questions about the branched spear and the sticky enchantment

[ohako]

Melee Tactics Toolbox wrote:

Elven Branched Spear: Behind this long pole weapon’s spearhead, several short branches project from the shaft at irregular intervals, each angled forward and tipped with a smaller leaf like blade. When you make attacks of opportunity provoked by movement, you gain a +2 bonus on attack rolls. You can use the Weapon Finesse feat to apply your Dexterity modifier instead of your Strength modifier on attack rolls with an elven branched spear sized for you, even though it isn’t a light weapon. Elves treat elven branched spears as martial weapons.

1. Does a half-elf treat the elven branched spear as a martial weapon?

Adventurer's Armory wrote:

Heirloom Weapon: You carry a non-masterwork simple or martial weapon that has been passed down from generation to generation in your family (pay the standard gp cost for the weapon). When you select this trait, choose one of the following benefits: proficiency with that specific weapon, a +1 trait bonus on attacks of opportunity with that specific weapon, or a +2 trait bonus on one kind of combat maneuver when using that specific weapon.

2. If a half-elf takes this trait, can she gain proficiency with a single elven branched spear?

Melee Tactics Toolbox wrote:

Sticky: This special ability can be placed only on reach weapons, piercing melee weapons, and weapons from the flail fighter weapon training group. When a sticky weapon scores a critical hit against a target, instead of rolling to confirm the critical threat, the wielder can deal normal damage and attempt a steal combat maneuver check against the target of the attack. This combat maneuver doesn’t provoke an attack of opportunity, and the wielder gains a +2 bonus on the combat maneuver check.

3. If you get the free steal combat maneuver, are you doing that maneuver with the weapon? That is, do you get to use Weapon Finesse to add Dex to the CMB check instead of Str? Also do you get to add the weapon's enhancement bonus to the check as well?

4. Can a half-elven or elven fighter take the version of the Heirloom Weapon trait that gives +2 on a particular combat maneuver (naming 'steal'), modify the weapon with masterwork transformation, and then enchant it with sticky?

[Melkiador]

1) By strict RAW, Yes. But the intention has been stated to be No.

2) This is up to argument as there is nothing explicit, but the intent seems to be No. The precedent is in this thread: http://paizo.com/paizo/faq/v5748nruor1fm#v5748eaic9t7t. Basically, the physical spear is always exotic, even if you can treat it as martial. If the trait merely gave proficiency without giving a physical item, then the answer would probably be yes.

3) This is actually a good question, deserving of its own separate FAQ request. A similar issue comes up with the Bounty Hunter archetypes and the dirty trick combat maneuver.

4) No idea.

[Suthainn]

1) RAW; Yes. RAI: Seems like no from the authors statements.

2) RAW; Maybe (as Melkiador linked the weapon is exotic, you use it as martial so.... expect variation). RAI: No, because of the authors intent.

3) Seems like yes, the maneuver is specifically caused by the weapon enchant and requires the weapon to hit. Whilst it's not specifically called out anywhere I can see I suspect that whatever stat you used to hit with the weapon is what you use to calculate CMB, weapon enhancements add to CMB rolls using the weapon.

PRD wrote:

When you attempt to perform a combat maneuver, make an attack roll and add your CMB in place of your normal attack bonus. Add any bonuses you currently have on attack rolls due to spells, feats, and other effects. These bonuses must be applicable to the weapon or attack used to perform the maneuver.

4) No idea for sure, but since it's still the same weapon, just... better, it seems like it should be legit (though it could be argued that after Masterwork Transformation you can no longer use Heirloom Weapon with it as it is no longer the exact same weapon, check with your GM before casting!)