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D&D 3e/3.5e/d20 The forum for conversations specifically related to the rules and procedures of Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition, 3.5 Edition, or any fantasy game using the d20 system or a variant thereof (commercially published or not).

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Old 10-16-2012, 05:06 PM   Top  -  End  -  #1
Zsaber0
Dwarf in the Playground
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Default Unarmed damage and claws

If I have a nice big pair of claws and a high BAB, is there a way to make my "unarmed strikes" deal the damage my claws would deal? While getting numerous attacks from my BAB instead of the limiting 2 claw attacks?
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Old 10-16-2012, 05:13 PM   Top  -  End  -  #2
Answerer
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Join Date: Jan 2012
Default Re: Unarmed damage and claws

Yes, there's the Beast Strike feat from Dragon volume 355 that causes your Unarmed Strike to deal damage equal to your normal Unarmed Strike damage plus your Claw or Slam damage. It requires Improved Unarmed Strike, I think, and some BAB. Maybe +6? Not sure.

Alternatively, Rapidstrike and Improved Rapidstrike (Draconomicon) give you more attacks per round with a pair of Claws. Requires that you be one of a handful of (non-humanoid) types, though. I know Aberrations and Dragons qualify; not sure what else does.

Last edited by Answerer : 10-16-2012 at 05:15 PM.
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Old 10-16-2012, 05:26 PM   Top  -  End  -  #3
Zsaber0
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Join Date: Jun 2010
Default Re: Unarmed damage and claws

I ask because I will be playing a Weretiger Fighter in an upcoming game, and I wanted to fight with my claws instead of a sword. I don't want to be completely useless, but I know that I will soon out level my 2 natural attacks.
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Old 10-16-2012, 06:18 PM   Top  -  End  -  #4
Answerer
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Default Re: Unarmed damage and claws

I cannot possibly begin to describe how much I recommend Warblade over Fighter for that kind of build.
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Old 10-16-2012, 06:44 PM   Top  -  End  -  #5
Keld Denar
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Default Re: Unarmed damage and claws

Do both.

Unarmed Strikes, while containing many properties of natural weapons, are weapons that make iterative attacks. In the presence of a weapon capable of making iterative attacks, all natural weapons are relegated to secondary status. Thus, you make you're full compliment of UASs per normal, then tack on your two claw attacks at full BAB-5.

Use Fist of the Forest levels to boost your UAS damage.
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Old 10-16-2012, 07:14 PM   Top  -  End  -  #6
Zsaber0
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Join Date: Jun 2010
Default Re: Unarmed damage and claws

Quote:
Originally Posted by Answerer View Post
I cannot possibly begin to describe how much I recommend Warblade over Fighter for that kind of build.
DM doesn't allow ToB, and I dislike it myself. If I want to play a caster, I'll play a caster.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Keld Denar View Post
Use Fist of the Forest levels to boost your UAS damage.
I'm not trying to up my damage or optimize. I just want to use my claws instead of a 1d4 attack.

Beast Strike answers my questions just fine. But my DM may not allow it since he is a real stickler about some stuff. Namely tomes and dragon magazine.
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Old 10-16-2012, 08:02 PM   Top  -  End  -  #7
gorfnab
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Default Re: Unarmed damage and claws

Levels of Warshaper (Complete Warrior) are nice for natural attack based builds.
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Old 10-16-2012, 08:12 PM   Top  -  End  -  #8
Zsaber0
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Join Date: Jun 2010
Default Re: Unarmed damage and claws

Quote:
Originally Posted by gorfnab View Post
Levels of Warshaper (Complete Warrior) are nice for natural attack based builds.
So far I have 1 level in warshaper. Will take more as the game progresses.
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Old 10-16-2012, 08:14 PM   Top  -  End  -  #9
eggs
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Join Date: Feb 2012
Default Re: Unarmed damage and claws

Neither replaces Unarmed Strikes with claw damage, but you could aim for Improved Rapidstrike or Shou Disciple to get iteratives with claw attacks. Both have their own difficulties (Rapidstrike needs a typechange and very high BA; Shou Disciple eats levels and turns the claws into Flurry-able weapons, which may not be exactly what you're going for).
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Old 10-16-2012, 09:03 PM   Top  -  End  -  #10
Answerer
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Default Re: Unarmed damage and claws

Quote:
Originally Posted by Zsaber0 View Post
DM doesn't allow ToB, and I dislike it myself. If I want to play a caster, I'll play a caster.
Tome of Battle is, really without anything in the way of competition, the most tighly-balanced and well-designed book WotC ever printed for 3.5.

And initiators are not casters, not by a long shot. Typesetting does not a rule make.
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