If my Paladin is using a Falchion (+3, 2d4, High Crit) and he has a Charisma 17 (+3).
He wants to use Shielding Smite, which has an attack of Charisma vs. AC but also states it is a Standard Action Melee Weapon.
To calculate that, would I use 1/2 my level, +3 (for Charisma Mod) + 3 for Falchion (since I am using a weapon for the attack)?
I'm just trying to clarify, even if you use an ability other than Strength to make a melee attack, you still add the weapon modifier and relevant ability modifier it says? Correct?
Thanks.
The key is the Weapon keyword in the power description. That lets you know to include the weapon's proficiency bonus. No Weapon tag, no bonus.
(As an aside, the alternate of this rule is the power has to have the Implement tag to be able to use an Implement's magical bonus. You probably knew that but I thought I'd throw that out there.)
Edit: Just to be clearer, yes you are right. You add the weapon prof. mod to your Cha mod and 1/2 your level, for +6 in your example (assuming 1st level).
The key is the Weapon keyword in the power description. That lets you know to include the weapon's proficiency bonus. No Weapon tag, no bonus.
(As an aside, the alternate of this rule is the power has to have the Implement tag to be able to use an Implement's magical bonus. You probably knew that but I thought I'd throw that out there.)
All this also counts for the enhancement bonuses you'll eventually gain for both weapons and impements. The keyword lets you know which powers get the bonus.
This is why the Holy Avenger is such a great power for the paladain, because it can be used as both a weapon and a holy symbol.