Druids and Bows

[sudo namei]

I just noticed that Druids no longer get bows, which really *really*
seems odd. I know, it's supposed to be about their oath, etc. - but a
bow to me seems like the most natural weapon type in the world for a
Druid or Druid/Ranger. Made from hardwood, sinew for your string,
arrows tipped with bone or horn - I mean, come on!

Are there any conveniently 3E-compliant deities which allow Druids to
use bows, Ehlonna perhaps? (I don't have any of my books in front of me...)

[Donald Tsang]

Post by sudo namei
I just noticed that Druids no longer get bows, which really *really*
seems odd. I know, it's supposed to be about their oath, etc. - but a
bow to me seems like the most natural weapon type in the world for a
Druid or Druid/Ranger. Made from hardwood, sinew for your string,
arrows tipped with bone or horn - I mean, come on!
Are there any conveniently 3E-compliant deities which allow Druids to
use bows, Ehlonna perhaps? (I don't have any of my books in front of me...)

Umm, all of them? Druids are only restricted in the type of armor they
wear, not weapon selection. Elves gain proficiencies with longbow,
shorbow, and composite versions of same at 1st level... or you could do
the Druid/Ranger thing (and take the Archery combat style, if you're
playing 3.5E).

Certainly the deity with the quiver named after her would allow her druids
to use bows, even pre-3E...

Donald

[sudo namei]

Post by Donald Tsang
Umm, all of them? Druids are only restricted in the type of armor they
wear, not weapon selection. Elves gain proficiencies with longbow,
shorbow, and composite versions of same at 1st level... or you could do
the Druid/Ranger thing (and take the Archery combat style, if you're
playing 3.5E).
Certainly the deity with the quiver named after her would allow her druids
to use bows, even pre-3E...
Donald

(Possibly mis-quoted) From the PHB: "Druids are proficient with the
following weapons: club dagger dart halfspear longspear quarterstaff
scimitar sickle shortspear and sling. Their spiritual oaths prohibit
them from using weapons other than these." And then, "A druid who wears
prohibited armor or wields a prohibited weapon is unable to use any of
her magical powers while doing so and for 24 hours after."

That seems pretty cut-and-dried, Elf or no Elf. Hence my hope that
there is an official exception-by-Deity out there somewhere I can
borrow. (On second thought, hell with it; I'll house-rule if necessary.
A restriction against bows for what is essentially a woodsman just
doesn't make ANY sense to me.)

[Mark Blunden]

Post by sudo namei

Post by Donald Tsang
Umm, all of them? Druids are only restricted in the type of armor
they wear, not weapon selection. Elves gain proficiencies with
longbow, shorbow, and composite versions of same at 1st level... or
you could do the Druid/Ranger thing (and take the Archery combat
style, if you're playing 3.5E).
Certainly the deity with the quiver named after her would allow her
druids to use bows, even pre-3E...
Donald

(Possibly mis-quoted) From the PHB: "Druids are proficient with the
following weapons: club dagger dart halfspear longspear quarterstaff
scimitar sickle shortspear and sling. Their spiritual oaths prohibit
them from using weapons other than these." And then, "A druid who
wears prohibited armor or wields a prohibited weapon is unable to
use any of her magical powers while doing so and for 24 hours after."

That'll be the old 3.0 rules, then. In 3.5, the only actual prohibitions
they suffer are against metal armour or shields - if they want to wield a
bow, or for that matter a greatsword, they're free to do so - though of
course, they'll have to spend a feat, or take a level in a class proficient
with those weapons, if they want to avoid the non-proficiency penalty.

--
Mark.

[Eric P.]

Post by Mark Blunden

Post by sudo namei

Post by Donald Tsang
Umm, all of them? Druids are only restricted in the type of armor
they wear, not weapon selection. Elves gain proficiencies with
longbow, shorbow, and composite versions of same at 1st level... or
you could do the Druid/Ranger thing (and take the Archery combat
style, if you're playing 3.5E).
Certainly the deity with the quiver named after her would allow her
druids to use bows, even pre-3E...
Donald

(Possibly mis-quoted) From the PHB: "Druids are proficient with the
following weapons: club dagger dart halfspear longspear quarterstaff
scimitar sickle shortspear and sling. Their spiritual oaths prohibit
them from using weapons other than these." And then, "A druid who
wears prohibited armor or wields a prohibited weapon is unable to
use any of her magical powers while doing so and for 24 hours after."

That'll be the old 3.0 rules, then. In 3.5, the only actual prohibitions
they suffer are against metal armour or shields - if they want to wield a
bow, or for that matter a greatsword, they're free to do so - though of
course, they'll have to spend a feat, or take a level in a class proficient
with those weapons, if they want to avoid the non-proficiency penalty.
--
Mark.

A reading from the _Players Handbook_, v. 3.5, under the Game Rule
Information of the Druid class:

"Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Druids are proficient with the following
weapons: club, dagger, dart, quarterstaff, scimitar, sickle, shortspear,
sling, and spear."

Here endeth the lesson.
Happy gaming,
Eric

[Mark Blunden]

Post by Eric P.

Post by Mark Blunden

Post by sudo namei

Post by Donald Tsang
Umm, all of them? Druids are only restricted in the type of armor
they wear, not weapon selection. Elves gain proficiencies with
longbow, shorbow, and composite versions of same at 1st level... or
you could do the Druid/Ranger thing (and take the Archery combat
style, if you're playing 3.5E).
Certainly the deity with the quiver named after her would allow her
druids to use bows, even pre-3E...
Donald

(Possibly mis-quoted) From the PHB: "Druids are proficient with the
following weapons: club dagger dart halfspear longspear
quarterstaff scimitar sickle shortspear and sling. Their spiritual
oaths prohibit them from using weapons other than these." And
then, "A druid who wears prohibited armor or wields a prohibited
weapon is unable to use any of her magical powers while doing so
and for 24 hours after."

That'll be the old 3.0 rules, then. In 3.5, the only actual
prohibitions they suffer are against metal armour or shields - if
they want to wield a bow, or for that matter a greatsword, they're
free to do so - though of course, they'll have to spend a feat, or
take a level in a class proficient with those weapons, if they want
to avoid the non-proficiency penalty.
--
Mark.

A reading from the _Players Handbook_, v. 3.5, under the Game Rule
"Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Druids are proficient with the
following weapons: club, dagger, dart, quarterstaff, scimitar,
sickle, shortspear, sling, and spear."
Here endeth the lesson.
Happy gaming,
Eric

Which is why I said they'd have to spend a feat if they want to avoid the
non-proficiency penalty. There's nothing to stop them using such weapons, as
there was in 3.0, they simply aren't proficient with them.

--
Mark.

[Eric P.]

Post by Mark Blunden

Post by Eric P.

Post by Mark Blunden

Post by sudo namei

Post by Donald Tsang
Umm, all of them? Druids are only restricted in the type of armor
they wear, not weapon selection. Elves gain proficiencies with
longbow, shorbow, and composite versions of same at 1st level... or
you could do the Druid/Ranger thing (and take the Archery combat
style, if you're playing 3.5E).
Certainly the deity with the quiver named after her would allow her
druids to use bows, even pre-3E...
Donald

(Possibly mis-quoted) From the PHB: "Druids are proficient with the
following weapons: club dagger dart halfspear longspear
quarterstaff scimitar sickle shortspear and sling. Their spiritual
oaths prohibit them from using weapons other than these." And
then, "A druid who wears prohibited armor or wields a prohibited
weapon is unable to use any of her magical powers while doing so
and for 24 hours after."

That'll be the old 3.0 rules, then. In 3.5, the only actual
prohibitions they suffer are against metal armour or shields - if
they want to wield a bow, or for that matter a greatsword, they're
free to do so - though of course, they'll have to spend a feat, or
take a level in a class proficient with those weapons, if they want
to avoid the non-proficiency penalty.
--
Mark.

A reading from the _Players Handbook_, v. 3.5, under the Game Rule
"Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Druids are proficient with the
following weapons: club, dagger, dart, quarterstaff, scimitar,
sickle, shortspear, sling, and spear."
Here endeth the lesson.
Happy gaming,
Eric

Which is why I said they'd have to spend a feat if they want to avoid the
non-proficiency penalty. There's nothing to stop them using such weapons, as
there was in 3.0, they simply aren't proficient with them.
--
Mark.

Yes, I believe Martial Weapon Proficiency solves that.

- E

[Some Guy]

Post by Eric P.

Post by Mark Blunden

Post by sudo namei

Post by Donald Tsang
Umm, all of them? Druids are only restricted in the type of armor
they wear, not weapon selection. Elves gain proficiencies with
longbow, shorbow, and composite versions of same at 1st level... or
you could do the Druid/Ranger thing (and take the Archery combat
style, if you're playing 3.5E).
Certainly the deity with the quiver named after her would allow her
druids to use bows, even pre-3E...
Donald

(Possibly mis-quoted) From the PHB: "Druids are proficient with the
following weapons: club dagger dart halfspear longspear quarterstaff
scimitar sickle shortspear and sling. Their spiritual oaths prohibit
them from using weapons other than these." And then, "A druid who
wears prohibited armor or wields a prohibited weapon is unable to
use any of her magical powers while doing so and for 24 hours after."

That'll be the old 3.0 rules, then. In 3.5, the only actual prohibitions
they suffer are against metal armour or shields - if they want to wield a
bow, or for that matter a greatsword, they're free to do so - though of
course, they'll have to spend a feat, or take a level in a class proficient
with those weapons, if they want to avoid the non-proficiency penalty.
--�
Mark.

A reading from the _Players Handbook_, v. 3.5, under the Game Rule
"Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Druids are proficient with the following
weapons: club, dagger, dart, quarterstaff, scimitar, sickle, shortspear,
sling, and spear."
Here endeth the lesson.
Happy gaming,
Eric

Yes, but the important point is that using non-druid weapons no longer
violates the druid's spiritual oath. That was a specific change they
made between 3.0 and 3.5 for a couple of reasons, one being that it
un-nerfs elf druids.

[Eric P.]

Post by sudo namei
I just noticed that Druids no longer get bows, which really *really*
seems odd. I know, it's supposed to be about their oath, etc. - but a
bow to me seems like the most natural weapon type in the world for a
Druid or Druid/Ranger. Made from hardwood, sinew for your string,
arrows tipped with bone or horn - I mean, come on!
Are there any conveniently 3E-compliant deities which allow Druids to
use bows, Ehlonna perhaps? (I don't have any of my books in front of me...)

I wouldn't use bone or horn for arrowheads, as they'd be prone to
breaking. That's probably why people have been using stone for
many thousands of years ;)

The nature deities I've read about in some of the D&D materials give
blades as a given deity's prefered weapon, for whatever reason. I
have yet to see any nature deity whose prefered weapon is the bow.

That said, some of the third-party publications suggest that druids
following a certain "path" or "realm" gain proficiency in all bows except
for crossbows. This is discussed in a publication called Wildscape.

The rules might be written the way they are so that the line between
druids and rangers remains solid. Just a thought.

Happy gaming,
Eric

[sudo namei]

Post by Eric P.
I wouldn't use bone or horn for arrowheads, as they'd be prone to
breaking. That's probably why people have been using stone for many
thousands of years ;)

Edit: "...or stone - I mean, come on!" *grin!*

Post by Eric P.
The nature deities I've read about in some of the D&D materials give
blades as a given deity's prefered weapon, for whatever reason. I have yet
to see any nature deity whose prefered weapon is the bow.

... Other than Ehlonna? She's the one poking Obad-Hai in the eye.

Post by Eric P.
That said, some of the third-party publications suggest that druids
following a certain "path" or "realm" gain proficiency in all bows except
for crossbows. This is discussed in a publication called Wildscape.

Thanks, I'll look into that.

Post by Eric P.
The rules might be written the way they are so that the line between
druids and rangers remains solid. Just a thought.

Sure, but tell that to my player with an Elven Ranger/Druid... :)

Post by Eric P.
Happy gaming,
Eric

[Willie]

Post by sudo namei
I just noticed that Druids no longer get bows, which really *really*
seems odd. I know, it's supposed to be about their oath, etc. - but a
bow to me seems like the most natural weapon type in the world for a
Druid or Druid/Ranger. Made from hardwood, sinew for your string,
arrows tipped with bone or horn - I mean, come on!
Are there any conveniently 3E-compliant deities which allow Druids to
use bows, Ehlonna perhaps? (I don't have any of my books in front of me...)

You COULD houserule it in... the rules are NOT set in stone. I created a
variant Druid for my dwarf. His "realm" is in mines and caves. A "Stone
Druid"
that follows the dwarven gods has a favored weapon of a light or heavy pick.
And it seems to suit the druid class well. 1d6 dmg with a possible x4 crit.
It doesn't do much damage, but once in a great while it destroys its target.
Combined with the armor he made from a giant crabs' shell, (natural plate)
my dwarven stone druid is taking shape! The DM even let me create a few
"stone druid" spells.