds of stuff - (Sword o' Chaos, Lilarcor, FrostReaver, a +4 vs shapeshifters, flail o' Ages, others). He has ** proficiency in 2-handed swords, and a few other things, (I think), but not all that gear he's carrying shows up as "redded out" in his inventory.

So that means he CAN use the item if not "redded out" , but... what? He is penalized a -1 or something THACO? Is that really such a big deal that I should sell some of this stuff for , or should I have him (and Yoshimo, and Valygar, and Jaheira for that matter) hauling around this humungo arsenal of stuff just waiting for the right type of monster to pass their crosshairs?

In the spirit of old P&P D&D,

"what do you do?"
Thanx.

-- Nivek the Mad.

 

you get a -1 if your not proficient with the weapon yet but your class must be able to use the weapon to use it at all.

 

I better go home and check the manual on this one...

a minus ONE? No biggie, Minsc's brawn and Boo's brains can deal with a niggling penalty such as that.

But a minus FOUR? Ooo - that must smart.
Whippin' a flail 'round his head and giving himself more tattoos by accident would suck.

Now I DO understand that the CLASS must be allowed to use the weapon, (so fighter types probly have a long list of ok-to-use items), but cuz Minsc lacks proficiency in the weapon, he may bonk himself in the head.
That might explain how he got so goofy.
NtM.

 

I had Jaheira wielding a Spear with being proficient and she had a -2 penalty.

 

No proficiency.
THAC0 modifier for:

Warriors: -2
Spellcasters: -5
Priest & rogues: -3


[This message has been edited by Lokken (edited September 27, 2001).]

 

Lokken - ROCKIN!
Minsc and Boo stand ready.

NtM.

 

Greetings Nivek the Mad!

Note though that Minsc is a ranger, and rangers and paladins can only spend a maximum of two proficiencies per weapon (except the two weapon style, which can go as high as three I think).

Fighters and their kits though (excluding multi-class for fighters), can spend a maximum of 5 slots per weapon, increasing bonuses substantially. In old pen, paper and funny-looking dice D&D, its what balances the warrior classes, compensating the fighter for the spells and extra abilities of the ranger and paladin.

So it isn't at all strange to have fighters (and their kits) spending all their proficiencies on just one or maybe two weapons and maybe a preferred fighting style, and having a powerful version(s)of that particular weapon as a sort of "weapon of choice".

When the level up menu appears, check out the proficiencies (if you're high enough level) or the manual.

Have fun "butt-kicking for goodness!"

[This message has been edited by eveningdrive (edited September 27, 2001).]

 

There's another great disadvantage of being not proficient with a weapon: you have only one attack with that weapon per round!