Quote: "If you are proficient with a bladed scarf, you deal 1d4 points of slashing damage to any creature that makes a successful grapple check against you WHILE YOU WIELD THE SCARF."
wield
/wēld/
Verb
Hold and use (a weapon or tool).
Have and be able to use (power or influence).
Synonyms
manage - handle - operate - sway
On a PFS game last night, I wanted to invoke this when I was grappled, however they took the definition of "wield" as in "have in my hands as a weapon". It didn't affect the outcome of the battle, but for a future game I need a confirm of the definition of "wield" in this context.
The character is wearing the scarf, a creature makes a successful grapple check. My character is NOT using the scarf as a weapon at the moment a successful grapple check is made. Given the descriptive nature of the weapon, "Knowing that seductive performances can bring out the worst in watchers..." I picture a guy grabbing a female dancer wearing this 'weapon' disguised as clothing, not necessarily in her hands. In the process of the successful grappling she twists so the scarf she wears harms her assailant without her necessarily having it in her hands.
Is that a 'yes' or a 'no'? Could the intent of this "weapon" please be clarified? If the assailant does a successful grapple, moving one's hands THEN to "wield" the scarf does not make sense to me. If hands can still "wield" a weapon after a successful grapple, why putz with damage?
I'd rule this the same way as armor spikes or other "worn" weapons...
Because basically these are blades attached to a scarf you wear. Sounds awfully similar to spiked armor to me.
"Wield" in this case means it must be in hand. It is not at all the same as "worn" weapons like armor spikes.
As usual, GM fiat is a wonderful thing.
I believe this is one of the fun ones where a word is used with a specific definition which might not match the dictionary. See the Defending weapon property FAQ.
In short, "wielding" means "actively using as a weapon" in this case. Simply holding it in your hand is not enough. Now, I would say that the effect lasts until the start of your next round, otherwise it becomes utterly useless, but you need to be making attacks with the scarf for that defensive effect to come into play. (I'm fairly nice, and I'd probably let it take effect on rounds that you're using Total Defense, too, as long as it's the weapon you have out.)
Ooog... this is ugly. It is also clearly identified as a "two-handed weapon". But that being the case, why mention the damage explicit to defending against an attacker's successful grapple check? Does the damage not apply at any other time? If the damage doesn't apply at any other time, why 'wield' the weapon at all in the first place?
Ow! Ow! Brain-cramps! GM fiat moves the game forward, and in this case it didn't affect the battle. But having "the powers that be" who cooked this up explain the "why bother mention this" would clarify the confusion.
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Ooog... this is ugly. It is also clearly identified as a "two-handed weapon". But that being the case, why mention the damage explicit to defending against an attacker's successful grapple check? Does the damage not apply at any other time? If the damage doesn't apply at any other time, why 'wield' the weapon at all in the first place?
Ow! Ow! Brain-cramps! GM fiat moves the game forward, and in this case it didn't affect the battle. But having "the powers that be" who cooked this up explain the "why bother mention this" would clarify the confusion.
It is a two-handed weapon that deals 1d6 damage and has the trip and disarm properties. It also happens to deal 1d6 damage to someone who grapples you while you are fighting with it, if you are proficient.
Ok. It compares with the quarterstaff I use. I can use the staff as a 'walking stick', perhaps bluff a panic drop if I think grappling will be an issue. So the part I need clarified is that the quarterstaff 'beat stick' won't help me in a grapple, but the scarf would be a nasty surprise for anyone who doesn't know about the Varisian Tatoos, or even better I disguise them away. Well, it's all RP anyway. The GM would know, would *have* to know, and we've no PVP. But for the purpose of RP, I want a good grasp of the "slashing damage to any creature that makes a successful grapple check against you" phrase, when it takes effect, and how it is this is better than the quarterstaff in the same situation. I'm not trying to be dense, I'm just new to the mechanics and what may be obvious to most everyone else isn't so obvious for me. :(
Essentially if you have the scarf out and ready to use (both hands on the weapon), say for example you were dancing using the scarf for a 'prop' then someone grapples you the damage occurs. Normally a two handed weapon cannot be used if you are grappled but because of the special property of the scarf, it deals damage to the person who successfully grapples you. Think of it as them getting wrapped up in it as they grappled you and you attempted to ward them off, them taking a little bit of damage as things get tugged/pullled/etc.
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Wielding a weapon is distinct from wearing or even holding.
It means you are holding it as necessary to attack with it.
A relevant test of whether you are wielding a weapon is if somebody provoked, could you attack with the weapon?
If so, you are wielding it, if not, you are not wielding it.
Unless you are wielding the scarf at the end of your turn, you are almost certainly not wielding it at any point off your turn.
Natural Weapons can be considered to be wielded at all times, barring things which specifically interfere with them.
Thank you. I think I'm getting the idea now. I'll just have to work with it in practice.