Quote:
Originally Posted by PHB, Weapon Finesse Feat
Natural weapons are always considered light weapons.
States it is
considered a light weapon, but it isn't an actual light weapon, nor does it call it a melee weapon.
Quote:
Originally Posted by PHB p112, Weapon Categories
Weapons are grouped into several interlocking sets of categories.
These categories pertain to what training is needed to become proficient in a weapon’s use (simple, martial, or exotic), the weapon’s usefulness either in close combat (melee) or at a distance (ranged, which includes both thrown and projectile weapons), its relative encumbrance (light, one-handed, or two-handed), and its size (Small, Medium, or Large).
...Melee weapons are used for making melee attacks...
Sure, most natural weapons are used for melee attacks...
Quote:
Originally Posted by PHB p156, Grappling
Attack your opponent: You can make an attack with an unarmed strike, natural weapon, or light weapon against another character you are grappling.
... if natural weapons are always considered light melee weapons why call it out here as somehow distinct?
Quote:
Originally Posted by PHB p310, Glossary
melee weapon: A handheld weapon designed for close combat.
You can't hold your own natural weapon in your hands.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MM p312, Glossary
Natural Weapons: 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. The number of attacks a creature can make with its natural weapons depends on the type of the attack—generally, a creature can make one bite attack, one attack per claw or tentacle, one gore attack, one sting attack, or one slam attack (although Large creatures with arms or arm-like limbs can make a slam attack with each arm). Refer to the individual monster descriptions.
Natural weapons are different from melee weapons in that you do not get iterative attacks for high BAB (barring feats and the like).
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rules Compendium p16, Melee Attacks
With a melee weapon, a natural weapon, or even a bare fist, you can strike any opponent within reach...
Again, natural weapons and melee weapons are somehow distinct.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rules Compendium p100, Natural Attacks
A creature making a melee attack with a natural weapon is considered armed and doesn't provoke attacks of opportunity. Likewise it threatens any space it can reach... Creatures don't receive additional attacks from a high base attack bonus when using natural weapons.
Again, different from manufactured light melee weapons.
Rules Compendium p150 "Weapons" doesn't really offer anything new, other than the whole page heading refers to manufactured weapons
as if the entire page is rules for manufactured weapons but without explicitly calling it out.
Quote:
Originally Posted by PHB 114 and Rules Compendium p152, Weapon Qualities - Type
Type: Weapons are classified according to the type of damage they deal - bludgeoning, piercing,
or slashing.
There are apparently three types of weapons, and all weapons fall into one or more of those categories.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rules Compendium p100, Natural Attacks
The number of attacks a creature can make depends on the type of the attack - a creature can make one bite attack, one attack per claw or tentacle, one gore attack, one sting attack, or one slam attack....
... Natural weapons have types just as other weapons do. The most common are summarized here.
Bite...
Claw or Talon...
Gore...
Slap or Slam...
Sting...
Tentacle...
These are the most common
types of natural weapons (same keyword used above). While they do one or more damage types, the types of natural weapons are different from the types of manufactured weapons.