If a character is proficient with whips, like a bard, would that character also be proficient with a scorpion whip? Or would she have to get the Exotic Weapon Proficiency feat?
Whip proficiency doesn't give you Scorpion Whip proficiency. They are two different proficiencies. But if you want to fully utilize a Scorpion Whip you will also need Whip proficiency.
Change the last sentence in the Ultimate Combat scorpion whip's description to say "If you are proficient with both scorpion whips and whips, you can use a scorpion whip in either the normal way, as a typical light performance weapon, or as a whip. When you use a scorpion whip as a whip, it is otherwise equivalent to a whip, but it deals lethal damage and can harm creatures regardless of their armor bonus." This change will be reflected in future errata.
What this means is that the scorpion whip is normally a light performance weapon with no other special weapon features, but that someone with both proficiencies can also use it as a whip, in which case it acts precisely like a whip in all ways (one-handed weapon, attack out to 15 feet, provoke an attack of opportunity, can use the Whip Mastery feats, etc) except that it deals lethal damage and can harm creatures regardless of their armor bonus.
Ok, thank you.
Ok, thank you.
You are welcome. I love the flavor of Scorpion Whips.
Friend of mine who has real life whip proficiency refuses to use scorpion whips in game after I noticed that without both proficiencies, scorpion whips don't have reach/range, because she cannot wrap her brain around how that works.
Scorpion Whips are weird. I'm redoing my first Pathfinder character, an gnome archaeologist bard, and the image of her in my head is a bit like Indiana Jones. So a whip is needed in some fashion. Luckily bards are already proficient with regular whips so that'll make it easier. Though it's still a feat heavy build. Weapon Finesse for Dex bonus to attack rolls, Weapon Focus for both Slashing Grace to add Dex bonus to damage and for Whip Mastery so you don't provoke an AoO when you use the whip. And Exotic Weapon Proficiency to use a Scorpion Whip. Although, with Whip Mastery, the regular whip does lethal damage.