Background Traits Giving +1 bonus

[Legowarrior]

I noticed that weapon proficiency from Background traits gives a +1 to hit, whether you started with the proficiency or not. That doesn't seem to agree with the description, or an I missing something?

I noticed it first on Camellia, getting a +1 to hit with a rapier, despite not being proficient in Rapiers, but it works on any created character. Is that working as it should be?

I also noticed that the +1 Throwing Axe isn't give a +1 to hit, and that its not resizing when you equip it on a Halfling, so it deals full 1d6 damage.
The same with the Javelin.

[belangf]

I don,t know if that works as intended, but it is an enhancement bonus so it does not stack with masterwork or magical weapon. It quickly becomes useless if you have the proficiency.

[Cutlass Jack]

Its just an early game bonus that you'll lose the first time you get a magic version of your weapon. They put it there purposely to make the early game a smidge easier. Nothing to worry about.

The Magical +1 on the throwing axe doesn't stack with the +1 from background. So you won't see the hit number increase.

[Legowarrior]

Originally posted by Cutlass Jack:

Its just an early game bonus that you'll lose the first time you get a magic version of your weapon. They put it there purposely to make the early game a smidge easier. Nothing to worry about.

Okay, so I checked this with Camellia. At 5th Level, she has Background Rapier, Weapon Focus Rapier, and Weapon Finesse. With a regular Rapier -
3 Base
+4 for Dexterity
+1 for Courtier
+1 for Weapon Focus
for 9

With a Master Work Rapier
3 Base
+4 for Dexterity
+1 for Courtier
+1 for Weapon Focus
+1 for Master Work
for 10

With +1 Rapier
+4 for Dexterity
+1 for Courtier
+1 for Weapon Focus
for 9

The +1 Weapon still gives her the Courtier Bonus, but she gets neither the Master Work Bonus, nor the +1 Magical Bonus. Unlike the Master Work Weapon, which does get her that bonus.

Originally posted by Cutlass Jack:

The Magical +1 on the throwing axe doesn't stack with the +1 from background. So you won't see the hit number increase.

So, I check this. My 5th level Halfling Slayer.
+1 Throwing Axe

+5 BAB
+4 Dexterity
+1 Mwangian Hunter
(oddly enough, the +1 to hit for being small isn't shown)
= +10

Now, a Master Work Throwing Axe
+5 BAB
+4 Dexterity
+1 Mwangian Hunter
+1 Master Work Throwing Axe
(oddly enough, the +1 to hit for being small isn't shown)
= +11

Its not that the Background isn't showing, its that the enhancement isn't showing.

But, I think I'm getting to the bottom of it. If I replace my ordinary +1 Throwing Axe with 5th Finnean
+5 BAB
+4 Dexterity
+1 Mwangian Hunter
(oddly enough, the +1 to hit for being small isn't shown)
= +10


Make Finnean into a Rapier, and the +1 Master Work isn't showing up on the inventory screen again when given to Camellia

Okay, so I played around with Seelah, giving her master work weapon, simple +1 weapons, and named weapons, and here is what I have found.
First - The Background bonus on a weapon is never lost. It just always shows, which makes weapons you can get a background in superior on average to any other weapons

I wanted to check this with Seelah, since she has no background
+1 Trident = +1 Enhancement
+1 Short Spear = +1 Enhancement
+1 Throwing Axe = +1 Ehancement
Ice Breaker = +1 Enhancement
Abrupt Force = +1 Enhancement
Finnean Glave = +1 Enhancement
Finnean Dagger = +1 Enhancement
Finnean Long Sword = +1 Enhancement
Rapier = +1 Enhancement
Club with Nails = +1 Enhancement

So, yes, the Background Effect seems to be linked to not getting the +1 bonus on weapons, but it doesn't seem to working on Master Work Weapons.

Well, if the background is working as intended, then its hardly worth to take the background in a weapon that you can already use. After 5th level, you at least have some magically weapon.

Well, at least the +1 damage from the Hunter on throwing weapons is showing up.

[PapBek]

My apologies for necroing this post, but I just noticed this too, and isn't it very strange that you lose +1 to attack when switching from a masterwork weapon to a +1 weapon?!

Why would I then ever prefer a +1 weapon over a masterwork one on characters with a relevant background?!

[Yaldabaoth]

Originally posted by PapBek:

My apologies for necroing this post, but I just noticed this too, and isn't it very strange that you lose +1 to attack when switching from a masterwork weapon to a +1 weapon?!

Why would I then ever prefer a +1 weapon over a masterwork one on characters with a relevant background?!

A) You might not have the choice because you don't have the item.
B) You might encounter an enemy that has damage reduction/magic. Meaning your masterwork weapon would do less or no damage while the magic weapon does full damage.

But I don't think B) applies to any enemy in the game at the stage where you would reasonably be walking around with either masterwork or +1 weapons.

[Competitive Little Brat]

Hello, sorry for also necroing this post because this is the only post i can find that talks about this issue.

Seems that the others who have replied doesn't get the question that was being asked by OP in the first place.

Camellia doesn't have any rapier proficiency from her class, it only has simple weapon proficiency. She gets her rapier proficiency only from her background. According to the description, the background should only give +1 attack bonus if she already got the proficiency bonus from her starting class, which she doesn't.

I'm also still racking my brain trying to figure out why she has that +1 that she supposedly shouldn't have. Is it a bugged description? Do all background proficiency also give +1 to attack regardless if the original class have it as a proficiency or not?

Or is it a bug only regarding Camellia?

OP do you already have any answer for this, or anyone :)