Weapon Groups and Feats rules

Weapon Group Feats
Weapons are divided into three categories in the basic d20 system rules: simple, martial, and exotic. While this system works very well for establishing the complexity of each weapon and balancing the classes' abilities against one another, grouping weapons by similar type offers an exciting variant to determine what weapons a character knows how to use.

At its simplest, the weapon group feat variant establishes a small list of feats called Weapon Group proficiency feats. Each feat allows a character to use a small number of similar weapons without penalty. Although most characters using this system are proficient with fewer weapons than the standard character classes, the weapons they know how to use will be grouped along a similar theme, providing a little more flavor to each character's weapon choice at the expense of a small amount of versatility.

This variant includes references to some weapons featured in the Arms and Equipment Guide (marked A) and Complete Warrior (marked W). See those books for full information on weapons so marked.

Using Weapon Groups In Place Of Class Weapon Proficiencies
While the Weapon Group proficiency feats work well in conjunction with the standard classes' starting armor and weapon proficiencies, you might want to substitute a number of these feats for each class's starting weapon proficiencies. Doing this can lend more flavor to specific characters or organizations. It allows you (either as player or as game master) to design a sect of clerics whose members always choose the same weapon group proficiencies, or even establish racial preferences. All dwarf fighters, rangers, and paladins might be required, for example, to choose Weapon Group (picks and hammers) as one of their starting weapon group proficiencies.

For classes not listed here, assign starting weapon group proficiencies using the class's granted weapon proficiencies and these classes as a guide. Add Weapon Group (any) to the fighter's list of bonus feats.

Using Weapon Groups With Racial Favored Weapons
Some races gain free weapon proficiencies or are innately familiar with specific exotic weapons. Use the following rules to incorporate this concept with the Weapon Group proficiency variant.

Dwarf

Any dwarf who has Weapon Group (axes) is also proficient with the dwarven waraxe and the dwarven urgrosh.

Elf

All elves automatically have Weapon Group (bows) and either Weapon Group (heavy blades) or Weapon Group (light blades).

Gnome

Any gnome who has Weapon Group Proficiency (picks and hammers) is also proficient with the gnome hooked hammer.

Weapon-Specific Feats
A game master who uses this variant can rule that any feat that requires a character to choose a specific weapon to apply the feat's benefit to (such as Improved Critical, Weapon Focus, or Weapon Specialization) can instead be applied to a weapon group. The character must still meet the prerequisites for the feat.

Though this variant seems to grant a large benefit to the character, it really doesn't significantly improve the character's power level. Since a typical character only wields one weapon at a time (or two, with a different weapon in each hand), the character doesn't really become any more powerful in a typical fight.

It does mean that a character is more likely to benefit when new magic weapons are found, since he's more likely to be skilled in their use. That can actually be beneficial to a campaign, in that it allows the game master to include a wider range of interesting treasures that the characters actually use (rather than simply sell or trade).

Creating New Weapon Groups
As you design a campaign or character, you might want to create new weapon groups based on different themes. Possible themes include cultural, racial, or other campaign-world specific ideas. For example, you might create a new weapon group proficiency feat called Weapon Group (hill dwarves) that is available only to dwarves from a specific geographical area of the campaign. Because these dwarves are known for their use of two light weapons at once, this feat grants proficiency in the handaxe, short sword, light hammer, and club, making it easier for these dwarves to learn their race's preferred fighting techniques.

When creating a new weapon group, you should limit each group to three or fewer simple weapons and one to three martial weapons. The Weapon Group proficiency feats described below provide examples of how much versatility each weapon group should provide a character.

Weapon Group Feats
Following are the Weapon Group proficiency feats available to characters. They are presented in the normal format for feats.

Weapon Group (Axes)
You understand how to use axes and axelike weapons.

Weapon Group (Basic Weapons)
You understand how to use a few basic weapons.

Weapon Group (Bows)
You understand how to use bows.

Weapon Group (Crossbows)
You understand how to use crossbows.

Weapon Group (Druid Weapons)
You understand how to use weapons favored by druids.

Weapon Group (Exotic Double Weapons)
You understand how to use the exotic double weapons associated with the weapon groups that you have mastered.

Weapon Group (Exotic Weapons)
You understand how to use the exotic weapons associated with the weapon groups that you have mastered.

Weapon Group (Flails and Chains)
You understand how to use Flails and Chains

Weapon Group (Heavy Blades)
You understand how to use large bladed weapons.

Weapon Group (Light Blades)
You understand how to use light bladed weapons.

Weapon Group (Maces and Clubs)
You understand how to use maces and clubs.

Weapon Group (Monk Weapons)
You understand how to use weapons normally favored by monks.

Weapon Group (Picks and Hammers)
You understand how to use picks and hammers.

Weapon Group (Polearms)
You understand how to use polearms.

Weapon Group (Slings and Thrown Weapons)
You understand how to use slings and handheld thrown weapons.

Weapon Group (Spears and Lances)
You understand how to use spears and javelins.