I have a monk, I've used the Eku, or boat oar, in other games. I was under the impression it functions identically to a quarterstaff, but someone said a boat oar is an improvised weapon. If I start with the weapon, and it starts as an improvised weapon, how long before earning proficiency? If I use something starting at level one, and use it as my main weapon all the way until level twenty, it obviously isn't improvised somewhere along the line. How do I know the breaking point where proficiency is earned with that item? I'm not trying to get proficiency with all improvised weapons just that one.
You’re never proficient with improvised weapons unless you have the Tavern Brawler feat.
That said, the rules for improvised weapons strongly encourage the DM to treat them as actual weapons if they closely resemble an actual weapon. I personally would absolutely treat a boat oar as a quarterstaff and consider you proficient.
You could just ask to have it function exactly as a quarterstaff. People get needlessly hung up on names, so don't call it an eku but instead call it a quarterstaff with a large and flat surface on one end.
So that specific thing has been answered. But now that I asked that, I'm wondering about the other thing I asked. Let's say someone starts at level 1 with an actual improvised weapon, and they just keep using it because of convenience. Doesn't matter what it is, could be a table leg, a large femur, a rubber chicken, whatever it is. If someone starts using it at level one, and makes that their primary weapon for the duration, how long before earning proficiency with it? Because I still believe that by level twenty, whatever you've been using the most would earn proficiency somewhere along the line. How would it be determined that proficiency is earned with a once-improvised weapon?
It'll depend on the DM. There is no RAW answer as far as I know. A wooden leg is close enough to a club it wouldn't be an issue. As others have said a boat oar is close enough to a staff. For flavoring anything can be anything else as long as it doesnt change the mechanics.
Personally at a certain point I would definitely grant proficiency with a specific item. But not sure exactly how, I don’t think there is a right or wrong answer as long as both player and dm agree to the terms.
RAW, never. RAW, the only way to gain proficiency with an improvised weapon is to take the Tavern Brawler feat. If you’re DM is more practical that the rules are, it’s entirely up to them.
To become proficient in an improvised weapon I found a few options by RAW
Raw there is tavern brawler (all improvised) or weapon master (4 weapons of choice) as feats.
Kensai monk lvl 3 feature specifies you become proficient in a ranged or mele wep and that weapon counts as a monk weapon for you, this would be the only way to have a specific improvised weapon count as a monk weapon by RAW.
In the DMG there is a section on rewards which calls out that a DM can reward a player with proficiencies, if you have a DM that doesn't want to reskin an Eku as a quarterstaff I wouldn't expect this option to be available.
It'll depend on the DM. There is no RAW answer as far as I know. A wooden leg is close enough to a club it wouldn't be an issue. As others have said a boat oar is close enough to a staff. For flavoring anything can be anything else as long as it doesnt change the mechanics.
Why a boat oar? Inspired by Miyamoto Musashi?
no, just was looking at monk weapons, and I like the original concept of Eastern weapons that were originally tools and stuff like that. especially for sufficiently large weapons.
I would add for completion sake you can learn a new skill with 10-int modifier weeks study (XGE). This includes proficiencies with tools. You can ask your DM if this applies to weapon proficiency. You could pick up "broken bottle" proficiency with 5-11 weeks training spending at least 8 hours a day. If your traveling, and have no hostile encounters, you can only travel for 8 hours a days, even with 8 hours long rest that leaves 8 hours of training you can do per uninjured and non wound recovering peaceful day.
IMO its not unreasonable to pick up basic fighting competence in 2-3 months time. Peasants are taught to use a pike in armies with relatively brief training times.
I have a monk, I've used the Eku, or boat oar, in other games. I was under the impression it functions identically to a quarterstaff, but someone said a boat oar is an improvised weapon. If I start with the weapon, and it starts as an improvised weapon, how long before earning proficiency? If I use something starting at level one, and use it as my main weapon all the way until level twenty, it obviously isn't improvised somewhere along the line. How do I know the breaking point where proficiency is earned with that item? I'm not trying to get proficiency with all improvised weapons just that one.
You’re never proficient with improvised weapons unless you have the Tavern Brawler feat.
That said, the rules for improvised weapons strongly encourage the DM to treat them as actual weapons if they closely resemble an actual weapon. I personally would absolutely treat a boat oar as a quarterstaff and consider you proficient.
You could just ask to have it function exactly as a quarterstaff. People get needlessly hung up on names, so don't call it an eku but instead call it a quarterstaff with a large and flat surface on one end.
So that specific thing has been answered. But now that I asked that, I'm wondering about the other thing I asked. Let's say someone starts at level 1 with an actual improvised weapon, and they just keep using it because of convenience. Doesn't matter what it is, could be a table leg, a large femur, a rubber chicken, whatever it is. If someone starts using it at level one, and makes that their primary weapon for the duration, how long before earning proficiency with it? Because I still believe that by level twenty, whatever you've been using the most would earn proficiency somewhere along the line. How would it be determined that proficiency is earned with a once-improvised weapon?
It'll depend on the DM. There is no RAW answer as far as I know. A wooden leg is close enough to a club it wouldn't be an issue. As others have said a boat oar is close enough to a staff. For flavoring anything can be anything else as long as it doesnt change the mechanics.
Why a boat oar? Inspired by Miyamoto Musashi?
Well the short answer is: it’s up to the DM.
Personally at a certain point I would definitely grant proficiency with a specific item. But not sure exactly how, I don’t think there is a right or wrong answer as long as both player and dm agree to the terms.
RAW, never. RAW, the only way to gain proficiency with an improvised weapon is to take the Tavern Brawler feat. If you’re DM is more practical that the rules are, it’s entirely up to them.
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To become proficient in an improvised weapon I found a few options by RAW
Raw there is tavern brawler (all improvised) or weapon master (4 weapons of choice) as feats.
Kensai monk lvl 3 feature specifies you become proficient in a ranged or mele wep and that weapon counts as a monk weapon for you, this would be the only way to have a specific improvised weapon count as a monk weapon by RAW.
In the DMG there is a section on rewards which calls out that a DM can reward a player with proficiencies, if you have a DM that doesn't want to reskin an Eku as a quarterstaff I wouldn't expect this option to be available.
Kensei can not select “improvised weapons” as a Kensei weapon.
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Missed the line that specified simple or martial, thought it was just mele and ranged. Oh well.
That’s why I wrote this after a Jackie marathon. 😜
https://www.dndbeyond.com/subclasses/345332-way-of-the-chan
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no, just was looking at monk weapons, and I like the original concept of Eastern weapons that were originally tools and stuff like that. especially for sufficiently large weapons.
I would add for completion sake you can learn a new skill with 10-int modifier weeks study (XGE). This includes proficiencies with tools. You can ask your DM if this applies to weapon proficiency. You could pick up "broken bottle" proficiency with 5-11 weeks training spending at least 8 hours a day. If your traveling, and have no hostile encounters, you can only travel for 8 hours a days, even with 8 hours long rest that leaves 8 hours of training you can do per uninjured and non wound recovering peaceful day.
IMO its not unreasonable to pick up basic fighting competence in 2-3 months time. Peasants are taught to use a pike in armies with relatively brief training times.