Swordmage Woes

[King-Panda]

*Sigh*. Alright, the following is mostly going to be a bunch of math questions, but some will directly apply to being a Swordmage. If you aren't in the mood to answer questions, that's totally cool and you can ignore this. Otherwise, I'd like to thank you in advance for helping me.

P.S. Mods, if this is in the wrong forum, feel free to let me know/move it.
P.P.S. I'm going to refrain from naming items/powers/etc from books other than the core books for copyright issues.

The following is stats from my character important to this thread:

11th level Genasi Swordmage (Stormsoul, Windsoul)
Aegis of Assault class feature chosen
STR 19
DEX 11
CON 16
INT 22
WIS 11
CHA 07 (I know about the stat point discrepancy, consider it a house rule not important to this thread.)

FEATS
Raging Storm (+2 on damage rolls with keyword thunder/lightning powers)
Weapon Focus (+2 on damage rolls with Heavy Blades)
Feat from FRPG (+3 energy damage on basic attack granted by Aegis of Assault class feature)
Feat from FRPG (Use INT instead of STR for basic attacks)

ITEMS
+2 (Lightning Weapon) Kopesh
Arm slot item from AV that grant +2 damage on melee damage rolls

1) I'm assuming a Swordmage is allowed to use a Khopesh, listed as both a heavy blade and an Axe. Is this correct?

2) When making a basic attack, I use my INT mod instead of my STR. The feat granting me that does not mention it applying to damage, but page 276 of the PHB says (usually) the stat mod applied to the attack is the same for the damage. Do I add my INT mod to damage for a basic attack, or my STR mod?

3)This has been answered before, but I wanted to double check. If I activate my Lightning Swords at-will "all damage is lightning damage" ability, does it apply the Lightning keyword to any attack I make with it while that is in effect? Maybe just to attacks with the Weapon keyword?

The last few questions deal with calculating damage with my powers. When I ask "What is the total damage for this power?", I'm asking for something formatted like: 1d8+10 for 1[W]+STR mod.

I'm assuming the following, regarding using my Kopesh, any of which may be wrong:
Basic Attack with a Keyword Weapon power= +15 (+5 half level, +6 INT mod, +2 Enhancement, +2 proficiency). This attack would be 2 less (+13) for a Keyword Implement power.
Basic Damage (using STR) = 1d8+10 (+4 STR, +2 Weapon Focus, +2 Enhancement, +2 Item Bonus)

4) One of my At-wills does the following: 1[W]+INT damage, then if the target moves away, it deals 1d6+CON thunder damage. The power has the keywords Thunder and Weapon. What is the total damage for this power, and would it change if I activated my swords Lightning at-will power? (I'm confused about the 1d6+CON mostly, and what [if any] would be different between it and the first roll).

5) Another of my powers is a ranged 3, has the keywords Implement and Lightning, and deals 1[W]+INT lightning damage. I believe I'm correct in thinking I don't get a weapon proficiency bonus because there is no Weapon keyword, but I still get the weapons Enhancement bonus to the attack and damage(?). What is the total damage for this power?

6) This power question is similar to #4, but instead of having two damage rolls on one target, it has a damage roll on a primary target, and a different damage roll on a secondary. It has the Lightning and Weapon Keywords, Deals 1[W]+INT damage to the primary target, and 1d6+INT lightning damage to the secondary. What is the total damage of this power?

7) My Aegis of Assault class feature power grants a basic attack when someone I marked attacks someone else. Would the only difference between this and a normal basic attack be the +3 damage from the feat I took from the FRPG?

Lastly, I'm curious how my defenses stack up against another 11th level defender. I'm way more damage oriented than defense oriented, and this isn't as important to me as the questions I posted, but it would be cool to get some feedback from other defenders.

AC 29 100 HP Resist Cold/Lightning/Poison/Force 10
FORT 22
REF 23
WILL 20
I have a floating +2 to saves granted from the feat Solid Sound that will active 80-90% of the time, and I can add +3 to my saves with a stance daily power.

 

[Kordeth]

1) I'm assuming a Swordmage is allowed to use a Khopesh, listed as both a heavy blade and an Axe. Is this correct?

Correct. Any weapon with the heavy blade property is a heavy blade, no matter what other groups it belongs to.

2) When making a basic attack, I use my INT mod instead of my STR. The feat granting me that does not mention it applying to damage, but page 276 of the PHB says (usually) the stat mod applied to the attack is the same for the damage. Do I add my INT mod to damage for a basic attack, or my STR mod?

The feat says you use Intelligence instead of Strength, without specifying where. Ergo, wherever you see Strength, you replace it with Intelligence--in other words, attack and damage both.

3)This has been answered before, but I wanted to double check. If I activate my Lightning Swords at-will "all damage is lightning damage" ability, does it apply the Lightning keyword to any attack I make with it while that is in effect? Maybe just to attacks with the Weapon keyword?

It applies just to Weapon attacks. Using a weapon as an implement only lets you benefit from the weapon's enhancement bonus, critical damage bonus, and properties, not powers.

The last few questions deal with calculating damage with my powers. When I ask "What is the total damage for this power?", I'm asking for something formatted like: 1d8+10 for 1[W]+STR mod.

I'm assuming the following, regarding using my Kopesh, any of which may be wrong:
Basic Attack with a Keyword Weapon power= +15 (+5 half level, +6 INT mod, +2 Enhancement, +2 proficiency). This attack would be 2 less (+13) for a Keyword Implement power.

Correct.

Basic Damage (using STR) = 1d8+10 (+4 STR, +2 Weapon Focus, +2 Enhancement, +2 Item Bonus)

Your ability bonus should be +6 from your Intelligence if you're using Intelligent Blademaster.

4) One of my At-wills does the following: 1[W]+INT damage, then if the target moves away, it deals 1d6+CON thunder damage. The power has the keywords Thunder and Weapon. What is the total damage for this power, and would it change if I activated my swords Lightning at-will power? (I'm confused about the 1d6+CON mostly, and what [if any] would be different between it and the first roll).

The damage from your initial attack is the same as your basic attack's damage bonus. The only thing activating your lightning sword changes is giving the power the lightning keyword as well.

The 1d6 + Con bonus would receive the same bonuses as the base damage (enhancement, item, feat), unless there's a rule I've missed somewhere.

5) Another of my powers is a ranged 3, has the keywords Implement and Lightning, and deals 1[W]+INT lightning damage. I believe I'm correct in thinking I don't get a weapon proficiency bonus because there is no Weapon keyword, but I still get the weapons Enhancement bonus to the attack and damage(?). What is the total damage for this power?

You get the enhancement bonus, and that's it. It isn't a melee attack or a weapon attack, so your bracers and your Weapon Focus don't apply.

6) This power question is similar to #4, but instead of having two damage rolls on one target, it has a damage roll on a primary target, and a different damage roll on a secondary. It has the Lightning and Weapon Keywords, Deals 1[W]+INT damage to the primary target, and 1d6+INT lightning damage to the secondary. What is the total damage of this power?

The same as before. Whenever a power gives you a damage roll, as opposed to static damage, you add all bonuses that apply to that attack type.

7) My Aegis of Assault class feature power grants a basic attack when someone I marked attacks someone else. Would the only difference between this and a normal basic attack be the +3 damage from the feat I took from the FRPG?

It would be a lot easier to answer these questions if you told us the names of the feats and powers in question, but yes, that's the only difference.

Lastly, I'm curious how my defenses stack up against another 11th level defender. I'm way more damage oriented than defense oriented, and this isn't as important to me as the questions I posted, but it would be cool to get some feedback from other defenders.

AC 29 100 HP Resist Cold/Lightning/Poison/Force 10
FORT 22
REF 23
WILL 20
I have a floating +2 to saves granted from the feat Solid Sound that will active 80-90% of the time, and I can add +3 to my saves with a stance daily power.

Those are pretty low for your level. Your AC looks to be getting nothing but your Int bonus and swordmage warding. You should be wearing at least +3 leather armor for another 5 points of AC, and you should probably have a neck slot item giving you +2 to your other Defenses.

 

[King-Panda]

Thanks for all the help man, I really appreciate it. As for my defensive stats, if you're interested, they are as follows:

AC 10 Base, 5 Half level, 3 Hide armor, 6 INT, 2 Enh, 3 Swordmage feature, 29 total.
FORT 10 Base, 5 Half level, 3 CON, 1 Racial, 2 Enh, 21 total.
REF 10 Base, 5 Half level, 6 INT, 2 Enh, 23 total.
WILL 10 Base, 5 Half level, 0 WIS, 2 Class, 2 Enh, 1 Item, 20 total.

 

[Danceofmasks]

Kordeth is pretty much spot on, but I want to make a comment.

Weapon Focus and Raging Storm both provide a Feat bonus.
So, when using powers that have a weapon keyword and lightning keyword, the bonus does not stack.

 

[King-Panda]

Nice catch Masks, I always appreciate your input. I'm not too worried about having low defensive stats; our party is made up of a paladin, a cleric, a barbarian, a warlord, a wizard (spiral tower), and I, so we are all pretty much melee and/or defense oriented.

 

[WalterKovacs]

On the subject of other types of defenders:

+3 Plate Armor with, with heavy shield and shield specialization.

Paladin (Human, bonus to STR):

STR: 22 [19 to start]
DEX: 15 [14 to start]
WIS: 17 [14 to start]

AC: 10 (Base) + 5 (1/2 level) + 10 (gith plate) + 3 (enh) + 2 (shld) + 1 (spec feat) = 31 AC

FORT: 10 + 5 + 6 + 1 (racial) + 1 (class) + 3 (enh) = 26
REF : 10 + 5 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 3 + 2 (shield) + 1 (feat) = 24
WIL : 10 + 5 + 3 + 1 + 1 + 3 = 23

That's an extreme example, giving +3 enhancement bonuses for armor and neck slot item.

A few notes:

Using masterwork rules from Ad Vault:

A once you have +3 hide armor, if you pick up earthhide you get +1 fort. +3 Plate Armor can be gith plate and thus it's +10 instead of +8.

However, your defences aren't considerably behind. Your Int makes up for not getting a bonus to reflexes that a shield/shield spec would grant. Similarly, Int + Hide puts your AC on part with plate most of the way ... and the warding's +3 is on pace with shield/spec. So, if you can get hide spec [you have the con for it] your AC is going to be amongst the best anyone can have. Your racial/class bonuses are to your defences that are lower, so you have them all "ok" as opposed to having a couple that are amazing at the cost of another. [Your original fort of 22 was correct, that involved your STR, which is a +4 vs. your CON which is +3]

 

[King-Panda]

Thanks for the comparison, I noticed the new rules for MW armor in the AV, definitely plan on picking up earthhide in a level or two. I opted for Solid Sound instead of Hide Spec for my first paragon feat since I'll almost always have SS activated. A floating +2 to my saves is better than a +1 to AC and a loss of the check penalty, in my opinion.

 

[Kordeth]

Thanks for all the help man, I really appreciate it. As for my defensive stats, if you're interested, they are as follows:

AC 10 Base, 5 Half level, 3 Hide armor, 6 INT, 2 Enh, 3 Swordmage feature, 29 total.
FORT 10 Base, 5 Half level, 3 CON, 1 Racial, 2 Enh, 21 total.
REF 10 Base, 5 Half level, 6 INT, 2 Enh, 23 total.
WILL 10 Base, 5 Half level, 0 WIS, 2 Class, 2 Enh, 1 Item, 20 total.

Ah, crap, I see where I messed up, I was for some reason thinking the character was 20th level and was getting a +10 half-level bonus. This makes a lot more sense.

 

[Danceofmasks]

Thanks for the comparison, I noticed the new rules for MW armor in the AV, definitely plan on picking up earthhide in a level or two. I opted for Solid Sound instead of Hide Spec for my first paragon feat since I'll almost always have SS activated. A floating +2 to my saves is better than a +1 to AC and a loss of the check penalty, in my opinion.

Well, you could take 2 paragon tier feats at level 11, via retraining one of your heroic tier feats ...

 

[King-Panda]

Once again Masks, thanks for the advice. My group had quit playing awhile, I'm still catching back up on all the details.