Weapon groups were first introduced in the Complete Fighter’s Handbook, and sort weapons by similarity – if you are proficient with the long sword, you are also familiar with the bastard sword, because both are similar enough to belong to the same weapon group. You can group weapons in other ways as well. This blog presents a way to sort weapons by how various groups and cultures use them together across the Tablelands. So rather than grouping weapons by type – swords, bows, clubs, polearms etc. – they are instead grouped by common background – Tyrian infantry weapons, Urikite cavalry weapons and the like.

The idea is that someone who has trained with the Tyrian infantry as part of their background, for example, will have spent a great deal of time working with a specific set of weapons common to that background. This approach allows players to add color and diversity to their characters, and gain familiarity with a broader selection of weapons.

Here’s how it works – and these rules are summarised in the pdf attached below, as always:

Weapon Group Affinity

All characters start play having affinity with one cultural weapon group – the one that most closely matches their background. The character should choose any starting weapon proficiencies from that cultural weapon group.

Warriors are proficient with all weapons, but still choose a cultural weapon group with which they have affinity. This is relevant if the warrior wishes to specialize in the new fighting styles described hereafter.

It is also relevant to gladiators, who can gain weapon expertise in an entire cultural weapon group for a single weapon proficiency slot.

Every time a character gains another weapon proficiency slot, they can gain affinity with another cultural weapon group at no cost, with the DM’s approval. The character needs to have been exposed to or established some connection with the culture in question through play.

A character can also gain affinity with a cultural weapon group at any time by spending a weapon proficiency slot.

Familiarity

All characters are automatically familiar with any weapon related to a weapon they are proficient in. As noted above, weapons are related if they are part of the same cultural weapon proficiency group.

For example, if a character has affinity with the Tyrian infantry weapon group and is proficient in the use of the long sword, then they are familiar with the warhammer because they’re part of the same cultural weapon group.

Familiarity is not as good as proficiency, but it beats not knowing anything about a weapon at all. Characters only suffer half the normal non-proficiency penalty when attacking with weapons they are familiar with. They may attempt any normal attacks (the familiarity penalty still applies), and suffer no initiative or rate of fire penalties.

Familiarity does not allow the wielder to use any special weapon attacks that require proficiency in the weapon.

As noted above, gladiators can gain expertise in an entire cultural weapon group at the cost of a single weapon proficiency slot.

Cultural Weapon Group List

Here are some sample cultural weapon groups for use in your game:

Aarakocra Lancer

• Javelin
• Lance
• Long bow
• Net
• Spear
• Spear, long

Balican Legionnaire

• Dagger
• Dart
• Javelin
• Net
• Sword, hook
• Talid

Balican Navy

• Dagger
• Harpoon
• Net
• Sword, short
• Trident
• Wrist razor

Bard

• Bard’s friend
• Blowgun
• Dagger
• Garrotte
• Master’s whip
• Widow’s knife

Draji Eagle Knight

• Dejada
• Hawk hatchet
• Javelin
• Long bow
• Spear, long
• Sword, khopesh

Draji Jaguar Knight

• Dejada cestus
• Javelin
• Long bow
• Spear, long
• Sword, two-handed
• Wrist razors

Dray Enforcer

• Crossbow, hand
• Dagger
• Javelin
• Mancatcher
• Morning star
• Sword, bastard

Dwarf Defender

• Battleaxe
• Crossbow, heavy
• Handaxe
• Sword, long
• Sword, short
• Warhammer

Elf Raider

• Composite long bow
• Composite short bow
• Dagger
• Long bow
• Short bow
• Sword, short

Gulgan Champion

• Dagger
• Long bow
• Shield, spike
• Spear, double-bladed
• Sword, bastard
• Talid

Gulgan Judaga

• Blowgun
• Long bow
• Net
• Spear
• Staff-sling
• Sword, mandible

Halfling Hunter

• Blowgun
• Composite short bow
• Dart
• Dagger
• Short bow
• Sling

House Guard

• Club
• Dagger
• Short bow
• Spear
• Sword, long
• Sword, short

Jozhal Runner

• Axe, hand
• Dagger
• Dart
• Short bow
• Sling
• Sword, short

Lizardfolk Kreel Rider

• Club
• Harpoon
• Javelin
• Lance
• Spear
• Trident

Nibenese Phalanx

• Crusher
• Datchi club
• Gouge
• Spear, long
• Sword, two-handed
• Tortoise blades

Nibenese Shocktrooper

• Bard’s friend
• Cahulaks
• Dragon’s paw
• Gouge
• Singing sticks
• Tortoise blades

Nikaal Explorer

• Blowgun
• Club
• Javelin
• Spear
• Sword, long
• Tkaesali

Pterran Pterrax Rider

• Javelin
• Lance
• Puchik
• Slodak
• Spear
• Thanak

Raamin Kuotagha

• Bard’s friend
• Chain whip
• Garotte
• Sword, hook
• Whip
• Whip, master’s

Raamin Mansabdar

• Club
• Club, great
• Mancatcher
• Net
• Scourge
• Whip

Ssurran Trader

• Alhulak
• Carrikal
• Spear
• Spear, long
• Sword, mandible
• Tortoise blades

Tarek Berserker

• Axe, great
• Club, great
• Handfork
• Heartpick
• Sword, great
• Wrist razors

Tari Tunneller

• Blowgun
• Dagger
• Knife
• Short bow
• Sling
• Sword, short

Thri-kreen Kak

• Chatkcha
• Gythka
• Ko•
• Kyorkcha
• Lajav
• Zerka

Tribal Warrior

• Alhulak
• Blowgun
• Carrikal
• Knife
• Short bow
• Sword, mandible

Tyrian Guard

• Cahulak
• Crossbow, heavy
• Dagger
• Lotulis
• Mancatcher
• Sword, long

Tyrian Infantry

• Dagger
• Puchik
• Short bow
• Spear
• Sword, long
• Warhammer

Urikite Cavalry

• Dagger
• Flail, cavalry
• Javelin
• Lance
• Short bow
• Sword, short

Urikite Scout

• Dagger
• Flail, infantry
• Hamanu’s staff
• Long bow
• Staff-sling
• Sword, long

New Fighting Styles

Just like in the standard rules, characters can specialise in different methods of fighting by spending a weapon proficiency slot. Below are two new fighting styles for the cultural weapon proficiency group system. Each bullet point costs one weapon proficiency slot.

These styles are used with the cultural weapon proficiency groups. A character must have affinity with one or more cultural weapon groups to specialise in these fighting styles.

Cultural Affinity Fighting Style

This fighting style details basic applications of cultural weapons groups, improving a character’s skill with weapons in those groups.
• Cultural Familiarity: You suffer no non-proficiency penalty for any weapon that is part of a cultural weapon group you have affinity with.
• Improved Expertise: Gain a +1 bonus to damage with one weapon with which you have expertise in a cultural weapon group you have affinity with.
• Manoeuvre Expert: Gain a +1 bonus on CMB checks with all weapons in the same cultural weapon group.
• Well-Practised: Reduce the speed factor of all weapons in a cultural weapon group you have affinity with by one point.

Cultural Excellence Fighting Style

This style expands a character’s command of cultural weapons, developing the scope of benefits when using culturally related weapons.
• Broad Approach: When you specialise in a weapon, you gain expertise in two other weapons in the same cultural weapon group.
• Cultural Adaptation: Add two weapons to a cultural weapon group you have affinity with.
• Cultural Overlap: Pick a weapon that is part of a cultural weapon group you have affinity with. You now have affinity with another cultural weapon group that also contains that weapon.
• Well-Maintained: Weapons in a cultural weapon group you have affinity with never risk accidental breakage.

Give this system a whirl in your own game and let us know how it plays. And if you come up with your own weapon groups, please share!