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In the weapons section for the druid, the book states that druids can wield sword. Was that supposed to say swords, or some type of sword?

Thanks.

ZW.

Personally I let them use one-handed swords or anything with a strong racial identity, usch as the list for elves.

ZeornWarlock wrote:
In the weapons section for the druid, the book states that druids can wield sword. Was that supposed to say swords, or some type of sword?

Thanks.

ZW.

Good question, as the first print says "swords"! Might be time for an official ruling!
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It says swords in the second printing as well. In the text about the druid it says that the Druid will only use cold forged iron (not steel) weapons. In my opinion this would limit the druid to swords that hostorically were made of iron: short sword (Roman gladius), broadsword (Vikings), and Flachion.
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In our psuedo-Erde campaign, I allowed the druid (whose patron was Daladon) to use a two-handed sword.
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I go by the book. Druids can use all types of swords. The bonus (at least for me) would be in how the player RPs the use of that sword. COLD IRON, well sweet if you can find one. WOODEN, well they break a lot.

.........................................Omote

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Personally, I think druids make cool scimitar wielders. Perhaps that's my old 1st Ed AD&D bias.

Brian Miller

Combat_Kyle wrote:
It says swords in the second printing as well. In the text about the druid it says that the Druid will only use cold forged iron (not steel) weapons. In my opinion this would limit the druid to swords that hostorically were made of iron: short sword (Roman gladius), broadsword (Vikings), and Flachion.

Don't forget, that the Celts had iron longswords during the time of the Roman Empire (and the swords had a tendency to break when parried by a shield). Also, the Daciians had a 2 Handed Sword made of Iron called a Falx. This weapon is similar to the swords used by the elven army at the begining of the Lord of the Rings Movie. Essentially, its blade is not much longer than a longsword's but its handle is very long, makng it equivilent to a bastard sword by my estimate.

Both of those cultures btw would be likely to have druids.

However, I would say that for any cold-forged iron weapon, they automatically break on a natural attack roll of 1. So it does not pay to use an iron longsword for very long...
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After reviewing these posts and rereading the PH and the AD&D PH, I decided to stick with C&C's interpretation of what swords the druid can use. Cold forged only - iron or copper, no alloys! And to me, an iron two handed sword would probably be way too heavy and unwieldy, unless he would have strength as a prime.

My nephew settled with the scimitar and is quite satisfied. [He gained an owl familiar from the Wizening Adventure, so that helps too!]

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Count Rhuveinus - Lejendary Keeper of Castle Franqueforte

"Enjoy a 'world' where the fantastic is fact and magic really works!" ~ Gary Gygax

"By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes:" - Macbeth

Cold-forging iron is an awful way to make a weapon, and the Northmen certainly used steel (gorgeous pattern-welded stuff), as did the mediaeval smiths who forged falchions.

Now, bronze must be cold-forged to make a weapon, as hot-forged bronze is too brittle. A cast form of the blade is taken and then worked cold with a hammer to form the final blade. A tin-bronze blade was superior to anything the early iron age could offer, but iron was easier to come by (thus cheaper!) once the secret of smelting it was discovered.

Alternatively, perhaps druids just plain don't carry metal, using stone, wood and other organic bases for their weapons, as well as poison. I like to think of it as atmospheric. One of the most beautiful weapons I've ever seen was a pressure-flaked flint dagger shaped in the form of a bronze one. Stunningly gorgeous piece of work, it was.
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