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If a mundane weapon has a special rule that allows it to function as another weapon, does weapon focus apply based off the original weapon, or the weapon it functions as? This comes up with Exotic weapons a lot.
For example, the Knobkerrie is treated as a club if you aren't proficient. Would weapon focus: Club work on a Knobkerrie?
Likewise, the Piston Maul requires alchemical powering, and when unpowered, it is considered a Greatclub. Would Weapon Focus: Piston Maul apply while unpowered? Would Weapon Focus: Greatclub function on an unpowered Piston Maul?
Contributor
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I would say yes, so long as you are treating it entirely as that weapon. If it's a greatclub, it's a greatclub. If your Martial Weapon Proficiency (greatclub) applies, I fail to see why Weapon Focus (greatclub) wouldn't apply as well.
Note that I would not allow someone to "downgrade" their proficiency to gain this advantage (for example, someone ignoring their proficiency with the knobkerrie to gain the benefits of Weapon Focus [club]).
All that said, it's possible that there are one or more rulings I've missed - I'm not an expert on this particular question. If someone ruled it the other way, I wouldn't fight them too hard.
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If a mundane weapon has a special rule that allows it to function as another weapon, does weapon focus apply based off the original weapon, or the weapon it functions as? This comes up with Exotic weapons a lot.
For example, the Knobkerrie is treated as a club if you aren't proficient. Would weapon focus: Club work on a Knobkerrie?
Yes Weapon Focus (club) ought to apply to knobkerrie if one isn't proficient with knobkerrie and is not benefiting from the exotic weapon's +1 bonus on ranged attack rolls with a knobkerrie against opponents using bucklers, light shields, or heavy shields. Gotta treat it just like a regular club.
For another more common example, Weapon Focus (longsword) ought to apply to a non-proficient Aldori Dueling Sword or Sawback Sabre as long as the dueling sword isn't finessed or the sawback sabre isn't treated as a light off-hand weapon while TWF.
Likewise, the Piston Maul requires alchemical powering, and when unpowered, it is considered a Greatclub. Would Weapon Focus: Piston Maul apply while unpowered? Would Weapon Focus: Greatclub function on an unpowered Piston Maul?
Weapon Focus (piston maul) would apply even when it's unpowered, it's still a piston maul even when unpowered, just doesn't have optimal conditions to use it fully. Such as with someone being proficient with the Aldori dueling sword but not actually having Weapon Finesse.
Weapon Focus (greatclub) would apply to an unpowered piston maul, but not to a powered one as then it's being used to full optimal exotic-weapon status.
