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Shatter Weapons (Ex) Whenever a character strikes a caryatid column with a weapon (magical or nonmagical), the weapon takes 3d6 points of damage. Apply the weapon's hardness normally. Weapons that take any amount of damage in excess of their hardness gain the broken quality.
Are natural weapons of creatures and beasts subject to this defense? I.e. Does a pouncing Dire Tiger kill himself in the first round of an attack?
That's a good question. There's no clear rules answers either way.
I'm inclined to say yes. If a player were to punch one (which I would suggest isn't a great idea), I would probably roll the damage on them. This seems similar to the Babau's protective slime ability, which does damage to weapons that strike it, but also affects unarmed or natural attacks. Although a good argument could be made that the protective slime ability specifically calls out it's damage against unarmed/natural attackers, while the column doesn't.
Logically (which I understand is a weak standard in rpg rules) that which can shatter steel on impact should shatter bone.
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That's a good question. There's no clear rules answers either way.
I'm inclined to say yes. If a player were to punch one (which I would suggest isn't a great idea), I would probably roll the damage on them. This seems similar to the Babau's protective slime ability, which does damage to weapons that strike it, but also affects unarmed or natural attacks. Although a good argument could be made that the protective slime ability specifically calls out it's damage against unarmed/natural attackers, while the column doesn't.
Logically (which I understand is a weak standard in rpg rules) that which can shatter steel on impact should shatter bone.
Babau slime makes a specific notation that using unarmed strikes results in damage to the attacker. So do quite a few other abilities. Caryatid Columns lack this notation.
As the caryatid column lacks the note that other abilities have there is room to say that it doesn't affect unarmed strikes or natural attacks.
If a GM wanted to run it such that it did, I wouldn't have a problem with the logic behind it. It does however make it very difficult to attack the caryatid column though.
Also, if you compare the amount of damage done by the babau and column you can see there is a very big difference. 1d8 vs 3d6, 4.5 vs 10.5. A 3rd level creature vs the CR3 caryatid is just as likely to knock himself out as he is to kill the caryatid with his own full attack. A CR 3 monk is likely to have only 20 hp. Two successful attacks would likely cause him to knock himself out.