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Characters equiping weapons and armor without feats
Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2005 4:32 am
by Spartan
I think all classes should be able to wear any type of armor and hold any weapon. Just because you don't know how to use an "exotic" weapon in battle doesn't mean you can't hold it in your hand. A wizard should be able to hold a long sword even if he doesnt know how to fight with it.
The same with armor. Even if a rogue doesn't know how to properly wear full platemail I think it would be great roleplaying if they could wear it as a disguise.
I just don't like not being able to equip something in my hand or wear whatever I want.
A character not trained in said weapon should suffer huge to hit penalties. Same with armor. Someone not trained in the armor should get no AC bonus. I'd even go so far as to suggest they get a - AC penalty.
I guess it's an argument of Role playing over game mechanics?
Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2005 5:00 am
by epiktetus
In RL I can pick up nun-chucks, but in RL I'd be more likely to hurt myself than my opponent. Maybe there should be a
"You cut yourself from trying to hold the sharp end: -2 HP"
I can just see a halfling wizard laying on the ground paralyzed because he tried on the Full Plate.

Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2005 5:04 am
by Wyrmwing
It's possible in P&P to hold weapons and armor even if the character holding them isn't proficient in their use. It carries some stiff penalties though.
Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2005 7:01 am
by Reinstag
In PnP, wearing armor that you don't have a feat for applies the armor check penalty to your attack rolls and all skills that require moving.
Weapons used without the proper feat gives a penalty of -4 to attack rolls.
Using a shield without a feat applies the armor check penalty to attack rolls and skill checks that require moving.
Re: Characters equiping weapons and armor without feats
Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2005 8:41 am
by Alustriel
Spartan wrote:I guess it's an argument of Role playing over game mechanics?
No it isn't a game mechanic issue, it is possible to wield every type of weapon, some things need to be modified though, which would be a rather big project since it is a world wide issue. Scripting needs to be done, and it wouldn't contribute to less lag I think.
I also doubt it would have much benifits after you find out the katana you wield gives a -4 or -8 penalty on your attack roll.
I played once, long time ago in a world where you could wield every weapon even though you didn't had the feat, it gave massive penalties though, some kind of electrical shocks resulting in fair damage and probably penalties on attacking as well, I never found out though.
Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2005 11:41 am
by Serineth Swiftpaw
I still think Morrowind has the best system. You can do anything, and you get better at it by simply doing it. No stat allocations. You want to use heavy armour? Fine. Over time you become more profitient and it provides more protection, etc
Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2005 4:45 pm
by Zahn
Serineth Swiftpaw wrote:I still think Morrowind has the best system. You can do anything, and you get better at it by simply doing it. No stat allocations. You want to use heavy armour? Fine. Over time you become more profitient and it provides more protection, etc
One - single player, not a persistent world
Two - No DMs
Three- Not Avlis
'Twas a great game, though! Looking forward to Oblivion!
Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2005 5:33 pm
by Vichan Lyonsen
In a perfect world...sure...will it happen in Avlis? probably not.. and even then only after the long list of other things the team wants to do is done first.
Would it add anything? IMO..Nope not a blessed thing...with the single exception that people could mine and cut wood without the martial weapons feat..which is no great gain since those people if they really wanted to do those things would take the needed feat.
Despite the RP world that avlis is, people are loathe to take feat that dont somehow equate to a stronger PC...which is why some refuse to take the martial feat...lets face it some classes get few feats to begin with, many arent willing to sacrefice one to cut wood or mine ore.
Nothing wrong with it...provided you are willing to NOT do those things that the feat allows.
Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2005 5:50 pm
by loki70
This is turning into a carryover of another thread. My monk doesn't use weapons. Ever. That is why he will never take the feat. It serves no purpose except to mine (axes are simple weapons, by the way). I already have very few feats as it is, and to waste one that goes completely against my character concept is the worst form of metagaming. So, if I could equip a pick at a -8 penalty and dig up ore to make better robes or gloves (not sure if these have metallic components yet), that would make sense. But to try to rationalize my ability to pick up and use a battleax with no training whatsoever doesn't make any sense at all.
Well, I solved that with an alt character. He is everything my main is not. He is a crafter of armor and weapons, slings spells on occasion, wears armor, and walks REALLY slow. I think that having tools classified as tools is not a bad thing. But this was already discussed to death, and flogging the dead equine isn't going to change anything.
Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2005 9:41 pm
by dougnoel
I wish Bioware had implemented these the PnP way, but they didn't. And the amount of coding and 2da changes it would take to fix this is most likely not going to happen.
Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2005 10:34 pm
by Spartan
I couldn't agree more that a character shouldn't be able to properly use a weapon they just pick up. I'm quite certain 99% of us would have no idea how to properly use a sword, and against someone trained with one we would be destroyed in a second or two. The same goes with armor and shields. If you don't know how to properly use them your in a worst position than when you started.
people are loathe to take feat that dont somehow equate to a stronger PC
But when you find characters that DO choose to do this, you have youreself a great roleplayer IMHO.
I've seen someone take a sorcerer level just to get the dumb familiar to role play with. I've seen people take armor and weapon feats just so they can use them as a disguise. One of my alt characters does exactly this.
Theres many more examples out there.
It's a lot of work for something that is pretty small in gain but i still like the concept.
Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2005 11:33 pm
by Midknight
Yea, I generally prefer it the PnP way, with -4 to attacks on nonproficient weapons.
Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2005 2:42 pm
by Ragin
Nah.. it won't really add anything and my guess is it will add lag, or crashes.. or bugs.. or something so heh.. nah
Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2005 3:01 pm
by ronnin
I know how to use a sword and shield...
