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Okay, so I've got an esoteric Magus, and I've got a couple questions on how they work. I should mention that this is for society play, so I'm looking for RAW answers, not things I could take to a GM for a houserule.
1) So as far as I understand, unarmed strikes are not considered 'natural' attacks, however, they are not considered 'manufactured weapons' (unless otherwise stated, like with a Monk/Brawler.) So what are they? From indirect evidence, I assume that they act as manufactured weapons IN ALL RESPECTS EXCEPT that they don't allow people to enchant them/augment them with 'weapon' type spells (bless weapon/magic weapon.) In other words, you can make iterative attacks with them and you don't get Strengthx1.5 like natural attacks. Can anyone clear this up?
2) Let's say my Esoteric Magus dons a cold-iron (or silver) gauntlet. His damage drops to d3s, I understand, but do all his other class features work? Specifically, Can my magus put on a cold iron gauntlet, enchant it with his arcane pool, and start bypassing DR (Magic AND cold Iron)? Would his amulet of the mighty fist help here? Seems like RAW it would. Also, could he THEN poor an oil of bless weapon on it to make it bypass DR/good?
And
Unarmed Strike: At 1st level, an esoteric gains Improved Unarmed Strike as a bonus feat. He also treats his magus levels as monk levels when determining the amount of damage he deals with his unarmed strikes.
Unarmed Spellstrike (Su): At 1st level, an esoteric gains the magus spellstrike class feature. However, an esoteric can deliver spells with spellstrike only with his unarmed strikes. This ability alters spellstrike.
LASTLY:
What is the Esoteric Magus supposed to do with the 'Ki arcana' ability they get at level 4? They give up spell recall (which is huge, especially since you have diminished spellcasting) for what looks like a terrible ability. You can qualify for ki feats and abilities (which aren't that many) by spending arcane points as ki points. What can you do with that?
Only things I can figure:
I)Neclace of Ki Serenity (You can treat your Ki pool as if you were four points higher, which MIGHT mean you can treat your arcane pool as if you were four levels higher (two extra arcane points.) For 16000 gold. It also uses up your neck slot where your amulet of the mighty fists should be ( http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic-items/wondrous-items/wondrous-items/m-p/neckl ace-of-ki-serenity )
II)Ring of Ki Mastery: You can spend an arcane point to load the ring up with a ki point, giving you +2 to CMD against certain manuvers. You can't use the second ability (as you don't have ninja tricks or ki maneuvers). And since the ring is loaded up with Ki points, and you don't have a Ki pool, you can't spend them once they are in the ring (unless you have a Ki pool from another class, which I don't)
( http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic-items/rings/ring-of-ki-mastery )
III) To make the above two work, for certain, I would need to take the Ki arcana Magus arcana ('cuse I qualify for it with Ki arcana class ability) as then I can actually SPEND ki.
EDIT Could I qualify for "Extra Ki Pool" at level four (through my ki arcana class feature). Would that then give me a 'ki' pool of 2, which would then let me spend ki points and arcane points interchangably?
Works like this:
1)Level 4, gain Ki arcana, which counts as a ki pool for purposes of requiring feats.
2) 2 Take Extra Ki, which requires a Ki pool (which I count as having from 1). This increases my 'non-existant ki pool' from 0 to 2.
3)I now have a ki pool, and can use ki and arcane pool interchangeably.
Question is, does having 'ki points' count as having a 'ki pool?'
Ki Arcana archetype specifically says that your arcane pool is considered a ki pool for the purpose of ability requirements. Ring of ki mastery should apply.
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Ki Arcana archetype specifically says that your arcane pool is considered a ki pool for the purpose of ability requirements. Ring of ki mastery should apply.
Note that " arcane pool is also considered a ki pool for the purposes of meeting feat and ability requirements.". I don't actually gain a ki pool, nor gain the ability to spend ki, unless I already have a ki pool. And as far as I can tell, there is no 'amateur monk/ninja' to give me a small ki pool.
It also says right after that that you can use your arcane pool for spending on stuff that would normally require ki.
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"Points from an esoteric’s arcane pool can be used for abilities that normally require ki."
That means that if you have an ability that requires you to spend a ki point, you can instead spend an arcane pool point.
The final sentence about spending arcane pool points and ki interchangeably allows you to do the reverse and use a ki point for an ability that requires an arcane pool point. Of course, this is only relevant if you have a ki pool that is separate from your arcane pool.
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"Points from an esoteric’s arcane pool can be used for abilities that normally require ki."
That means that if you have an ability that requires you to spend a ki point, you can instead spend an arcane pool point.
The final sentence about spending arcane pool points and ki interchangeably allows you to do the reverse and use a ki point for an ability that requires an arcane pool point. Of course, this is only relevant if you have a ki pool that is separate from your arcane pool.
Right, such as if you had a ki point stored in a ring of ki mastery, that you put there by spending an Arcane point.
The primary purpose of the Ki Arcana is to allow you to use Chakras. Thematically this makes sense because the use of Chakras is part of esoteric traditions.
According to esoteric traditions, the vital force of ki derives from the Positive Energy Plane and f lows to initiates via the emanations of the sun.
Mechanically Chakras aren't very good, but you might find some uses for them occasionally. Since you aren't a psychic caster you would need to take the Psychic Sensitivity feat to use them. (This feat will let you use psychic skill unlocks and let you qualify for a number of feats from OA.) So this path gives you lots of little options that you will probably use rarely.
Another use for the Ki Arcana is qualifying for combat feats. Here are a few:
Ki Stand
Deny Death
Gliding Steps
Ki Throw
Improved Ki Throw
Binding Throw
Spinning Throw
Gauntlet attacks, count as Gauntlet attacks.
If you are not proficient with Gauntlets, you take nonprofiency penalties.
Weapon Focus(Unarmed Strike) will not apply to Gauntlet attacks.
Spells and abilities that interact with unarmed strikes, will not interact with Gauntlet attacks.
I'm confused.
Gauntlet
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. The cost and weight given are for a single gauntlet. Medium and heavy armors (except breastplates) come with gauntlets. Your opponent cannot use a disarm action to disarm you of gauntlets.
If attacks with gauntlets are considered to be unarmed attacks, except for the type of damage, then why wouldn't things like Weapon Focus (Unarmed Strike) apply?
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Explain Weapon Focus(Gauntlet).
Explain Simple Weapon Proficiency(Gauntlet).
Explain Favored Weapon: Gauntlet.
It's an "unarmed attack", but not an "unarmed strike".
It's not a Monk weapon, and you can't Flurry with it.
It's listed in the Close Fighter Weapon Group, but not Monk, or Natural Weapon Fighter Weapon Group.
There is a reason a Monk needs a Amulet of Mighty Fists, and doesn't just use a Magic Gauntlet.
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Explain Weapon Focus(Gauntlet).
Explain Simple Weapon Proficiency(Gauntlet).
Explain Favored Weapon: Gauntlet.
It's an "unarmed attack", but not an "unarmed strike".
It's not a Monk weapon, and you can't Flurry with it.
It's listed in the Close Fighter Weapon Group, but not Monk, or Natural Weapon Fighter Weapon Group.
There is a reason a Monk needs a Amulet of Mighty Fists, and doesn't just use a Magic Gauntlet.
1) I've never seen Weapon focus (Gauntlet) before
2) If it counts as an unarmed strike, a Monk could flurry with it.3) If it is an unarmed attack, then it isn't a weapon attack and enchanting it as a weapon would do nothing.
Explain Weapon Focus(Gauntlet).
Explain Simple Weapon Proficiency(Gauntlet).
Explain Favored Weapon: Gauntlet.
It's an "unarmed attack", but not an "unarmed strike".
It's not a Monk weapon, and you can't Flurry with it.
It's listed in the Close Fighter Weapon Group, but not Monk, or Natural Weapon Fighter Weapon Group.
There is a reason a Monk needs a Amulet of Mighty Fists, and doesn't just use a Magic Gauntlet.
Throwing lots of questions at me isn't helping my confusion. If I knew those answers, I probably wouldn't need to ask you for clarification. Especially since most of your questions are about monks, and I've never really paid any attention to them.
What does seem useful is that you are drawing a distinction between "unarmed attacks" and "unarmed strikes." Are you saying that there is a general category of weapons called "unarmed attacks" and that "unarmed strikes" and "gauntlets" are two specific types of "unarmed attack?" On the weapons table "unarmed strike" is listed under "unarmed attack," but since "unarmed strike" is the only listing there I assumed that they were synonymous.
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The evidence supports the Gauntlet being it's own weapon, and not a weapon modification.
EDIT
It appears that BlackBloodTroll was right, but not for the reason he stated.
Apparently there has been an errata thingie on the boards, and Sean K. Reynolds (who I GUESS is, or at least was, a writer at Paizo?) made a decision with 'Jason' (Who, I'm assuming, is also a member of Paizo) To just turn all those weapons (brass knuckles, rope gauntlets, gauntlets, emei piercers) into their own separate weapons that are considered 'armed' and have nothing to do with unarmed strikes.
link: I wish they'd post this somewhere instead of burying it in the boards]
Unless that guy (I honestly don't know who he is, I am not on an ANY name bases with ANY Paizo Employee, the only guy I know of is John Compton) doesn't have the power to errata, in which case we are back to square one.
EDIT AGAIN
Found out who SKR and Jason Bulmahn are. Guess I look stupid, but in my defense, I don't know those guys, have never heard their names before, and SKR's tag is just "Contributor" not "Guy who oversees everything" or something suitably impressive like that.
Again though, wish that was put somewhere in some official errata and not just a random comment on a five-year-old post.
Nice find. VampByDay. I was pretty sure that BBT was right, but I couldn't reconcile it with the text. It looks like they removed the problematic language from the Brass Knuckles, Cestus, Spiked Gauntlets, etc. when they made Ultimate Equipment, but that the Gauntlet description slipped through the cracks. My confusion is resolved.
And SKR left to start his own company. That's why his tag now reads 'contributor.' From what I understand, back in those days they didn't have the formal FAQ/errata process that exists today. He or Jason really would just post the official position in relevant threads.
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EDIT AGAIN
Found out who SKR and Jason Bulmahn are. Guess I look stupid, but in my defense, I don't know those guys, have never heard their names before, and SKR's tag is just "Contributor" not "Guy who oversees everything" or something suitably impressive like that.
SKR has left Paizo some time ago, previously his tag was Developer.
Owner - D20 Hobbies
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1) I've never seen Weapon focus (Gauntlet) before
2) If it counts as an unarmed strike, a Monk could flurry with it.
3) If it is an unarmed attack, then it isn't a weapon attack and enchanting it as a weapon would do nothing.
1) Doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
2) It doesn't count as Unarmed Strike, as that is one weapon and Gauntlet, Cestus, Brass Knuckles, etc are all other Unarmed Attack weapons.
3) Unarmed Attacks are weapon attacks. A variety of weapons allow Unarmed Attacks.
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Owner - D20 Hobbies
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there is a general category of weapons called "unarmed attacks" and that "unarmed strikes" and "gauntlets" are two specific types of "unarmed attack?" On the weapons table "unarmed strike" is listed under "unarmed attack," but since "unarmed strike" is the only listing there I assumed that they were synonymous.
Yes, and they are absolutely not synonymous.