In my experience their just piercing but hey they have always been slashing.
Claws are slashing. Ever been scratched by a cat? It doesn't like a hole - it leave a line.
Piercing goes in, and come straight back out, leaving a hole. Slashing attacks leave a line.
Where are you seeing this Kazaan? In the PRD? The book? (what printing?), or on a 3rd party website?
Edit: N'mind, I see it in the PRD. Someone made a typo...
Editx2: ... or not? Hmm. I really don't think this is right, but all three bestiary's have the same thing.
Editx3: FAQ'ing the first post. Here's one case where "No Response Required" would be telling.
As far as I know claws have always been Slashing/Bludgeoning, or at least just Slashing, never Piercing.
And they shouldn't be. Your experience is wrong. There's a reason it's "Cat Scratch Fever" not "Cat Puncture Wound Fever".
And no, it's not FAQ worthy. There's no rules confusion here.
Slashing doesn't necessarily mean the skin and flesh isn't penetrated. Slashing is cutting deeply into a person. Claws generally punctured the flesh and then tear it as they drag their claws through a person. The bludgeoning is the overall force of the paw or claw.
Whereas piercing punctures straight in, no tearing or dragging about. Punches right in and goes in real deep, then comes out.
Since this is a very basic game, I think claws and bites are appropriately typed.
Claws are probably bludgeoning because an animal with claws will probably hit with the whole paw, which has some impact force behind it, while the actual claws also cut into the target's flesh.
Remember the slow-motion section in the Lion King when Scar and Simba are fighting, they are basically slapping each other with their paws, while also scratching with the claws.
a cat .. really? In my experience blood comes from punctures, some minor cosmetic skin abrasion from the sratch after the claws slip free. Swords also bruise, batons also open gashes but the main source of damage is the stab .. even with minute creatures.
Anyway its beside the point which is : now claws are s/b weapons which makes a difference for all those alchemist and barbarian builds sadly happy to scratch through life.
If we were going to be realistic, I would not rank a claw attack anything like a dagger's damage at all. Most claws are simply meant to be hooks to help the creature hold onto prey, right? (at least for predators big into claws like cats).
It is typed as slashing and bludgeoning because that is how 'claw attacks' are typically depicted in fiction. Remember the MST3K montra: it is all just a game.
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Claws are probably bludgeoning because an animal with claws will probably hit with the whole paw, which has some impact force behind it, while the actual claws also cut into the target's flesh.
Remember the slow-motion section in the Lion King when Scar and Simba are fighting, they are basically slapping each other with their paws, while also scratching with the claws.
Ever notice that the most effeminate male in Disney movies is always a bad guy?
Remember the slow-motion section in the Lion King when Scar and Simba are fighting, they are basically slapping each other with their paws, while also scratching with the claws.
Heh... I always remember that scene when I think of claw damage (unless the creature has some sort of Wolverine-like claws).