The Shaman and some Feat Questions

[Tai]

Don't forget that it also blocks movement, so it's very handy for bolstering your defensive lines...

 

[Unferth]

Where is the ruling on Weapon Expertise and Implement Expertise not stacking? Both are the only things referenced in the errata for the PHB 2, but I'm unclear as to what they really mean.

The errata doesn't allow Weapon Expertise or Implement Expertise to stack with another copy of the same feat. Because you can take the feat multiple times for different weapon groups, without the errata they would technically be able to stack when using a weapon that's a member of two or more weapon groups. That is, if you had both Weapon Expertise: Heavy Blade and Weapon Expertise: Polearm, they'd stack when using a glaive if not for the errata. (And common sense, of course.)

I can't immediately thing of an implement that counts as being two different implements - maybe a longsword when used with Eladrin Wizardry, so Implement Expertise: Wand and Implement Expertise: Heavy Blade (since that's a valid choice for swordmages) would both apply? Again, before the errata.

The reason Implement Expertise doesn't stack with Weapon Expertise is that Implement Expertise only applies to powers with the Implement keyword, while Weapon Expertise only applies to powers with the Weapon keyword. I don't think there are any powers that have both keywords. Your sorcerer isn't going to be getting much benefit out of Weapon Expertise: Light Blade, since none of his spells have the Weapon keyword.

Also, where is focused expertise?

It's in the Monk preview Dragon article. Or, of course, in the compendium and the character builder. It isn't in any printed source yet.

 

[Nifft]

I can't immediately thing of an implement that counts as being two different implements - maybe a longsword when used with Eladrin Wizardry

Bingo. Eladrin Wizardry allows you to treat your Longsword as a Wand, while Spiral Tower allows you to treat your Longsword as an implement in which you have Mastery (not necessarily Wand).

So an Eladrin Wizard could have a Tome and a Wand in a single implement, and also stab an orc in the face with it.

Cheers, -- N