Re: A New beginning

Same with a cleric with a sword.  He
> can't become proficient in it (no clerics are out there able or
> willing to teach him) but if he wants to pick one up to use so be it,
> he suffers those nasty non-proficiency penalties and possibly others
> (such as when someone tries to disarm him they have an even better
> chance, etc.).

I'd seriously have to disagree with your assessment of the restriction
placed upon the "standard" cleric.  Clerics are forbidden from using
edged weapons because it is a tenant of their faith.  Using a sword
doesn't just cause a -3 to hit, it goes against everything the cleric
was taught.  Even though the cleric isn't a specialty priest he still
has to atone for his sins to the god or higher power that he worships. 
Use of a sword no matter what the reason is a violation of ethos and
should result in at least a minor transgression with removal of some
benefits or powers.  Playing priests/clerics should be quite different
from playing mages.  A mage's restrictions were designed to be a result
of the time and study it takes to learn the arcane arts, while priestly
restrictions were set up by the deities as their ideal of how people
should conduct themselves.