3rd Edition Rules - Improved Unarmed Strike [Archive] - Wizards Community

3rd Edition Rules - Improved Unarmed Strike [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Lieutenant Dave
04-15-05, 04:41 PM Can someone tell me if it is possible to deal normal damage to undead and constructs with an unarmed strike without being a monk???? In the combat rules, it says that the only way to deal normal damage is by taking a -4 penalty to attack rolls AND striking in the most vital parts. Well, as far as I'm concerned, undead do not have vital areas, but realistically, even a normal person can punch a zombie hard enough to crush its skull. HTH is this anyway????
DarkSoldier
04-16-05, 04:52 AM Can someone tell me if it is possible to deal normal damage to undead and constructs with an unarmed strike without being a monk????Take the -4 and provoke the AoO if you don't have IAS, and you deal lethal damage, regardless of the target's creature type.
Nom
04-16-05, 09:31 AM Can someone tell me if it is possible to deal normal damage to undead and constructs with an unarmed strike without being a monk???? In the combat rules, it says that the only way to deal normal damage is by taking a -4 penalty to attack rolls AND striking in the most vital parts. Well, as far as I'm concerned, undead do not have vital areas, but realistically, even a normal person can punch a zombie hard enough to crush its skull. HTH is this anyway????Don't let flavour text confuse you about rules. Any character can deal lethal damage with an unarmed strike if they choose to suffer a -4 to-hit (PH pg 139). For creatures immune to critical hits, describe it as something else (like taking your time and making a well-aimed kick).
Marcus Majarra
04-17-05, 12:19 AM Yup, although I doubt that many characters will be very effective at dealing unarmed damage against most constructs and undead though, due to damage reduction. I mean, animated objects retain their hardness; most other constructs have damage reduction that can only be bypassed by adamantine weapons; zombies have DR 5/slashing since the MM errata; most other undead are either incorporeal or have some other form of damage reduction. You're still very effective against skeletons, if that's any consolation.

Still, the solutions remain the same. You can either take a -4 penalty on the attack roll, or just take Improved Unarmed Strike. If you're medium-sized, you'll be dealing a huge 1d3 points of damage witht that unarmed strike.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Lieutenant Dave 04-15-05, 04:41 PM	Can someone tell me if it is possible to deal normal damage to undead and constructs with an unarmed strike without being a monk???? In the combat rules, it says that the only way to deal normal damage is by taking a -4 penalty to attack rolls AND striking in the most vital parts. Well, as far as I'm concerned, undead do not have vital areas, but realistically, even a normal person can punch a zombie hard enough to crush its skull. HTH is this anyway????
DarkSoldier 04-16-05, 04:52 AM	Can someone tell me if it is possible to deal normal damage to undead and constructs with an unarmed strike without being a monk????Take the -4 and provoke the AoO if you don't have IAS, and you deal lethal damage, regardless of the target's creature type.
Nom 04-16-05, 09:31 AM	Can someone tell me if it is possible to deal normal damage to undead and constructs with an unarmed strike without being a monk???? In the combat rules, it says that the only way to deal normal damage is by taking a -4 penalty to attack rolls AND striking in the most vital parts. Well, as far as I'm concerned, undead do not have vital areas, but realistically, even a normal person can punch a zombie hard enough to crush its skull. HTH is this anyway????Don't let flavour text confuse you about rules. Any character can deal lethal damage with an unarmed strike if they choose to suffer a -4 to-hit (PH pg 139). For creatures immune to critical hits, describe it as something else (like taking your time and making a well-aimed kick).
Marcus Majarra 04-17-05, 12:19 AM	Yup, although I doubt that many characters will be very effective at dealing unarmed damage against most constructs and undead though, due to damage reduction. I mean, animated objects retain their hardness; most other constructs have damage reduction that can only be bypassed by adamantine weapons; zombies have DR 5/slashing since the MM errata; most other undead are either incorporeal or have some other form of damage reduction. You're still very effective against skeletons, if that's any consolation. Still, the solutions remain the same. You can either take a -4 penalty on the attack roll, or just take Improved Unarmed Strike. If you're medium-sized, you'll be dealing a huge 1d3 points of damage witht that unarmed strike.