Post/Author/DateTime	Post
RossMills 03-17-08, 08:01 AM	The note for natural weapons states that a creature with natural weapons is considered armed if they have attacked. Does that mean, that in a scenario where a creature's manufactured weapon is disarmed, yet they have natural weapons, they will suffer AoO's unless they specifically attack? What if they hold? Do they still suffer the AoO?
Merestil Haye 03-17-08, 08:47 AM	A creature with natural weapons is armed. No ifs, buts or maybes. The creature is armed. Not "armed if they have attacked," just "armed." You don't provoke AoOs if you are unarmed. You provoke AOOs if you perform an action that provokes. Being unarmed is no form of action, and does not provoke AoOs.
RossMills 03-17-08, 08:52 AM	A creature with natural weapons is armed. No ifs, buts or maybes. The creature is armed. Not "armed if they have attacked," just "armed." You don't provoke AoOs if you are unarmed. You provoke AOOs if you perform an action that provokes. Being unarmed is no form of action, and does not provoke AoOs. From the 3.5 Monster Manual: "A creature making a melee attack with a natural weapon is considered armed and does not provoke attacks of opportunity." Therefore it is surely safe to assume that if they do not make that melee attack then they are not considered armed?
Merestil Haye 03-17-08, 10:30 AM	From the 3.5 Monster Manual: "A creature making a melee attack with a natural weapon is considered armed and does not provoke attacks of opportunity." Therefore it is surely safe to assume that if they do not make that melee attack then they are not considered armed?No, it is not. A natural weapon is a weapon. The possessor of a natural weapon is considered armed. The Rules Compendium states this :A creature that has a natural weapon, such as a claw or bite, is considered armed.Not "armed if it made an attack this turn" just "armed." You will find similar passages in the combat chapter of the Player's Handbook. From the section of the SRD under Actions in Combat :"Armed" Unarmed Attacks Sometimes a character’s or creature’s unarmed attack counts as an armed attack. A monk, a character with the Improved Unarmed Strike feat, a spellcaster delivering a touch attack spell, and a creature with natural physical weapons all count as being armed.The Rules Compendium is considered by WotC to be the definitive statement on any rule it refers to, superseding even the core books when there is a clash. The RC in this case corroborates the PHB (which is where the rules on combat are primarily located). A creature with natural weapons is always considered armed.
Slimgauge 03-17-08, 10:32 AM	Therefore it is surely safe to assume that if they do not make that melee attack then they are not considered armed? No, they are still considered armed. What you're missing from your Monster Manual quote is the implied phrase I've added in square brackets. "A creature making a melee attack with a natural weapon is considered armed and does not provoke attacks of opportunity [for making an unarmed attack]."
RossMills 03-17-08, 10:40 AM	No, they are still considered armed. What you're missing from your Monster Manual quote is the implied phrase I've added in square brackets. "A creature making a melee attack with a natural weapon is considered armed and does not provoke attacks of opportunity [for making an unarmed attack]." Thank you both, very helpful. Hopefully one thing that 4th Ed will clean up is rules all over the place for the same thing. ^_^
weasel0 03-17-08, 09:07 PM	No, they are still considered armed. What you're missing from your Monster Manual quote is the implied phrase I've added in square brackets. "A creature making a melee attack with a natural weapon is considered armed and does not provoke attacks of opportunity [for making an unarmed attack]." +1