I once posted something about that, but after reading and re-reading both the comments and the description... I still don't get it, so I'm asking again for some clarification.
Taken from Blood of Angels, about a new curse for oracles:
"Blackened: Your hands and forearms are shriveled and blackened, as if you had plunged your arms into a blazing fire, and your thin, papery skin is sensitive to the touch. You take a –4 penalty on weapon attack rolls, but you add burning hands to your list of spells known."
Emphasis mine, this is where I'm a bit confused about some details:
1) Does it apply to unarmed strikes?: You might say "yes". However, the penalty implies that you cannot firmly hold a weapon to deliver a clean strike. For an unarmed strike, I'm not holding anything in my hand, so technically, I still can perfectly punch right in the face without any penalty whatsoever, because punching you doesn't require me to hold something.
2) If so, does it apply to unarmed strikes not using the hands?: The penalty seems to be applied only to the hands, not anywhere else. So technically again, I could kick you without any penalty, because I'm not even using my hands to attack.
My main issue is that according to a "strict" reading, not only I take the penalty for punching you, but I also take the penalty for kicking or headbutting you.
That... doesn't... make... sense...
Care to help me with this? Thanks in advance.
You can easily *make* it make sense if you want.
The powers-that-be that grant you your special abilities don't want you to cheese your way around the curse, and thus the burns cripple you on a spiritual level that makes your power-gaming little heart weep.
(teasing, teasing, XD)
I asked before and it was clarified that it only affects manufactured weapons--natural attacks and unarmed strikes were excluded. Now I have to find it...
Edit:
There! It's just intent, but should be good enough for most people, right?
They meant manufactured weapons only.
http://paizo.com/threads/rzs2og6x?Blood-of-Angels-FAQ-Candidates#2
Unarmed strikes are unaffected.
The Blackened oracle curse is meant to only impose a penalty on attack rolls with manufactured weapons. Thus, rays, weapon-like spells, and natural weapons are not affected by this curse.
Thanks for the answer ^_^
Now to make a Peri-blooded Aasimar fire oracle with this curse that uses unarmed strikes to attacks...
(I converted the Superior Unarmed Strike feat from Tome of Battle, so...)
Oh BTW, is it safe to assume that the penalty would also apply to wands that cast weapon-like spells?
If I'm using a wand of Scorching Rays, I must hold the wand in my crippled hand in order to use it properly. That's a little bit different from simply pointing your empty hand and let loose a fiery ray, right?