First Edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons™ Character Creation
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Barbarian Weapon Proficiencies
  The Barbarian is able to learn to use just about any weapon he can find; however, starting out, his weapons will be selected by the referee based on what he views as available to the tribe.  Similar restrictions may be applied to armor, if desired; however, more limiting than the availability of armor is the fact that several barbarian advantages, including his armor class bonus for dexterity, are based on the assumption that he will not be encumbered by his armor.  Therefore, types of armor are divided into those which can be used without penalty from the beginning, those which can be used from the beginning but will penalize certain skills, and those which can be used if the character can find them, but will probably not be available at the beginning.

Available and no penalty Available but creates penalty Useable if available
Small Helmet Banded Mail Elfin Chain Mail
Leather Armor Bronze Plate Great Helmet
Buckler Chain Mail Ring Mail
Medium Shield Field Plate Metal Scale Mail
Small Shield Full Plate Spiked Buckler
Small Wooden Shield Padded Armor Splint Mail
Plate Mail
Large Shield
Studded Leather Armor

  Weapons similarly are divided into those which are normally available to barbarians, and those which a barbarian could learn to use if available to him, which might be available within his culture if the referee deems it consistent with the barbarian tribe from which he originates.

Normally available Obtainable from occidental culture
Hand or Throwing Axe Aklys
Knife and Scabbard Atlatl with Javelin
Spear Battle Ax
Bardiche
Bec de Corbin
Bill-guisarme
Blowgun/Blowpipe
Bo Stick (Quarterstaff)
Long Bow
Long Composite Bow
Short Bow
Short Composite Bow
Caltrops
Club
Hand Crossbow
Heavy Crossbow
Light Crossbow
Dagger and Scabbard
Dart
Fauchard
Fauchard-fork
Footman's Flail
Horseman's Flail
Military Fork
Garrote
Glaive
Glaive-guisarme
Guisarme
Guisarme-voulge
Halberd
Lucerne Hammer
Hammer
Harpoon
Hook Fauchard
Javelin
Jo Stick
Heavy Lance
Light Lance
Medium Lance
Lasso
Footman's Mace
Horseman's Mace
Man Catcher
Morningstar
Partisan
Footman's Military Pick
Horseman's Military Pick
Awl Pike
Ranseur
Sap
Scimitar
Sling
Spetum
Staff Sling
Quarter Staff
Khopesh Sword
Bastard Sword
Broad Sword
Falchion Sword
Long Sword
Short Sword
Two-handed Sword
Trident
Voulge
Whip

  Technically, the barbarian can learn any weapon he can possess, provided it is not magical.  This list refers only to those which he would normally encounter in a typical occidental campaign.  Referees who run mixed campaign settings or permit crossover characters should be aware of any oriental or other unlisted weapons (such as the flind bar) which are displayed in the barbarian's presence; he should also be mindful that the discipline in learning martial arts is foreign to the barbarian concept of combat, so martial-arts only weapons will probably be shunned.

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