What Equipment Families Are

Equipment families are the broad categories used by the Equipment Proficiency System.

They exist so the system can measure general competence with meaningful groups of weapons or tools without turning every single item into its own separate proficiency.

An equipment family should be:

• broad enough to cover several related items

• narrow enough to preserve real differences in training

• practical enough to use in both prose and tabletop play

Equipment families are not the same as specialized skills.

A character may have:

• Spear Proficiency B

without having:

• a specific spear technique skill

And a character may have:

• a class skill that commonly uses spears

without automatically having top spear proficiency.

Family Design Rule

Use equipment families for:

• general handling

• broad combat or tool competence

• efficiency with similar items

• practical baseline training

Do not create a separate family for every minor variation.

For example:

• different one-handed swords usually stay inside Swords

• different work hammers usually stay inside Hammers

• different medical wraps do not need separate proficiency families by default

If an item differs only slightly in shape, size, or local style, it usually stays inside the same family.

If it demands meaningfully different handling, posture, rhythm, or training, it may justify a different family.

Recommended Family List

Combat Weapon Families

• Swords

• Spears

• Axes

• Hammers

• Daggers

• Polearms

• Shields

• Bows

• Crossbows

• Thrown Weapons

Utility and Combat-Utility Families

• Utility Tools

• Field Tools

• Ropes and Restraints

Class-Linked Tool Families

• Holy Grimoires

• Alchemical Kits

• Ritual Marking Tools

• Focus Rods and Staves

• Repair Kits

Optional Local or Setting-Specific Families

These should only be added if your setting uses them enough to matter:

• Firearms

• Heavy Siege Implements

• Whips or Flexible Weapons

• Exotic Chain Weapons

• Large Two-Handed Blades as a separate family

• Sacred Relics as a separate family

• Mana Devices as a separate family

If a family appears only rarely, it may be better treated as a special item rather than a full recurring proficiency category.

Combat Weapon Families

Swords

This family covers most standard bladed sidearms and primary cutting weapons used in one-handed or ordinary battlefield styles.

Examples:

• arming swords

• short swords

• military sabers

• practical side blades

This family emphasizes:

• cutting and thrusting control

• edge alignment

• timing in direct melee

• adaptable sidearm competence

Use a separate family only if your setting wants very large two-handed swords to feel mechanically distinct.

Spears

This family covers thrust-dominant shafted weapons built around reach, line control, and disciplined spacing.

Examples:

• short spears

• war spears

• thrusting spears

This family emphasizes:

• reach control

• forward pressure

• disciplined thrust rhythm

• spacing and line use

This is one of the most important military weapon families in the setting.

Axes

This family covers practical and combat-oriented axes whose use depends on edge force, committed swings, and hook or impact logic.

Examples:

• hand axes

• war axes

• compact bearded axes if your setting uses them

This family emphasizes:

• committed strikes

• chopping force

• disruptive impact

• edge-weight handling

Hammers

This family covers war hammers, reinforced utility hammers used in combat, and similar impact-driven striking tools.

Examples:

• war hammers

• smith hammers adapted for defense

• reinforced field hammers

This family emphasizes:

• impact delivery

• armor pressure

• heavy short-motion strikes

• blunt-force control

This family matters especially for Craftsmen and some Vanguards.

Daggers

This family covers knives, daggers, short thrusting blades, and compact close-use edged weapons.

Examples:

• daggers

• utility knives

• short stabbing blades

This family emphasizes:

• close-in speed

• precision

• opportunistic use

• compact carry practicality

This family is important for Rogues, Hunters, Alchemists, and general adventurers.

Polearms

This family covers larger shafted battlefield weapons that are not simply ordinary spears and demand broader leverage-based handling.

Examples:

• halberds

• glaives

• military hook-pole variants

This family emphasizes:

• reach with heavier leverage

• wider attack geometry

• battlefield line pressure

• more complex shaft weapon control

If your setting treats all shafted weapons together, this family can be merged into Spears.

If you want more military depth, keep it separate.

Shields

This family covers active shield use as a trained combat discipline, not merely carrying protective equipment.

Examples:

• round shields

• kite shields

• tower shields if present

• reinforced field shields

This family emphasizes:

• cover control

• angle management

• defensive timing

• structure in close combat

This matters strongly for Vanguard and some Rogue + Vanguard hybrids.

Bows

This family covers drawn ranged weapons powered by user strength and shot control.

Examples:

• shortbows

• hunting bows

• war bows

This family emphasizes:

• draw discipline

• release control

• shot timing

• ranged accuracy and endurance

This is one of Hunter’s major natural families.

Crossbows

This family covers mechanically braced ranged launchers that depend more on loading method, support, and release discipline than bow draw rhythm.

Examples:

• light crossbows

• medium crossbows

• practical field crossbows

This family emphasizes:

• loading rhythm

• bracing

• release timing

• stable aimed shot deployment

If your setting uses crossbows often, keeping this family separate is worthwhile.

Thrown Weapons

This family covers weapons primarily used through thrown delivery rather than held melee.

Examples:

• throwing knives

• hand axes

• javelin-like light throw weapons

• weighted practical throwing tools

This family emphasizes:

• release timing

• distance judgment

• rotation control where relevant

• mobile ranged opportunism

This family should not automatically include thrown alchemical vessels.

Those usually depend on specialized skills instead.

Utility and Combat-Utility Families

Utility Tools

This family covers hand tools that can be used functionally and, in some cases, defensively or offensively.

Examples:

• utility hammers

• hatchets

• chisels

• reinforced work knives

• compact pry tools

This family emphasizes:

• practical handling

• improvised combat use

• tool-to-weapon adaptation

• field-ready manipulation

This matters strongly for Craftsman.

Field Tools

This family covers general expedition-use support tools not defined by one class monopoly.

Examples:

• digging tools

• compact support stakes

• climbing spikes

• probes

• measuring or marking tools

This family emphasizes:

• expedition practicality

• setup work

• support-task efficiency

• general field competence

This family may matter more in logistics-heavy play than direct combat.

Ropes and Restraints

This family covers practical rope, binding, securing, and restraint tools when their handling matters enough to justify proficiency.

Examples:

• rope systems

• restraint cords

• climbing lines

• tie-down gear

This family emphasizes:

• tying speed

• secure handling

• safe load use

• practical restraint or rigging control

If your campaign does not use this often, it can remain a minor optional family.

Class-Linked Tool Families

Holy Grimoires

This family covers the broad practical use of holy grimoires as sacred implements.

Examples:

• bound priest grimoires

• sanctioned holy books

• liturgical channel volumes

This family emphasizes:

• proper handling

• ritual use familiarity

• stability in holy operation

• sacred implementation discipline

This does not replace Priest skills like Channel or Grimoire Attunement.

It measures broad competency with the implement family.

Alchemical Kits

This family covers the practical handling of alchemical preparation equipment.

Examples:

• field alchemy kits

• catalyst trays

• mixing sets

• sealed preparation tools

This family emphasizes:

• safe handling

• preparation discipline

• equipment efficiency

• correct deployment of alchemical processes

This does not replace Alchemist skills like Compound Preparation or Catalyst Handling.

Ritual Marking Tools

This family covers the tools used to place, maintain, or support ritual markings and related body-routing practice.

Examples:

• marking brushes

• inks

• etching tools

• body-routing applicators

This family emphasizes:

• precise application

• stable marking work

• safe ritual-tool handling

• bodily pattern discipline support

This does not replace Ritualist class skills.

Focus Rods and Staves

This family covers magical focusing implements used for external mana shaping.

Examples:

• rods

• staves

• magical focus batons

• structured casting supports

This family emphasizes:

• proper focus handling

• casting support control

• stable implement use in spellwork

• external mana-use ergonomics

This does not replace Mage skills like Spell Structuring or Spell Release.

Repair Kits

This family covers organized repair equipment used in field maintenance and structural correction.

Examples:

• repair rolls

• fastening kits

• compact forge substitutes if setting allows

• field fixing tools

This family emphasizes:

• maintenance efficiency

• organized corrective work

• practical repair operation

• structural support handling

This matters especially for Craftsman, but can be used more broadly.

Optional Family Rules

When to split a