A friend of mine has Geo-Force and he is positive that he can use close combat expert with Earthshock.

EARTHSHOCK: Geo-Force begins the game with the Earthern Fist attached. Give Geo-Force a power action and place the Earthern Fist in an unoccupied square of clear terrain that is within 10 squares, line of fire, and is adjacent to an opposing character; make a close combat attack targeting the adjacent opposing character. If you hit, the opposing character can't target characters friendly to Geo-Force until the Earthern Fist has been destroyed. The Earthen Fist is considered a square of blocking terrain. When Geo-Force has no action tokens, you may attach the Earthern Fist to Geo-Force.

Emphasis mine

Close Combat Expert
Give this character a power action. It makes a close combat attack
against a single opposing target character; modify this character's
damage value by + 2 for the attack.

Again, emphasis mine.

I have tried to explain to him that it is a Power Action to place the Fist which then grants you a Close Combat Attack which can not be used to activate the Close Combat Expert.

He thinks I am wrong and wants to bring it to the realmsers for clarification, so please let us know.

Am I correct or is he??

E

You're right he's wrong.

And since that's probably not going to be all that helpful to you when you attempt to sway him, the reason is also as you say. You must give an action to activate each power, and in this case both individual powers require a Power Action. That they both lead to Close Combat Attacks is immaterial in this case, as you only have the "currency" to use one of these Power Actions to begin with.

rorschachparadox is correct that you are correct.

Thank you.

I think he is swayed.

E.

He would like to know, if he had super strength on Geo-force via the suit of sorrows could he use an object with the attack?

E.

Oooh, I kinda like this one.

Yes.

A character holding an object and making a close combat attack against a single character must use the object in the attack unless the character is using a power that will deal no damage.

I am correct in saying that you like that one

Also, keep 'em swaying!

I guess the earth hand grabs the object and brings it with it?