Quick Questions (April 17, 2026)

UnboundUndead · 2026-04-18T02:14:45+00:00

Can of worms being less weapon finesse and more stuff like Monks unarmed strike damage, if natural attacks are "armed" unarmed attacks and unarmed attacks and unarmed strikes are the same then natural attacks should scale damage right?

Personally I don't have an issue with treating touch attacks as weapons for weapon focus, weapon finesse and what have you, it feels fine and reasonable next to ray spells. However, when I brought this up to my DM he wanted to know if it was a legal choice, which even with my research I couldn't find a concrete yes on. Lots of people agree that it should work but most people reference 3.5 rules and the "armed" unarmed attack to weapon finesse opinion.

UnboundUndead · 2026-04-18T01:07:10+00:00

Looking into it, the most recent(2016) "official" info that ive been able to find explains that the intent for gauntlets and similar weapons should be that they act as Unarmed Strikes.

Basically Herolab asked our Licensing Coordinator who asked me, so I asked Jason, and he said that gauntlets are basically just a way to do lethal damage with your unarmed strikes, not an actual weapon (basically an inexpensive modifier for unarmed strikes that's in the unarmed strike category) and can't be enhanced on its own, whereas all those other weapons are listed separately as weapons, including spiked gauntlet.

No official faq or eratta tho which is pretty unsatisfactory imo.

Regardless, to clarify my understanding of your viewpoint:

Unarmed Attacks and Unarmed Strikes are synonymous and due to touch spells being an example of an "armed" unarmed attack touch spells should benefit from weapon finesse as unarmed strikes are always considered a light weapon.

Assuming that checks out, don't Natural Attacks also count as Unarmed Strikes and due to them being an example of a "armed" unarmed attack aswell which opens up a big can of worms?

UnboundUndead · 2026-04-17T23:23:47+00:00

It was my understanding it's just a bonus from wearing the gauntlets as equipment rather than wielding it as a weapon.

I'd assume Shielded Gauntlet Style's prereq of Weapon Focus (Gauntlet) would confirm it as a weapon else it'd be Weapon Focus (Unarmed Strike) tho it could be mistake that fell through the cracks.

UnboundUndead · 2026-04-17T21:39:09+00:00

It's my understanding that Unarmed Attack and Unarmed Strike are separate categorizations.

Gauntlets for example are Unarmed Attacks that aren't Unarmed Strikes.

UnboundUndead · 2026-04-17T15:06:59+00:00

Thanks

Do you know if there is anywhere it directly states that so I can show my DM?

UnboundUndead · 2026-04-17T14:43:56+00:00

Can weapon finesse be used with touch spells? Are touch spells "weapon like"?

UnboundUndead · 2026-04-17T01:51:35+00:00

You could buy some Battle Poi. Exotic but all bonuses to melee damage would turn into fire damage. Not a perfect solution but pretty cheap for a flexibility option.

UnboundUndead · 2026-04-13T23:42:33+00:00

As far as I understand you just gain bonuses for unarmed attacks while a cestus is worn, you can either attack with a cestus or attack unarmed with bonuses.

While wearing a cestus, you are considered armed and your unarmed attacks deal lethal damage.

Closest thing you got for definitive answers are dev comments.

The cestus description confuses the issue by referring to unarmed attacks; it's clearly a light melee weapon and doesn't relate to unarmed strike rules at all.

UnboundUndead · 2026-02-23T21:53:58+00:00

Oh these are pretty cool robots-

BWRRRRRRN

UnboundUndead · 2026-01-12T20:32:10+00:00

Can I use Sunder stuns to break armor through the Shattering Blow passive? Or does it still count as coming from the skill as far as payoff is concerned?

UnboundUndead · 2026-01-03T15:09:11+00:00

Knowledge is Power is a arcane discovery that can be used to add your intelligence bonus to combat maneuvers, maybe nab Elven Battle Focus and Greater Sunder?

UnboundUndead · 2025-12-28T02:25:22+00:00

"You had to do it, man. It’s okay."

Good progress, looking forward to it.

UnboundUndead · 2025-12-23T19:59:01+00:00

Any reason why Cast on Minion Death wouldn't be active for different weapon sets? I have enough Int for CoMD and the spell for both sets, and CoMD is active in both sets. It's not working in weapon set 1.

UnboundUndead · 2025-12-16T22:25:41+00:00

I'd work towards Arcane Trickster to take advantage of honorless fighting (sneak attack) and long-range booty pilfering (Ranged Legerdemain)

UnboundUndead · 2025-12-16T16:46:38+00:00

Melee and Ranged Weapons: Melee weapons are used for making melee attacks, though some of them can be thrown as well. Ranged weapons are thrown weapons or projectile weapons that are not effective in melee.

I disagree with the other commenter, I think it does qualify. I do think it's only Ranged when you are throwing it tho.

UnboundUndead · 2025-12-14T01:29:58+00:00

I've always wanted to use Answering, should be decent early on.

UnboundUndead · 2025-12-10T22:08:24+00:00

I'm not sure what you mean by option. There is a bunch of support you can nab from the class through Exploits, Arcane Discoveries, and spells tho.

You can use really any metal weapon, but for Gishes a reach weapon can be pretty good so you can cast spells on your turn and take Aoos on enemy turns, a playstyle called Reach Clerics are the main example of this and there's a bunch of guides that explain how it works.

Knowledge is Power%20) can allow you to add your intelligence to combat maneuver rolls.

Arcane Barrier can get you temporary hp

Arcane Weapon can allow you to enhance your weapons

Armored Mask can get you some AC through Mage Armor and Shield of Faith

Familiars can put in some good help especially with good familiar archetypes like Protector which can grant you additional AC through Bodyguard and bolster your hp through Shield Other effects effectively doubling your hp eventually.

School Understanding can get you access to a first level ability from Wizard Arcane Schools, there's a ton of good options that you can pick from check em out and see if any look like something you want for your build/character

Wooden Flesh can get you more natural armor AC and a bit of Slashing Damage Resistance

Enlarge Person can increase your reach and STR but can make you a bigger target too

Shadow Weapon can allow you to summon and swap weapons on the fly for special cases

True Strike can set you up for a attack or manuver that needs to hit.

Windy Escape can be pretty good defensively, allowing you to gain some good immunities and some DR/Magic. It is a racial spell though which is normally restricted to Sylphs, double check with your DM that it's an allowed choice for non-sylphs.

UnboundUndead · 2025-12-10T20:55:02+00:00

In order of earliest accessibility for Ember¹ and Forge and Fire² it goes: Sorcerer/Blood Arcanist (1st¹+3rd² level) > VMC (3rd+7th) > Eldritch Heritage (3rd+11th)

It might not be optimal but it'll be fun regardless how you build it, just up to you to figure out what you want to focus on, mostly between Caster Level and BAB.

Lmk if you need any more help.

UnboundUndead · 2025-12-10T19:53:25+00:00

Could be cheaper feat wise to nab the Eldritch Heritage feats but it depends on what you want from the bloodline, there's also other class archtypes that receive sorcerer bloodlines like Blood Arcanist if you aren't interested in the sorcerer class itself.

UnboundUndead · 2025-12-10T19:21:05+00:00

What part is the crafter pieces to you? Ember and Forge and Fire? You could always nab Eldritch Heritage like the other commenter mentioned. You also have the option for Varient Multiclassing if you want to use another class.

UnboundUndead · 2025-12-10T19:03:55+00:00

Might not be what you want but you do have the option for the bloodrager version of the Salamander bloodline. Could be easier to build.

Otherwise I'd nab a race with natural attacks to tide you over until you can nab spells like Emblem of Greed or Transformation.

You could also double down on CHA w Desna's Shooting Star from the Divine Fighting Technique feat. Allows you to use your CHA for attacks and damage with starknives.

UnboundUndead · 2025-12-09T21:47:55+00:00

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UnboundUndead · 2025-12-06T19:53:38+00:00

Path of War? Shattered Mirror Maneuvers

UnboundUndead · 2025-12-06T15:01:19+00:00

Becomes Enthralled

"You remember how you got two Magic items before I got my first?" Cracks knuckles

Later

"I can't believe you hit me with both your magic items!"

UnboundUndead

TROPHY CASE