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Does Eidolon Reach(Ex) Evolution work with manufactured weapons?
Below is how I came to the conclusion that it does. Any comments on how I came to this conclusion are appreciated.
This post is mostly to try and flesh out how Reach(ex) for Eidolons actually works. These assumptions and reasoning are based from Pathfinder Unchained and obviously related to Advanced Player guide to a smaller extent. My goal is to get this information onto the FAQ.
First, I'm going to supply information directly from the Pathfinder Unchained. Then I will draw conclusions from this information. Then I will go into how reach works given these conclusions.
limbs. These limbs can take one of two forms. They can
be made into legs, complete with feet. Each pair of legs
increases the eidolon’s base speed by 10 feet. Alternatively,
they can be made into arms, complete with hands. The
eidolon does not gain any additional natural attacks for
an additional pair of arms, but it can take other evolutions
that add additional attacks (such as claws or slam). Arms
that have hands can be used to wield weapons, if the
eidolon is prof icient. This evolution can be selected more
than once.
Conclusion: As we can see, Arms come come in pairs. These limbs don't grant natural attacks on their own. You must pick up the evolution claws or slam if they are not granted in the subtype or base form.
the ends of its limbs, giving it two claw attacks. These
attacks are primary attacks. The claws deal 1d4 points of
damage (1d6 if Large, 1d8 if Huge). The eidolon must have
the limbs evolution to take this evolution. This evolution
can be selected more than once, up to the number of limbs
evolutions the eidolon possesses. This evolution can be
applied to any number of limbs (arms) evolutions, but
no more than one limbs (legs) evolution.
Conclusion: You need the limbs evolution for this. You get two claws per limbs evolution you apply this to.
attack. This attack is a primary attack. The slam deals 1d8
points of damage (2d6 if Large, 2d8 if Huge). The eidolon
must have the limbs (arms) evolution to take this evolution.
Alternatively, the eidolon can replace the claws from its base
form with this slam attack (this still costs 1 evolution point).
This evolution can be selected more than once, up to the
number of the eidolon’s limbs (arms) evolutions.
Conclusion: Slam replaces both claw attacks and requires limbs evolution. Its agreed in general that unless a creature is using its body to slam, it is using both its limbs. It is implied in this evolution that Slam uses both limbs since it requires the limb evolution and replaces both claw attacks. If you also take a look at the Angel Subtype, it gets slam which would replace both it's claws.
Now lets take a look at evolutions and how specific they are when it comes to types of attacks.
charged with energy. Select one energy type: acid, cold,
electricity, or f ire. All of the eidolon’s natural attacks
deal 1d6 points of energy damage of the chosen type on a
successful hit.
the ground with its bite, granting it a trip attack. Whenever
the eidolon makes a successful bite attack, it can attempt
a free combat maneuver check.
allowing it to treat all of its natural attacks as if they were
magic for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction.
attacks is particularly deadly. Select one natural attack form
and increase the damage die by one step. This evolution
can be selected more than once. Its effects do not stack.
Each time the eidolon selects this evolution, it applies to
a different natural attack.
striking foes at a distance. Select one attack. The eidolon’s
reach with that attack increases by 5 feet.
Take a look at all of those evolutions. All of them are extremely specific on what they work with. There are many more that I didn't include but are just as specific, however I Included ones that specify Natural Attacks or a specific attack such or Bite. Keep note that Reach(Ex) has been printed in APG and Unchained. In the time between APG and Unchained the question of Reach working on manufactured has always been a question. It has neither been addressed in the FAQ and neither has it been changed between prints.
Conclusion: There is nothing that prevents the Reach(ex) evolution from working on your manufactured weapon attacks.
However there is one extremely glaring problem. In the APG FAQ there is this entry.
Summoner: If I choose the reach evolution for my eidolon, how many of its attacks gains increased reach?
The ability description says "pick one attack," not "pick one attack type." So if your eidolon has two claws and you pick "claw" for the reach evolution, only one claw gets increased reach. (The reach evolution is intended to let you emulate having a dragon-eidolon, as a dragon's bite attack has greater reach than its claws.)
You might try to argue given this FAQ that Reach(ex) will only work on one of your limbs, therefore you might be able to get reach with a one-handed weapon but not a two-handed weapon. However, please remember my entry on Slam above. Slam attack uses both of your limbs and there is nothing preventing you from applying Reach(ex) to a slam attack that uses two limbs.
Final Conclusion: Reach doesn't care if you use one limb or two limbs for the attack. It still gets reach. In all honesty I think, given the fact slam replaces both claws and still can have Reach(ex) added to it, that both claw attacks should also get reach.
In all honestly Reach(Ex) should be reworded. A few example I recommend are
striking foes at a distance. The eidolon’s
reach with attacks made by those limbs evolution or that extremity increases by 5 feet.
Because in reality reach is just making your limbs or extremity longer to make the attack.
Otherwise reword it to be more specific to what it affects. Exclude weapons if its not intended, but it needs to be as specific as every other evolution that is also listed.
You might argue that this makes the Reach(ex) not as good for natural attackers as it does for weapon users. This is true, however weapon users are almost completely excluded from any of the other attack altering evolutions.
Thanks for reading. Any comments are appreciated. As mentioned earlier I just want this issue addressed.