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This is a FAQ thread that questions the validity and combination of certain feats working in conjunction with Martial Versatility, as there have been numerous threads and interpretations on the matter. To begin, let's reference the feat's original wording:
Choose one combat feat you know that applies to a specific weapon (e.g., Weapon Focus). You can use that feat with any weapon within the same weapon group.
It's quite clear that feats like Weapon Focus, Weapon Specialization, Improved Critical, and so on, would work, as one is exampled, and the others are at least synonymous with the example's mechanics in terms of application; that you select an eligible weapon option.
However, other feats do not permit a weapon choice, and only work with one single weapon at any given time, or have certain requirements that must be met, both of which are usually listed in the description. Examples of feats like this would include Slashing Grace, Bladed Brush, and Dervish Dance. (I imagine there are others, but they elude me at this time, so I don't know what else to list.)
So, the FAQ question is thus: Can Martial Versatility apply to feats that apply to a single weapon, but do not allow a weapon choice? If so, would that weapon have to follow the same restrictions as the original weapon (such as being appropriately sized or having a hand free while wielding it)?
If you're interested in seeing an official answer to this sort of question, please hit the FAQ button on this post. Until an answer comes in, this thread will serve as discussion for the developers to consider in their answer.
The way I read it, there's nothing about Martial Versatility that implies you need to have been able to make a choice, merely that the combat feat you are altering applies to a specific weapon rather than a weapon group or other non-singular set of weapons.
The only choice that Martial Versatility requires is that you choose a combat feat- so Bladed Brush or Weapon Focus, you wouldn't get Bladed Brush and Weapon Focus with a single Martial Versatility feat.
I'm not sure what the issue is, to be honest.
The problem stems from whether Martial Versatility works with feats other than the examples in terms of mechanics, if at all.
While the RAW would permit it to work with feats like Slashing Grace and Dervish Dance, the question becomes whether feats such as those were intended to work with Martial Versatility, especially Dervish Dance.
The only example they give us that's approved is Weapon Focus; while we can safely say that things like Improved Critical or Weapon Specialization will work, I can't 100% say the same for a feat like Dervish Dance, which doesn't allow you to choose a single weapon to apply it, compared to an example that does, or even a feat that has a restricted set of choices, like Slashing Grace.
Also, this sort of question has come up frequently enough that I feel a FAQ is warranted.
Why wouldn't it apply to Dervish Dance? Does Dervish Dance apply to a single weapon? The text of the feat mentions only scimitars, and no other weapons, so it does, and thus qualifies for Martial Versatility, I feel. Just replace "Scimitar" with "a weapon in the heavy blades weapon group" to see what it does now.
I still don't see why "choosing a weapon" is important here. If a feat lets you do something with a specific weapon, martial versatility lets you do that same thing with any other weapon in that weapon group.
But if some people need official word, I guess a FAQ is warranted. I just don't see what the problem is.
The problem is that Martial Versatility has a specific example, and some of the options that Martial Versatility can apply to don't mirror the example we were given, which means that there can be grounds for mutual exclusion.
I don't agree with that premise, but others have used it as an argument to deny such a combination from working, and so this FAQ thread has been created to confirm or debase their beliefs.
I'm with PossibleCabbage. "choosing a weapon" isn't important IMO, just the feat actually asks for: "applies to a specific weapon". that's all it's looking for.
If you want a reason to say that, look at the feat. They use "e.g.", or exempli gratia, which is used to introduce examples. If it was meant to add explanatory information, it would need to be 'i.e.', or id est. Grammatically, it's clear that Weapon Focus wasn't meant as a limit or to to state something in different words.
You missed the main crux of the other thread though Darksol, which is if the feat can be used to apply to weapons that could never have been a valid choice to begin with. Now of course if this question is answered in a way that would allow bladed brush with all Polearms for instance then it answers the other question if we find out that Versatility doesn't work with these feats the other question still stands.
So I dropped a question over the other thread if anyone wants to FAQ it as well.
I can see there being maybe issues when people use martial versatility to apply a feat to a weapon where it simply doesn't make sense.
For example, crossbows are in both the Crossbow group and the Pirate group. If you take Rapid Shot (Light Crossbow) you could use Martial Versatility to apply it to the rest of the Crossbow group, and this is fine. But what if you try to apply it to the rest of the pirate group? Can I
To which I would say you can use Martial Versatility to gain Rapid Shot (Hook Hand) but it just doesn't do anything. Martial Versatility with Startoss Style lets you get the bonus damage with other light blades, but doesn't let you throw rapiers because rapiers don't have a range increment. If you want to throw rapiers, get the sharding enhancement.
I can see there being maybe issues when people use martial versatility to apply a feat to a weapon where it simply doesn't make sense.
For example, crossbows are in both the Crossbow group and the Pirate group. If you take Rapid Shot (Light Crossbow) you could use Martial Versatility to apply it to the rest of the Crossbow group, and this is fine. But what if you try to apply it to the rest of the pirate group? Can I
To which I would say you can use Martial Versatility to gain Rapid Shot (Hook Hand) but it just doesn't do anything. Martial Versatility with Startoss Style lets you get the bonus damage with other light blades, but doesn't let you throw rapiers because rapiers don't have a range increment. If you want to throw rapiers, get the sharding enhancement.
You're incorrect for the most part. Rapid shot would work just fine with a non-attached weapon [so no hook hands or spiked armor]. "It is possible to throw a weapon that isn't designed to be thrown (that is, a melee weapon that doesn't have a numeric entry in the Range column on Table: Weapons), and a character who does so takes a –4 penalty on the attack roll."
Secondly, it doesn't require you to pick a weapons so you'll never have Rapid Shot (Light Crossbow). If you meant rapid reload, them it would have little use on a non-reloading weapon.
As to Startoss Style, you can get the bonus damage while stabbing someone with a dagger: THROWING the weapon isn't required. As to the other feats in the line, nothing stops anyone from throwing a rapier in ranged combat...