If one is wearing these, would it count for him to being armed rather than unarmed thus taking away the need to get the improved unarmed feat.
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It appears so. The item is a weapon which, by rule, makes you an armed combatant (akin to a spiked gauntlet). There is nothing in the description that says you are still considered unarmed when wearing them. Only that you can deal lethal damage with an unarmed strike and that they qualify as monk weapons. The odd thing is that if they are considered a "weapon" then why would you need the language regarding them doing lethal damage with an unarmed strike? Would a non-monk ever choose to do an unarmed strike with these instead of the weapon damage?
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I would disagree. It may be something that Paizo may have overlooked it (but I don't think so). The Spiked Gauntlet and Cestus specifically say that when used, the character is considered armed. The Brass Knuckles do not.
It makes sense since the Brass Knuckles would leave much of the hand exposed to attack. They would poor at defending against a weapon.
Gauntlet, Spiked: The cost and weight given are for a single gauntlet. An attack with a spiked gauntlet is considered an armed attack. Your opponent cannot use a disarm action to disarm you of spiked gauntlets.
Cestus: The cestus is a glove of leather or thick cloth that covers the wielder from mid-finger to mid-forearm. The close combat weapon is reinforced with metal plates over the fingers and often lined with wicked spikes along the backs of the hands and wrists. While wearing a cestus, you are considered armed and your unarmed attacks deal normal damage. If you are proficient with a cestus, your unarmed strikes may deal bludgeoning or piercing damage. Monks are proficient with the cestus. When using a cestus, your fingers are mostly exposed, allowing you to wield or carry items in that hand, but the constriction of the weapon at your knuckles gives you a –2 penalty on all precision-based tasks involving that hand (such as opening locks).
Brass Knuckles: These close combat weapons are designed to fit comfortably around the knuckles, narrowing the contact area and therefore magnifying the amount of force delivered by a punch. They allow you to deal lethal damage with unarmed attacks. You may hold, but not wield, a weapon or other object in a hand wearing brass knuckles. You may cast a spell with a somatic component while wearing brass knuckles if you make a concentration check (DC 10 + the level of the spell you're casting). Monks are proficient with brass knuckles and can use their monk unarmed damage when fighting with them.
I would disagree. It may be something that Paizo may have overlooked it (but I don't think so). The Spiked Gauntlet and Cestus specifically say that when used, the character is considered armed. The Brass Knuckles do not.
It makes sense since the Brass Knuckles would leave much of the hand exposed to attack. They would poor at defending against a weapon.
Gauntlet, Spiked: The cost and weight given are for a single gauntlet. An attack with a spiked gauntlet is considered an armed attack. Your opponent cannot use a disarm action to disarm you of spiked gauntlets.
Cestus: The cestus is a glove of leather or thick cloth that covers the wielder from mid-finger to mid-forearm. The close combat weapon is reinforced with metal plates over the fingers and often lined with wicked spikes along the backs of the hands and wrists. While wearing a cestus, you are considered armed and your unarmed attacks deal normal damage. If you are proficient with a cestus, your unarmed strikes may deal bludgeoning or piercing damage. Monks are proficient with the cestus. When using a cestus, your fingers are mostly exposed, allowing you to wield or carry items in that hand, but the constriction of the weapon at your knuckles gives you a –2 penalty on all precision-based tasks involving that hand (such as opening locks).
Brass Knuckles: These close combat weapons are designed to fit comfortably around the knuckles, narrowing the contact area and therefore magnifying the amount of force delivered by a punch. They allow you to deal lethal damage with unarmed attacks. You may hold, but not wield, a weapon or other object in a hand wearing brass knuckles. You may cast a spell with a somatic component while wearing brass knuckles if you make a concentration check (DC 10 + the level of the spell you're casting). Monks are proficient with brass knuckles and can use their monk unarmed damage when fighting with them.
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Also note that the wording of brass knuckles is similar to regular, un-spiked gauntlets, which are still unarmed attacks.
Thank you, alright then that would mean for my tight feat budget boxer, spiked gauntlets would probably be the best choice. Since it won't require any feats to use.
Thank you, alright then that would mean for my tight feat budget boxer, spiked gauntlets would probably be the best choice. Since it won't require any feats to use.
If you don't play a monk, there is really no mechanical reason to use the brass knuckles. The cestus and spiked gauntlet has higher damage, allows you to wield stuff in your hands (not really sure if you can hit with a gauntlet though).
Apart from that the cestus is superior to both the brass knuckles and the spiked gauntlet, as it get a larger crit range and has the option to deal bludgeoning damage.