A player is determined to have a very specific weapon in Dungeons & Dragons that reminds him of his treasure from real life. However, his game master and many other dungeon masters refuse to let him make it happen. This issue has sparked a large discussion, which the community is now allowed to join.
What weapon is it? The player and Reddit user Jadefiregriffon reached out to the D&D community on Reddit with a problem between him and his dungeon master. He has been a landscaper for 7 years and owns a large, expensive favorite shovel that he somehow wants to bring into the game.
For this, he would simply wish for a bludgeoning weapon that looks like his shovel, without having to change any rules. He is purely interested in a kind of “reskin” and a matter of taste.
However, his dungeon master, and as he explains, several other game masters, have told him that this isn’t possible because shovels are considered improvised weapons. Now the player asks: “You literally just have to redesign an existing weapon and call it a ‘special touch,’ or am I wrong?”
Over 1,700 comments – all because of a shovel
How does the community argue? The issue surrounding the shovel has evidently sparked discussions not only at the player’s table. The community also has a lot of opinions about who is really right regarding the question of the shovel as a weapon.
Some Reddit users can understand the game masters who do not want to allow him to use the shovel as a weapon. They justify this primarily by stating that,
- the shovel may not fit the tone of the campaign, as it would feel wrong in a more serious high-fantasy or horror setting.
- the shovel does not look like a weapon and this or the player is perceived as significantly less dangerous than potentially the other players, which would be an unfair advantage.
- allowing a homebrew item might just open the floodgates for further homebrew items or rules that may not be easily integrated afterwards.
However, a clear majority thinks the idea of the shovel-loving player is really great and cannot understand the reactions of the game masters because
- a shovel found lying on the ground may be considered an improvised weapon, but a shovel that one carries around everywhere has a perfectly plausible background for a weapon.
- such a personal weapon also directly adds character.
- A shovel can indeed hurt a lot.
What do you think about the player’s idea? Would you allow him to have the shovel as a weapon, or can you understand the counterarguments? Let us know in the comments!
The love for a weapon may not only frustrate dungeon masters, on the contrary. Others seem to really appreciate it, as one game master shares from her own experience: Player refuses to give up his bad but loyal starting weapon in D&D, his game master wants to reward that
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