monk preview: another expertise feat - talk about stealth errata!

[evilbob]

Focused Expertise: Choose a weapon that you can wield as an implement. You gain a bonus to attack rolls with any implement or weapon power you use
through that weapon.

WOW. What a horrible way to fix an obvious problem: A BETTER FEAT! So basically, they're saying to all the poor paladins and clerics and other folks who use weapons as implements who had to pay a double feat tax: OH WAIT! Never mind, we suddenly realized NOW that this was completely unfair, so here's a fix and pleasedonthateus. However, it's tucked away in the monk PREVIEW which you have to have a subscription for, as opposed to being included in the PH2 which you already bought...

...Yeah. Wow. My confidence in the developers took a huge hit when they released errata for the Expertise feats within a few days to counter an incredibly obvious problem - but it just took an even bigger hit thanks to this stealth errata which fixes another major and quite obvious issue, which by the way you also have to pay for. Extra suck.

 

[Nail]

Is that the complete text of the Focused Expertise feat? It's unclear: what bonus?

 

[chaotix42]

That's pretty much it, Nail. It just goes on to explain how the bonus scales and that it doesn't stack with other Expertise feats.

I'm allowing the Expertise feats in my campaigns for now so I don't mind this feat. It keeps classes like swordmages from having to take both Expertise feats or limit their selection of powers to either weapon or implement powers.

So basically, they're saying to all the poor paladins and clerics and other folks who use weapons as implements who had to pay a double feat tax: OH WAIT! Never mind, we suddenly realized NOW that this was completely unfair, so here's a fix and pleasedonthateus.

Don't paladins and clerics just use both weapons and implements? They're still stuck taking both Expertise feats if they want to mix and match weapon and implement powers. There are those magic weapons in AV that can be used as implements though...

 

[Tuft]

WOW. What a horrible way to fix an obvious problem: A BETTER FEAT! So basically, they're saying to all the poor paladins and clerics and other folks who use weapons as implements who had to pay a double feat tax: OH WAIT! Never mind, we suddenly realized NOW that this was completely unfair, so here's a fix and pleasedonthateus. However, it's tucked away in the monk PREVIEW which you have to have a subscription for, as opposed to being included in the PH2 which you already bought...

Nope, this is not the feat for those that both use weapons as weapons and implements as implements, such as e.g. a bard. This is the feat for those that use weapons as implements, such as the monk or the sorcerer, as I read it.

Not sure how weapons that also are implements, such as a songsword, counts in this regard... Are they "weapons that are wielded as implements", or weapons that are wielded as weapons plus implements wielded as implements? The rules definitely could be a lot clearer on this point. Possibly the best way is to see what numbers the character builder spits out on the character sheet, rather than try to understand the rules.

 

[Nail]

The rules definitely could be a lot clearer on this point. Possibly the best way is to see what numbers the character builder spits out on the character sheet, rather than try to understand the rules.

Oh lord.

...that sends a shudder down my spine. The only way to understand the rules is to let the computer program do it? Ick.

 

[Mistwell]

Oh lord.

...that sends a shudder down my spine. The only way to understand the rules is to let the computer program do it? Ick.

He said "best" way (and in context, "best" meant quickest method of computing some numbers), and you read "only" way?

The best way to run some calculations is to use a calculator. It's not the only way however, and I think that's a virtually identical analogy.

 

[Elric]

I'm waiting for (riffing off of posters on the WotC boards):

"Everything Expertise"
Benefit: Your character gets +1 to hit with all attacks. At level 15, this increases to +2. At level 25, this increases to +3. This bonus doesn't stack with any other "Expertise" feats you have. If you are level 5 or higher, gain an additional feat.

"Defense Expertise"
Benefit: Your character gets +1 to Fortitude, Reflex, and Will. At level 15, this increases to +2. At level 25, this increases to +3. This bonus doesn't stack with the feats Robust Defenses, Epic Fortitude, Epic Reflexes, or Epic Will. If you are level 5 or higher, gain an additional feat.

 

[Nail]

In this case, the sentiment remains the same. "The best way to interprete the rules is to let a computer program do it?" Yikes!

 

[Herschel]

I'm fine with it. It's simply another choice in building. Do I want more accuracy, defense, speed, HP, surges, initiaive modifiers, damage, superior weapons..........the choice is mine.

 

[Mengu]

Double post.