Precise Strike, Gauntlet, and Snake Style

[AncientSpark]

So I have this Halfling Cavalier (Daring Champion), who gains Precise Strike. Precise Strike specifically says that it does not allow natural attacks, which naturally disallows unarmed strike, even if I convert my unarmed attack to piercing with something like Snake Style.

But what if I'm wearing a gauntlet? A gauntlet says "This metal glove lets you deal lethal damage rather than nonlethal damage with unarmed strikes. A strike with a gauntlet is otherwise considered an unarmed attack."

So, a) If the gauntlet counts as I'm using an unarmed attack, does this mean that it's compatible with Snake Style (which converts the attack to piercing) and its later iterations like Snake Fang? And b) If it does, is this compatible with Precise Strike, because the gauntlet is manufactured, even though it "counts as unarmed strike"?

My intuition says this doesn't work because you can't have gauntlets steal some characteristics of unarmed strike and not others, but on the other hand, it already does by existing (for example, you can Magic Weapon a gauntlet). Thoughts?

[LoneKnave]

It actually doesn't disallow unarmed strike. Your unarmed strike is not a natural atack, as it follows the weapon attack rules (tho for a monk it counts as both a manufactured and a natural weapon for effects).

[dragonhunterq]

Unarmed strikes are not natural attacks. They have their own separate and distinct rules. In most cases the rules for unarmed strikes follow that of weapons more closely than natural attacks. For example you don't add 1.5x strength to damage if it's your only attack. see here also. Precise strike is compatible with snake style unarmed strikes.

Gauntlets are kind of messy. While they let you deal lethal damage with unarmed strikes they retain their base weapon effects, so for instance a monk can't gain the extra damage from their unarmed strike. I don't think snake style can overwrite the damage type of the gauntlet.

[Imbicatus]

If you read the Swashbuckler preview blog, the devs even suggest using snake style to make unarmed strikes work as swashbuckler weapons.

[jakebacon]

Is there a reason you need a piercing unarmed strike? A cestus does piercing damage and has a decent crit range.

[NikolaiJuno]

No one knows exactly how Gauntlets work. It's possible that they do or do not allow magic weapon properties to be used, that they do or do not allow Monk unarmed damage, that they do or do not provoke AoOs, and that they can or can not be used with abilities that require an unarmed strike.
The only thing that can be agreed appon is that they deal lethal damage.

But Snake style does work with Precise Strike on normal unarmed strikes.