In the Barbed Devil description, the creature has a special ability named Barbed Defense :
Barbed Defense (Su) A creature that strikes a hamatula with a melee weapon, an unarmed strike, or a natural weapon takes 1d8+6 points of piercing damage from the devil's barbs. Melee weapons with reach do not endanger a user in this way.
1) Does "strike" mean an attack attempt - whatever the result of this action is success or fail - or does it mean a successful hit ?
2) Are large creatures with L size weapons considered to have reach and avoid the damage from the barbs ?Thank you for your help.
Alain
1) Strike means a successful hit.
2) Being large would not, by RAW, have any effect though I have ruled that one that takes care not to get too close, can attack without danger but take a -2 AC and -4 to hit penalty. This provided that they can and do keep at least 10' distance as per normal reach weapon.
For larger creatures, when they are at least 15' distance and using a suitable weapon they can avoid the damage altogether like using a weapon with reach.
These houserules were for the benefit of ruling fireshield though it applies here equally.
Sorry for the delay, I've been unable to connect for a few days.
Annoying Orange, thank you for your answer.
1) I understand that the common meaning of a strike is a solid hit (successful attack roll, allowing to roll for damage). But the rules should use the same terms for identical actions and avoid, as far as possible, any (mis)interpretation. The text of Fire Shield is more clear as it uses attack instead of strike, which is more logical regarding the spell's effects.
During my play session I decided that strike meant successful hit, and explained that it was a reaction to the pain of the wound that triggered barb's wounds.
2) I think that Large creatures having a 10 ft reach or more AND using appropriately sized non-natural weapons, should be treated like Medium sized creatures with reach weapons. Actually L creatures have an advantage in this case, because they can still attack adjacent enemies whereas reach weapons from M creatures usually can't. Unless someone direct me towards an official ruling telling I'm on the wrong side, I'll play it that way.