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Sorcerous Blade Channeling and basic melee attacks
The Sorcerous Blade Channeling feat states:
"When you use any ranged sorcerer attack power through a dagger, you can use the power as a melee attack. If you do so, the power’s range equals your melee reach."
Does this allow you to use a power such as Acid Orb or Dragonfrost which can be used as a ranged basic attack as a melee basic attack?
Be aware that ruling that way really reduces the incentive for a sorceror to take the other feat reaper's touch which explicitly says that you can...
My favorite visualization for Reaper's touch comes from a recent Doctor Strange Cartoon - The sorcerors were able to conjure weapons, though not all of them did some seemed to be using their fists with runes glowing around them -- virtually perfect Reaper's touch. You could almost picture the Sorcerous Blade Channeling as somebody grabbing a dagger and it growing into a big weapon dripping with energy that looked like the power they are using... green and black sizzling and popping energy for acid orb --- would be exactly what Mordo used.
Another vote for no. Of course, something could trigger a "basic attack" or "ranged basic attack" which you could use at a melee range with this feat... but that still doesn't make it a "melee basic attack".
A "melee basic attack" is a specific rules term. Sorcerous Blade Channeling just lets you change the range of your attack to "Melee" instead of "Ranged". It does not turn a ranged basic attack into a melee basic attack.
A "melee basic attack" is a specific rules term. Sorcerous Blade Channeling just lets you change the range of your attack to "Melee" instead of "Ranged". It does not turn a ranged basic attack into a melee basic attack.
This is the correct translation of it. It does not allow it.
However, as many have said, if your DM chooses to allow it, it is not overtly overpowered.
"When you use any ranged sorcerer attack power through a dagger, you can use the power as a melee attack. If you do so, the power’s range equals your melee reach."
Does this allow you to use a power such as Acid Orb or Dragonfrost which can be used as a ranged basic attack as a melee basic attack?
I asked this same question myself a little while ago. The response from WOTC customer service was a quick and unqualified "yes."
The response from this board had a bit more "no" to it, as you are seeing. After some inquisition, it seemed that the "no" boiled down to: with strict RAW, the feat allows Acid Orb to be a melee attack, and the power itself is a basic attack, but it's not a melee basic attack.
My recommendation: if you want to be uber-hard-nosed RAW, then split this hair and rule "no." Otherwise, go with common sense and fun and WOTC which say that a melee attack which is also a basic attack is, for all intents and purposes, a melee basic attack. It's certainly not an over-powered, game breaking ruling to make.
My recommendation: if you want to be uber-hard-nosed RAW, then split this hair and rule "no."
-Dan'L
Here is a nicely sensible reason to say no...
Sorcerous Blade Channelling
When you are using a power as you learned it, if that power is very natural to you and you can do it quickly without thinking you cant now because you are using it in a unnatural sort of way now... (is that unreasonable sounding or lacking in common sense)
Reaper's Touch
When you acquire this you learn to wield a couple of your most natural powers even better these 2 specific powers you can now wield in an unusual way.
Note Sorcerous Blade Channeling affects all the sorcerors ranged powers and Reaper's touch only affects two?
Be aware that ruling that way really reduces the incentive for a sorceror to take the other feat reaper's touch which explicitly says that you can...
My favorite visualization for Reaper's touch comes from a recent Doctor Strange Cartoon - The sorcerors were able to conjure weapons, though not all of them did some seemed to be using their fists with runes glowing around them -- virtually perfect Reaper's touch. You could almost picture the Sorcerous Blade Channeling as somebody grabbing a dagger and it growing into a big weapon dripping with energy that looked like the power they are using... green and black sizzling and popping energy for acid orb --- would be exactly what Mordo used.
There's something else to consider. Reaper's Touch is one of the Dragon Magazine feats, which are frequently ill conceived and are never subject to errata. Sorcerous Blade Channelling is from PHB2, which may see future corrections. Many people will refrain from permitting Dragon materials in their campaign because of the poorly written nature, but the main book materials are rarely censored.
In this case that implies reapers touch may not appear as a comparison beside the other in a particular campaign... and not being as versatile as the other feat. (although not bound to a particular style of implement or class either!!),
Or that might have just been a precursor idea that became Sorcerous Blade Channelling
Excluding wizards and warlocks from the fun just seems not nice to me.
There's something else to consider. Reaper's Touch is one of the Dragon Magazine feats, which are frequently ill conceived and are never subject to errata.
I hear that.
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