Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - General why is Phalar Aluve is a Longsword ?

It's dedicated to the drow god Ellistre (sp?) right? Drow don't have proficiency in longsword. Drow have proficiency in rapier. So why is Phalar Aluve a Longsword instead of a rapier? Don't get me wrong, I prefer the longsword. Just popped into my head a minute ago so I'm curious.

Probably because if you look at Elistraee's deity symbol, she is a naked dancing Drow in the moonlight with a longsword in her hands.

Elistraee and her priests are sword wielders :

https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Eilistraee


https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Sword_Dancer_of_Eilistraee

Well I'm not reading all of that from those 2 links but I did notice that her original cleric symbol used a longsword. That is the only thing that I saw that even said anything about a LONGSWORD. I also noticed it says "known to use their art while fencing" and fencing definitely does not involve a longsword. It is a rapier or saber (but no sabers in BG3). Also noticed it said priestesess of her could cast magic missile. Would have been a nice little bonus to see. I also noticed that only FEMALES can be clerics of her? Sounds kinda sexist. lol. Still with the drow prejedism I guess.

It is a nod towards lore of over THIRTY years standing. Transpassing several editions.
Bastard sword = longsword.
Fencing - as a contemporary sport - is absolutely disconnected with the practice of actual martial arts.
As to sabers - these exist in D&D/BG3, but are called seimitars.
Eilistraee clerfy used to be "no boys need apply" as old school D&D was like totally Nazi and Satanic and non-woke and puppy kicking ...
Yes, Drow prejudicism - you can take a Drow out from Lollth worship, but you cannot take the Lollth from the Drow.
I like to give female Drow/Half-Drow Omnipresent Authority Figures flails :P

BTW - a cute wink at "Drow culture" is a dead Drow raider at Waukeen's Reest being asked "what was your class" and answering "male".

Eilistraee uses a Bastard Sword.

Which, is not a weapon class that exists in BG3, but the closest approximation is a Longsword (Which technically, aren't even longswords...)


Fencing is simply fighting with swords. It's not specific to any type of sword.

The modern day Fencing sport typically uses epees but that is not the only usage of the term "Fencing"

BG3 handles them as a separate race for convenience sake, but Drow are Elves, and Elves are proficient with longswords. That's also why.

But DROW elves are proficient with rapiers and shortswords. NOT longswords so I see no point in your comment. No offense intended.

I agree that Drow not having a racial ability to to use Phalar Aluve is odd.
In my playthroughs I had to work around this as to enable my Drow/Half-Drow to use it. Not that it was particularly difficult ... :P
Still, Finesse is a nod towards Drow/Half-Drow characters not using DEX as dump stat

Your arguing is flawed because the proficiency of a race does not mean that all weapons they use have to be of this kind. Vice versa having not a racial proficiency does not hinder parts of a race or a god/goddess using certain weapons. Should all gods of the Humans be shown with spears, pikes, halberds and glaives only? A Human or a Drow do not have proficiency with longswords, but a Human or Drow Fighter or Ranger have. A Drow god/goddess can do what he/she wants. There is no reason at all to make Phalar Aluve anything other than a longsword, because it is a straight longish versatile sword in the lore.

Yeah, Drow as a subrace. They're supposed to be under elves, and elves should have longswords, scimitars and all bows. Because it's tied to race. Drow are supposed to fall under this category, and get crossbows and [possibly] rapiers on top of that. I say possibly because I'm unsure and too lazy to look it up.

But BG3 handles Drow separately, so they don't inherit the Elf stuff. But that's an oversight, really - Drow totally SHOULD have longsword proficiency.

My reasoning is that a drow priestess CAN'T use her gods weapon. That's all I'm saying. They most certainly should be able to. I'm not trying to argue to begin with. As I originally said " so I'm curious".

They can.

Tempest and War domains both get martial weapon proficiencies. And there's the feat that gives you proficiency in 3 weapons of your choice.

No-one ever said that devotion to the goddess Elistraee was supposed to be easy (That ONLY female elves can become Sword Dancers shows that it's not supposed to be just agiven that anyone can dedicate themselves to her)

I think a better question is "why doesn't it stop singing when you unequip it".

Just another boring exploit, activate it, and change weapons.

A Drow/Half-Drow Priestess can take the Domains which grant Martial Weapon Proficiency.
Or take the "Weapon Master" Feat.
Bards - a class which screams "Templar of Eilistraee" at you, have Longsword proficiency.
Nevertheless, having -"if equipped by Drow/Half-Drow female Cleric of Eilistraee, grants Longsword Proficiency to user" - would be nice.

suh me. I made a drow priestess of Ellistrae with the light domain and for some stupid reason was thinking they HAD to be light domain priestesess only. No idea why I thought that honestly. I feel dumb right now. lol.

Yes bard definietly "sings" a tune for drow worshipers of El but I was thinking along the lines of clerics and their gods weapons in this case.

College of Swords Bard is more lore accurate presentation of Eilistraee cleric anyway. That's what I actually made my character to be when I decided to play one (with one level of Cleric to get the appropriate dialogue options).

Hear! Hear!
Did pretty much the same - 1-2 lvl of Cleric followed by Bard, Paladin or Ranger.