Swordmages!

[Shiz]

The new monk article has a new feat called "Focused Expertise". It gives you a +1 to attack rolls with a weapon could can use as an implement when used with powers with the weapon or implement keyword! It's an untyped bonus.

We only have one Swordmage active but that class had to take two feats before. This makes life much fairer.

[Greebo]

New Feat
The Centered Breath monk uses a new feat, Focused Expertise.

Focused Expertise
Benefit: Choose a weapon that you can wield as an implement. You gain a +1 bonus to attack rolls with any implement or weapon power you use through that weapon. The bonus increases to +2 at 15th level and +3 at 25th level.
Special: You can take this feat more than once.
Each time you take this feat, choose a different weapon that you can wield as an implement. This bonus is not cumulative with the one provided by Implement Expertise or Weapon Expertise.
Sounds to me like Prerequisite - Monk

[Shiz]

Swordmages are in the sam boat as a monk since their weapon is their implement. The D&D boards are unanimous in expecting this feat to be applicable to swordmages.

Doesn't make them right, of course, but it would make sense.

[Greebo]

Yeah, it's not *explicitly* prereqing a monk, I agree.

[noptov52]

So is this equivalent to weapon expertise or could a swordmage take both?

[Shiz]

Swordmages have powers that use a weapon as a weapon and other powers that use their weapon as an implement. When the power uses the sword as an implement, the prof bonus does not apply - just like for other implement casters. Before this feat, they had to take Weapon Expertice AND Implement Expertise to get the +1 for all their attacks. This new feat combines the two into one and does not stack with the others.

[Quervo]

DUDE Maz is so taking that next feat, or when the builder adds it (well maybe feat at 6th... there is another feat i need at level 4)

[DinbinFanfoom]

I love PB&J swordmages! Oh...

[Quervo]

no matter what anyone says D&D is a game about min/maxing, everyone takes things that will make your character more effective.

[Shiz]

Bonuses to attack are more important at the low levels, so I would take this at level 2. The to hit disparity between characters and monster defenses shrinks as you progress through the Heroic tier. I bet ES would let you swap if you wanted since the feat just came out.

[EricStratton]

Well, probably not. He can definitely swap for it level 3, but I'm going to reserve inter-level swaps like that for full books like PHB2 and whatnot.