I am making a Lizardfolk Druid. While doing so I noticed Cunning Artisan allows you to make blowgun darts. But wait, Lizardfolk don't come with any weapon proficiencies, let alone blowgun proficiency. I can understand that just because you can make something doesn't mean you can use it, but wouldn't it make sense that they could use blowguns? And if you can make darts, javelins, shields, and clubs, why not make a blowgun itself too, such as from a hollowed out bone?
Yes I know blowguns are horrible weapons, but it could have potential RP usefulness.
I find your post a bit confusing, since you mention proficiency with a blowgun and then making a blowgun as separate yet somehow connected things. If I understand you correctly:
No, you're not proficient with the things you make. Kind of like knowing how to make a baseball bat and being a baseball player, they're two different things.
RAW you could not make a blowgun. I guess this is because it is a Martial Weapon rather than a Simple Weapon. This might have been a criteria but that's an assumption. Also note that making a blowgun out of bone might be a lot harder than you'd think. Remember that a blowgun has to be a straight as possible and not have any bumps in the pipe in order to function properly. A blowgun is mostly made out of bamboo or other hollow, straight reeds rather than bone because of this reason. This would not fit with the bone/hide/leather crafting of the lizardfolk to do "on the fly". That said, I don't think it is gamebreaking in order to allow it. You might want to ask your DM about it.
It seems like you're trying to combine a number of different things, and becoming confused because they aren't connected.
Cunning Artisan is the racial ability that all Lizardmen have. It allows them to create a small number of useful "primitive" weapons/ammo as part of a Short Rest after having killed certain types of Monsters. One of those things happens to be 1d4 Blowgun Needles. You must possess a bladed tool or weapon of some description in order to make use of this ability.
Race selection does not provide proficiency with weapons. Class selection does. In your case, Druid does not provide either Martial Weapons, or specifically Blowguns. As such, you are not proficient in their use, and do not apply your Proficiency Bonus when making use of them. You would have to obtain that proficiency from a different source, such as a Feat or Multiclassing.
As for making the Blowgun itself, the issue is the design of such a weapon in and of itself. It's a long, hollow tube. You either need a natural produce that is already a long hollow tube, such as bamboo, or a tool that is able to dig away at the center part of a solid object. A knife can't do that to something like a bone. Or if it can, it's a very strange knife. You can easily get around this limitation with more sophisticated materials and processes, like making it from metal in a mold and/or using powerful adhesives, but such practices would completely defeat the purpose of Cunning Artisan.
“To use this trait, you need a blade, such as a dagger, or appropriate artisan’s tools, such as leatherworker’s tools.“
If I don’t have any tool proficiencies, can I still use cunning artisan, since it requires certain tools to create the items?
The specific tool that Cunning Artisan requires is a knife. That could be anything from the Dagger to a small blade used in peeling fruits from a Cook's Utensils. So no, you do not need any proficiencies to make use of Cunning Artisan. That would be contrary to the intention behind the ability -- you're using a knife to shave down some lengths of bone or what have you into crude weapons.
I would, however, ask why you have a set of Artisan's Tools you lack the proficiency to use...
This is dumb. They should be able to be proficient in the things they can craft. The basic weapons and a shield are not insane additions to the class and frankly even with them the class is underwhelming considering their stigma.
I'd rule like Drwaves, Hobgoblins, and Elves that they would get proficiency with the weapons they could craft.
Most blacksmiths I've met at conventions would disagree. The ability is based of the tribal stigma of a hunter/gather cutler. Watch any documentary about tribes from The Amazon and I'm certain you'll see that anybody who knows the intricacy's of using a blow-dart gun can wield one.
Do whatever you want at your table but if somebody wants to play a lizard-man I'll give them the proficiency.
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I am making a Lizardfolk Druid. While doing so I noticed Cunning Artisan allows you to make blowgun darts. But wait, Lizardfolk don't come with any weapon proficiencies, let alone blowgun proficiency. I can understand that just because you can make something doesn't mean you can use it, but wouldn't it make sense that they could use blowguns? And if you can make darts, javelins, shields, and clubs, why not make a blowgun itself too, such as from a hollowed out bone?
Yes I know blowguns are horrible weapons, but it could have potential RP usefulness.
I find your post a bit confusing, since you mention proficiency with a blowgun and then making a blowgun as separate yet somehow connected things. If I understand you correctly:
No, you're not proficient with the things you make. Kind of like knowing how to make a baseball bat and being a baseball player, they're two different things.
RAW you could not make a blowgun. I guess this is because it is a Martial Weapon rather than a Simple Weapon. This might have been a criteria but that's an assumption. Also note that making a blowgun out of bone might be a lot harder than you'd think. Remember that a blowgun has to be a straight as possible and not have any bumps in the pipe in order to function properly. A blowgun is mostly made out of bamboo or other hollow, straight reeds rather than bone because of this reason. This would not fit with the bone/hide/leather crafting of the lizardfolk to do "on the fly". That said, I don't think it is gamebreaking in order to allow it. You might want to ask your DM about it.
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Feats: Artificer Apprentice
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Magic Items: Whipier - Ring of Secret Storage - Collar of the Guardian
Monster template: Skeletal Creature
If you want to get physiological, Lizardfolk couldn't use blowguns.
They don't have cheeks, and so couldn't make the sealed airpocket in thier mouth. But that isn't RAW.
“To use this trait, you need a blade, such as a dagger, or appropriate artisan’s tools, such as leatherworker’s tools.“
If I don’t have any tool proficiencies, can I still use cunning artisan, since it requires certain tools to create the items?
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It seems like you're trying to combine a number of different things, and becoming confused because they aren't connected.
Cunning Artisan is the racial ability that all Lizardmen have. It allows them to create a small number of useful "primitive" weapons/ammo as part of a Short Rest after having killed certain types of Monsters. One of those things happens to be 1d4 Blowgun Needles. You must possess a bladed tool or weapon of some description in order to make use of this ability.
Race selection does not provide proficiency with weapons. Class selection does. In your case, Druid does not provide either Martial Weapons, or specifically Blowguns. As such, you are not proficient in their use, and do not apply your Proficiency Bonus when making use of them. You would have to obtain that proficiency from a different source, such as a Feat or Multiclassing.
As for making the Blowgun itself, the issue is the design of such a weapon in and of itself. It's a long, hollow tube. You either need a natural produce that is already a long hollow tube, such as bamboo, or a tool that is able to dig away at the center part of a solid object. A knife can't do that to something like a bone. Or if it can, it's a very strange knife. You can easily get around this limitation with more sophisticated materials and processes, like making it from metal in a mold and/or using powerful adhesives, but such practices would completely defeat the purpose of Cunning Artisan.
The specific tool that Cunning Artisan requires is a knife. That could be anything from the Dagger to a small blade used in peeling fruits from a Cook's Utensils. So no, you do not need any proficiencies to make use of Cunning Artisan. That would be contrary to the intention behind the ability -- you're using a knife to shave down some lengths of bone or what have you into crude weapons.
I would, however, ask why you have a set of Artisan's Tools you lack the proficiency to use...
The Elves, Dwarves, Githyanki, and Hobgoblins disagree with you.
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This is dumb. They should be able to be proficient in the things they can craft. The basic weapons and a shield are not insane additions to the class and frankly even with them the class is underwhelming considering their stigma.
I'd rule like Drwaves, Hobgoblins, and Elves that they would get proficiency with the weapons they could craft.
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Not everyone who knows how to craft a particular item know how to use them. Not everyone who knows how to wield an item knows how to craft them.
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Most blacksmiths I've met at conventions would disagree. The ability is based of the tribal stigma of a hunter/gather cutler. Watch any documentary about tribes from The Amazon and I'm certain you'll see that anybody who knows the intricacy's of using a blow-dart gun can wield one.
Do whatever you want at your table but if somebody wants to play a lizard-man I'll give them the proficiency.
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