Dwarf Bard: Hammer as implement possible?

[Baumi]

I wanna play an Dwarf Bard and wondered if it is possible to get an Hammer as am implement (Songblades are only for heavy/light blades)?

 

[Aulirophile]

Not legally, no. Hammer is not an Implement group. But there is a feat, Arcane Implement Proficiency, that gives you access to another Implement group. Ask your DM if you can use that feat to make Hammers an implement (this would work fine if Hammers were an Arcane Implement for any class normally... they just aren't). Most Bards tend to take it anyway, since the Songblade enchantments aren't quite as good as some other stuff available. Personally I like taking it and getting a Farbond Spellblade. Implement, melee, range, all-in-one package.

 

[cdrcjsn]

Another quick and dirty way is to go Hybrid Bard/Warlock (PHB3) and use the hammer in AV that counts as a warlock implement.

Hybrid rules allow you to use the same implement for both classes, so I think that can pass.

 

[Antronach]

How would using a hammer as an implement affect your combat stats. As a dm, if you were wanting to do it for a bit of extra damage, or efficiency, it would require a feat. If it was PURELY for flavour, i'd let you have the feat for free.

 

[Baumi]

As a Dwarf I would benefit from it thanks to the Dwarven Weapon Profiency Feat. But the real reason why I want it is simply because I don't think Dwarfs and Swords are a good mix and a Bard could use a Hammer to play his Rythm on the Skulls of the Enemies

 

[mneme]

If you just want to get Dwarven Weapon Training on spells, take a Kopesh, get AIP(Heavy Blades), and happily use a Kopesh (which is both a heavy blade and an Axe). And, if you like, call the result a hammer.

Of course, any reasonable GM, particularly given the above, would just let you take AIP(Hammers) or drop a houserule arcane hammer, but if you want to get the mechanical effect without houserules, that's how you do it.

 

[DragonXNIK]

One thing I did with an Artificer was take Arcane Implement Proficiency: Pact Hammer because a Pact Hammer is "a kind of implement associated with any arcane class other than your own." I did it so that my dwarf could use a mordenkrad with the Daily 'Dancing Weapon' alongside implement powers.

This may be too loose of an interpretation for some though, and it shoehorns you into a specific magic weapon with a property that does nothing for you even if you multiclass. You do get the dwarven weapon training benefit bonus to implement damage rolls though.

I'm curious if anyone else thinks that this works?

 

[DracoSuave]

This may be too loose of an interpretation for some though, and it shoehorns you into a specific magic weapon with a property that does nothing for you even if you multiclass. You do get the dwarven weapon training benefit bonus to implement damage rolls though.

The property does nothing for you if you're a warlock. The property does nothing. Which is why it was removed in errata.

That said... how to get a hammer as an implement....

When you talk about hammer, implement, and dwarf, reskinning doesn't actually cover the fact you can +2 damage to all your powers at heroic. Reskinning for mechanical benefit isn't always approvable by the DM, so what you want is to try something that will get by.

The only way I can think of, off the top of my head, is to Hybrid with Monk, but Bard/Monk's pretty hodge podge with the attributes, given you're already hurting there with Dwarf, that's a double shot in the foot.

Altho the question must be asked... Dwarf Bard implies you're going to be a Valorous bard, why do you need an implement at all? Take hammer. Beat face.

 

[LightPhoenix]

One thing I did with an Artificer was take Arcane Implement Proficiency: Pact Hammer because a Pact Hammer is "a kind of implement associated with any arcane class other than your own." I did it so that my dwarf could use a mordenkrad with the Daily 'Dancing Weapon' alongside implement powers.

I would rule that the Pact Hammer is not an implement; it functions as an implement in certain situations, but is not itself an implement.

Of course, I would simply let you use the hammer as an implement anyway. While I love the 4E Bard, I hate the implement/weapon divide for them. It's especially bad for the Prescient Bard, which requires Songbows as a patch to make them playable.

I'd also rule that Dwarven Weapon Training only applies to powers with the Weapon keyword. You'd get it when you're using it as a weapon, but when you're pointing and channeling power through it (or whatever), that doesn't really require weapon training.

 

[DracoSuave]

Of course, I would simply let you use the hammer as an implement anyway. While I love the 4E Bard, I hate the implement/weapon divide for them. It's especially bad for the Prescient Bard, which requires Songbows as a patch to make them playable.

No to play a prescient bard, every power that requires either Wisdom or the feature Virtue of Prescience or has its schticks of prediction or luck is either a ranged weapon power, or a utility power.

It's -hybrid- bards that cross train between builds that require things like 'song blades' or 'song bows' or 'quick draw.'