Weapon Focus, Proficiency Gaps, and Weapon Modifications

[PossibleCabbage]

Suppose I am a class that does not have martial weapon proficiency, but I want to use a modified version of a martial weapon (a versatile design greatsword, or dual-balanced kukris, say). Adventurer's Armory 2 says:

Quote:

After being modified, a weapon’s category (simple, martial, or exotic) increases by one step ... modified martial weapons require the Exotic Weapon Proficiency feat to use without taking penalties.

So I take "Exotic Weapon Proficiency ([Modified Weapon])", which requires a BAB of +1 and not any kind of pre-existing weapon proficiency, and I'm able to fight with my dual balanced kukri (for example) without penalty.

But what if I want to take weapon focus, which does require proficiency. Is "Modified Kukri" a valid choice for a type of weapon, as far as weapon focus is concerned? If I was proficient with both regular kukris and modified kukris I could just take WF (Kukri) but what about the case where I lack proficiency for the normal version, I simply have proficiency with the modified one?

[Wonderstell]

I don't think Weapon Focus (Kukri) would apply to a Dual-Balanced Kukri, as it no longer counts as a normal Kukri for proficiency.

So "Modified Kukri" is a valid choice.

[blahpers]

Weapon Focus would need the same weapon choice you chose for Exotic Weapon Proficiency. (Though I'd probably waive it and allow the benefit from Weapon Focus (kukri) et al.)

[Lelomenia]

Wonderstell wrote:

I don't think Weapon Focus (Kukri) would apply to a Dual-Balanced Kukri, as it no longer counts as a normal Kukri for proficiency.

So "Modified Kukri" is a valid choice.

so all your weapon feats die once you make it a modified weapon? Weapon specialization, improved critical? All have to be [modified x]?

I would say weapon focus [kukri] works for all kukris you are proficient with and “turns off” if you pick up one you aren’t proficient with (modified). Doesn’t resolve OP.

[Wonderstell]

@Lelomenia

Yup.

The Weapon Adept feat exists for those situations where you want to treat the modified weapon as the normal one.