Advanced Rules: Weapon Proficiency

OSE AES CHAR · p.53

Open source p.53 Also in: Advanced Player's Tome p.23

Each character is proficient with a limited number of types of weapons (e.g. maces, short swords, long bows). A character is comfortable using these weapons and can use them in combat without penalty.

Proficient weapons may only be chosen from the list of weapons usable by the character’s class (and optionally race).

For the sake of determining weapon proficiencies, character classes are divided into three categories: martial, semi-martial, and non-martial. The category each class falls under is determined by the rate at which its THAC0 and saving throw values improve, as follows:

  • Non-martial: Gain an improvement to THAC0 every 5 levels (e.g. illusionist).
  • Semi-martial: Gain an improvement to THAC0 every 4 levels (e.g. acrobat).
  • Martial: Gain an improvement to THAC0 every 3 levels (e.g. knight).

Initial Weapon Proficiencies

At character creation, before purchasing equipment, the player should note the weapons that the character is proficient with. Martial characters are proficient with 4 weapons at 1st level, semi-martial characters with 3 weapons, and non-martial characters with 1 weapon.

Gaining Weapon Proficiencies

As the character gains experience, they become proficient in the use of additional weapons. Every time the character’s THAC0 and saving throw values improve, the character also gains proficiency with a new weapon.

Non-Proficient Attacks

A character using a weapon that they are not proficient with incurs a penalty to attack rolls. Martial characters suffer a –2 penalty, semi-martial characters a –3 penalty, and non-martial characters a –5 penalty.

The referee may optionally allow characters to use weapons that are restricted by their race or class, applying the same non-proficiency penalty in such cases.

Weapon Specialisation

Martial characters may optionally be allowed to specialise in a single, specific type of weapon. This requires dedicating two weapon proficiency “slots” to a single weapon type. For example, a 1st level martial character is normally proficient with 4 weapons. If the player chooses to specialise in a weapon, the character is only proficient with 3 weapons (the specialised weapon plus two others).

When attacking with a specialised weapon, the character gains a bonus to attack and damage rolls.