A little question [Archive] - Wizards Community

A little question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Thanlok
07-08-07, 08:36 PM So my Reaping Mauler jsut hit 9th level. I took NO levels of monk to get there. I got my hands on a monk's belt that brought my unarmed damage from 1d3 to 1d8. Now, for my 9th level feet, if I take Improved Natural Weapon does that put me to 2d6 or does that keep me at 1d8 because it improves the damage, not counting the Monk's Belt? This will be really determine my 9th level feat.

Thanks,
Thanlok of Ket
ShinAkuma2
07-08-07, 09:59 PM If you have no Monk levels, then your unarmed strikes are not considered natural weapons. As such, Improved Natural Weapon (Unarmed Strike) is not a legal choice for you.
Jay_Ibero_911
07-08-07, 11:05 PM If you have no Monk levels, then your unarmed strikes are not considered natural weapons. As such, Improved Natural Weapon (Unarmed Strike) is not a legal choice for you.

Yes, but the Monk's Belt gives you the unarmed strike of a 5th level monk. So it's a similar situation to using gloves of dex to qualify for TWF.
Thanlok
07-09-07, 09:10 AM But I have improved unarmed strike and what is more natural a weapon for a humanoid than his fists. Just really curious if the feat willl let me hit 2d6 points of damage. I gues what I am asking is does the Feat enhance my 1d8 that I am doing right now or does the Feat enhance my original 1d3 damage.

Thanlok Of Ket
Jay_Ibero_911
07-09-07, 01:02 PM But I have improved unarmed strike and what is more natural a weapon for a humanoid than his fists. Just really curious if the feat willl let me hit 2d6 points of damage. I gues what I am asking is does the Feat enhance my 1d8 that I am doing right now or does the Feat enhance my original 1d3 damage.

Thanlok Of Ket

It would work with the belt for 2d6 unarmed damage, but won't do anything for your damage without the belt, because without the belt you don't have any qualifying natural weapons.
ShinAkuma2
07-09-07, 01:58 PM Yes, but the Monk's Belt gives you the unarmed strike of a 5th level monk. So it's a similar situation to using gloves of dex to qualify for TWF.

If the character is not a monk, she gains the AC and unarmed damage of a 5th-level monk.

You get the damage of a Monk (1d8+Str), not the Unarmed Strike ability of a Monk. It is the Unarmed Strike ability that grants the Monk's unarmed strikes the qualities of both manufactured and natural weapons.

But I have improved unarmed strike and what is more natural a weapon for a humanoid than his fists.

Unarmed Strikes are not natural weapons as defined by D&D.

Natural weapons are weapons that are physically a part of a creature. A creature making a melee attack with a natural weapon is considered armed and does not provoke attacks of opportunity. Likewise, it threatens any space it can reach. Creatures do not receive additional attacks from a high base attack bonus when using natural weapons.

Having Improved Unarmed Strike as a normal feat does not make your unarmed strikes natural weapons. It does confer some of the benefits, but it's just not the same. Magic Fang and Magic Weapon are the only things that lump unarmed strikes together with natural weapons; everything else separates them. For instance, see Ability Score Loss:

The ability that some creatures have to drain ability scores is a supernatural one, requiring some sort of attack. Such creatures do not drain abilities from enemies when the enemies strike them, even with unarmed attacks or natural weapons.

They're not the same thing.

As such, unless you are a Monk (or have the same Unarmed Strike ability from a similar class), your unarmed strikes are not natural weapons, and are thus not a legal choice for Improved Natural Weapon.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Thanlok 07-08-07, 08:36 PM	So my Reaping Mauler jsut hit 9th level. I took NO levels of monk to get there. I got my hands on a monk's belt that brought my unarmed damage from 1d3 to 1d8. Now, for my 9th level feet, if I take Improved Natural Weapon does that put me to 2d6 or does that keep me at 1d8 because it improves the damage, not counting the Monk's Belt? This will be really determine my 9th level feat. Thanks, Thanlok of Ket
ShinAkuma2 07-08-07, 09:59 PM	If you have no Monk levels, then your unarmed strikes are not considered natural weapons. As such, Improved Natural Weapon (Unarmed Strike) is not a legal choice for you.
Jay_Ibero_911 07-08-07, 11:05 PM	If you have no Monk levels, then your unarmed strikes are not considered natural weapons. As such, Improved Natural Weapon (Unarmed Strike) is not a legal choice for you. Yes, but the Monk's Belt gives you the unarmed strike of a 5th level monk. So it's a similar situation to using gloves of dex to qualify for TWF.
Thanlok 07-09-07, 09:10 AM	But I have improved unarmed strike and what is more natural a weapon for a humanoid than his fists. Just really curious if the feat willl let me hit 2d6 points of damage. I gues what I am asking is does the Feat enhance my 1d8 that I am doing right now or does the Feat enhance my original 1d3 damage. Thanlok Of Ket
Jay_Ibero_911 07-09-07, 01:02 PM	But I have improved unarmed strike and what is more natural a weapon for a humanoid than his fists. Just really curious if the feat willl let me hit 2d6 points of damage. I gues what I am asking is does the Feat enhance my 1d8 that I am doing right now or does the Feat enhance my original 1d3 damage. Thanlok Of Ket It would work with the belt for 2d6 unarmed damage, but won't do anything for your damage without the belt, because without the belt you don't have any qualifying natural weapons.
ShinAkuma2 07-09-07, 01:58 PM	Yes, but the Monk's Belt gives you the unarmed strike of a 5th level monk. So it's a similar situation to using gloves of dex to qualify for TWF. If the character is not a monk, she gains the AC and unarmed damage of a 5th-level monk. You get the damage of a Monk (1d8+Str), not the Unarmed Strike ability of a Monk. It is the Unarmed Strike ability that grants the Monk's unarmed strikes the qualities of both manufactured and natural weapons. But I have improved unarmed strike and what is more natural a weapon for a humanoid than his fists. Unarmed Strikes are not natural weapons as defined by D&D. Natural weapons are weapons that are physically a part of a creature. A creature making a melee attack with a natural weapon is considered armed and does not provoke attacks of opportunity. Likewise, it threatens any space it can reach. Creatures do not receive additional attacks from a high base attack bonus when using natural weapons. Having Improved Unarmed Strike as a normal feat does not make your unarmed strikes natural weapons. It does confer some of the benefits, but it's just not the same. Magic Fang and Magic Weapon are the only things that lump unarmed strikes together with natural weapons; everything else separates them. For instance, see Ability Score Loss: The ability that some creatures have to drain ability scores is a supernatural one, requiring some sort of attack. Such creatures do not drain abilities from enemies when the enemies strike them, even with unarmed attacks or natural weapons. They're not the same thing. As such, unless you are a Monk (or have the same Unarmed Strike ability from a similar class), your unarmed strikes are not natural weapons, and are thus not a legal choice for Improved Natural Weapon.