Sorcerous Blade Channeling and OAs...

[RigaMortus2]

Sorcerers have two at-will spells (acid orb and dragonfrost) that can be used as ranged basic attacks.

There is a feat in PHB II called, "Sorcerous blade channeling," that offers this benefit:

"When you use any ranged sorcerer attack power through a dagger, you can use the power as a melee attack."

Does this mean that I can now make Opportunity attacks using these at-will spells?

Both are basic attacks and both can now be used as melee attacks...

 

[chitzk0i]

Answer A) No, and here's why: Sorcerous Blade Channelling is like the Microsoft paperclip. They way I read it, when you start using a ranged sorcerer power, it pops up and says, "You look like you're making a Ranged Attack. Did you want to make this a Melee Attack?" and then you have the option. It does not continuously confer the status of "melee attack" to your sorcerer powers.

When you could make an OA (see PH page 290), the rules grant you a melee basic attack. Your sorcerer powers are all ranged attacks, so you can't choose to activate one of them for the OA. Since you aren't activating a power, Sorcerous Blade Channelling never triggers to allow you to convert it to a melee attack.

Answer B) If you allow it, it would let sorcerers have an awesome attack to use on an OA or with Commander's Strike (et. al.). Try it and see if it's too awesome. Then decide if it's worth disallowing.

 

[Doctor Proctor]

Answer A) No, and here's why: Sorcerous Blade Channelling is like the Microsoft paperclip. They way I read it, when you start using a ranged sorcerer power, it pops up and says, "You look like you're making a Ranged Attack. Did you want to make this a Melee Attack?" and then you have the option. It does not continuously confer the status of "melee attack" to your sorcerer powers.

When you could make an OA (see PH page 290), the rules grant you a melee basic attack. Your sorcerer powers are all ranged attacks, so you can't choose to activate one of them for the OA. Since you aren't activating a power, Sorcerous Blade Channelling never triggers to allow you to convert it to a melee attack.

I don't even think you need an answer B, as answer A says it all. You're retroactively applying a feat and a power to the trigger. OA's grant you a melee basic attack, and that's it...unless it's something specifically allows you to substitute something else for an OA.

This feat allows you to make a ranged attack as if it were a melee attack, it says nothing about counting as a melee basic. It also doesn't say anything like "and a ranged basic becomes a melee basic", just that a ranged attack counts as melee. You're reading too much into it if you allow it.