Demon Armor's Claw Attack (How Do They Work?)

[FerinusCarnifexVox]

I copied and pasted this from the PRD to make the poster's life easier:

"This plate armor is fashioned to make the wearer appear to be a demon. The helmet is shaped to look like a horned demon head, and its wearer looks out of the open, tooth-filled mouth. This +4 full plate allows the wearer to make claw attacks that deal 1d10 points of damage, strike as +1 weapons, and afflict the target as if she had been struck by a contagion spell (Fortitude DC 14 negates). Use of contagion requires a normal melee attack with the claws. The “claws” are built into the armor's vambraces and gauntlets, and cannot be disarmed.

A suit of demon armor is infused with evil, and as a result it bestows one negative level on any nonevil creature wearing it. This negative level persists as long as the armor is worn and disappears when the armor is removed. The negative level cannot be overcome in any way (including restoration spells) while the armor is worn."

I see that these weapons are deal 1d10 and strike as +1 weapons. In addition they can inflict a disease and they can get pass magic-based Damage Reduction.

I have some questions about how exactly they are used though.

1. Can they be used as Primary or Secondary weapons?

2. Can these claws be upgraded together/seperatly? They are built into the "gauntlets" so does that mean I can upgrade them as I would a spiked gauntlet?

3. Are these weapons considered able to get past Damage Reduction Evil, because "A suit of demon armor is infused with evil"?

4. How do they exactly work in a Full-Attack (I'm planning on using Two-Weapon Fighting)? I never had a grasp exactly how "unarmed" full-attacks were done (I figured Monks could hit with either hand that struck their fancy, as long as it was within their limit).

[FerinusCarnifexVox]

I'm thinking I can enchant the claws since they are part of the gauntlets, but community input might solve these questions.

[Inconvenience]

The general consensus you will find on these boards is this; Specific magical arms and armor are unique, and any changes you might make to them is wholly in the realm of house rules. Please consult your GM before attempting to tamper with strange magics.

[blackbloodtroll]

Do they count as claws or gauntlets, for the purposes of feats and abilities?

[Mojorat]

As far as enchanting them goes, you would have to extrapolate using the magic item creation rules. This is unforunately a pseudo science understood by few. I suggest having your dm read the section and making a decision for the costs based on that.

I think Claws are assumed to be Primary unless stated otherwise, however if you did them on conjunction with a weapon attack they would be secondary. (You also wouldnt be able to claw with the hand using the weapon) (since the armour does not say, go with what the beastiary says about claw attacks)

The class do not bypass DR /evil the description of the claws specifically calls out that they do 1d10 damage and attack as +1 weapons. If they were also bypassing evil it would have said so.

You would not use TWF to use the claws. You would make Two attacks as Primary attacks with them. it would use the natural weapon rules.

Regarding blackblood trolls question, they are presumably claws and subject to flaw feats. Otherwise they suit would have just called them spiked gauntlets.

Basically by calling them claws, it tells us the mechanics intended to use them to attack (as natural weapons and not manufactured weapons using iterative attacks) So presumably they are subject to those feats also.

but really this is just extrapolating on whats written i could be wrong.

[blackbloodtroll]

So, magic fang, not magic weapon. Amulet of Mighty fists, not weapon enchantment rules.