Longsword Weilding Wizard

[JadeForlorn]

For an Arena game we do just to test out interesting concepts, I was looking at creating a level 17 wizard who walked the path of the Spiral Tower. One benefit of the path of the Spiral Tower is as stated:

"Choose an arcane implement that you specialize in, whether the wand, staff, or orb. You can use a longsword as if it were that type of arcane implement when casting your spells."

As an eladrin, I am proficient with the Longsword. I understand that if I were to wield a magic longsword, the enhancement bonus could be applied to my spells that have implement as a keyword, as well as (insanity!) melee attacks with the longsword.

However, there are two issues I am curious about and cannot find clear cut definitions. Do I leave this up to an adjudicator (DM) or am I missing something?

1. As an Eladrin I can take the feat Eladrin Soldier which gives me "Proficiency with all spears and a +2 feat bonus to damage rolls with longswords and all spears." Now technically if I am using a longsword as an implement I am attacking with the longsword (just as if I were using an orb I would be making my attacks with the orb.) So do I get the +2 damage bonus to my longsword when using it as an implement?

2. If I choose to wield a flaming weapon, as an at-will, free action "All damage dealt by this weapon is fire damage. Another free action returns the damage to normal." If I chose to cast Magic Missile, could I change the damage to fire? As in the old Energy Substitution?

If I can do neither of these, I don't really feel that wielding a sword as an implement is all that cool. I mean, why would I ever want to be in melee with something as a pure wizard?

 

[Goumindong]

1. only if the power has the "weapon" key word

2. Only if the power has the "weapon" key word

In the first case its likely to be no. in the second specific case its definitely no.

 

[Aservan]

I think you do get the damage bonus with the feat since it doesn't explicitly say weapon anywhere; just that you are using a longsword. The flaming weapon though states "...this weapon is fire damage." An implement just enhances a power it doesn't become the source of the damage.

Honestly I think it is kinda cool that you could shoot out blasts of flame with the flaming sword.

 

[Aloïsius]

There is a thread about that on WotC boards. IIRC, the consensus is that, per the RAW, when you use a power with a magic item that has some keyword (like flaming) then the power gains the keyword (and that's useful with swintertouch and others..).
But I don't remember about extra-damage.

 

[Tony Vargas]

1. no
2. no

The Wizard of the Spiral Tower PP gives you two weapon-keyword, INT-based attack powers to use with the sword, so there's plenty of reason to swing Correllon's shiny green blade around occasionaly.


If the power has the 'Weapon' keyword, than it assumes any keywords of the weapon you're using with it. AFAIK, the same is not true of the implement keyword.

Another cool thing is that the sword counts as the implement you choose, so you get the Mastery benefit. Like a +1 AC if it's a 'staff' - only now it's one-handed, so you can use TWD or a Shield, as well.

 

[Cadfan]

If I can do neither of these, I don't really feel that wielding a sword as an implement is all that cool. I mean, why would I ever want to be in melee with something as a pure wizard?

Goumindong handled the specific questions, so I'll handle this one.

Take a look at the Wizard of the Spiral Tower abilities. They're not based around fighting in melee on purpose. They're backups.

The One Sword, the WotST encounter power, lets you attack with Int + weapon proficiency bonuses (basically gives you a free +3 to the attack roll) versus reflex. If you hit, you have a chance of dazing the target and keeping The One Sword for later use. This lets you run away from melee without getting stabbed.

Corellon's Blade, the daily, is even better. It lets you use intelligence +4 +weapon proficiency against Will, making it possibly the most accurate attack versus will in the game. It also acts as a Close Burst, so it attacks every adjacent foe. It does damage, and it makes them vanish for a round. This lets you freely exit melee reach, and reposition to do something for which you're more suited.

The Wizard of the Spiral Tower isn't intended to be a melee choice. Its meant to be a choice that gives you melee powers to back up your regular repertoire of spells. Its a very effective paragon path.

 

[JadeForlorn]

Ah

I wasn't paying attention to the level 20 daily as my creation is only 17, but I did choose the class specifically because of the other power (spend an action point to regain an encounter) and because of the admitedly very nice encounter power that does not get expended if you hit both times.

I suppose since I took the second implement feat, I could treat the sword as a staff instead of an orb as I had intended. Now that I see that, it is much more reasonable. Can't be wielding a staff and a longsword at the same time... However, I do feel slightly cheated out of the ability of choosing a cool magic weapon like frosty and not being able to change my attacks to ice (although that could be because of the few choices available for damage types at each level) I would honestly prefer all my damage to be poisonous/acid to fit my character concept, but there's just so few options that I've gone with cold in addition (and altered my concept to fit). Anyhow, thank you, although I still feel that the +2 feat bonus to longsword damage should effect spells channeled through it, I don't see any clarification otherwise, and from past experience I know if I ask WoTC I'll get different answers... Bah!

 

[Rith the Wanderer]

The eladrin feat applying to spells cast through it doesn't really make sense. Its you being trained in combat with a sword, why would that effect damage? Also, this means you could take weapon focus (quarterstaff) and gain bonus to spells cast through a staff implement.

Another thing, the damage bonus from burning blizzard wouldn't stack with the eladrin ability even if it did apply to spells, they're both feat bonuses.

The action point to regain an encounter power becomes fairly useless once you get the Arcane Mastery feat at epic levels.

I think all that the Spiral Tower PP has going for it is the few really accurate powers it has, which is cool, but the other PPs seem to have a more diverse array of abilities.

 

[Goumindong]

The other thing it lets you do is more easily conform with a warlords ability which often grant extra melee attacks or force enemies to provoke OAs.

A normal wizard, in order to take advantage of them either has to have a racial weapon proficiency and hold their implement in one hand and the weapon in the other(so, no shield). Or they have to use a dagger and do the same.

The paragon class can use a shield and sword and still be able to use the sword for ranged attacks(magic missile), as an implment, and for making AO's and granted melee attacks.

And you can do all of this without changing stuff around in your hands. So when the Warlord fires off his "everyone can shift 4 squares and make a melee attack against a target which does no damage but knocks it prone" the wizard can take part.

 

[Rith the Wanderer]

The other thing it lets you do is more easily conform with a warlords ability which often grant extra melee attacks or force enemies to provoke OAs.

A normal wizard, in order to take advantage of them either has to have a racial weapon proficiency and hold their implement in one hand and the weapon in the other(so, no shield). Or they have to use a dagger and do the same.

The paragon class can use a shield and sword and still be able to use the sword for ranged attacks(magic missile), as an implment, and for making AO's and granted melee attacks.

And you can do all of this without changing stuff around in your hands. So when the Warlord fires off his "everyone can shift 4 squares and make a melee attack against a target which does no damage but knocks it prone" the wizard can take part.

That is another advantage, but since most wizards don't meet the 13 strength requirement for a shield they can just hold a longsword and their implement in their other hand (provided its not a staff). So this is definitely an advantage, but not a huge one.