doc roc wrote:
Phew...... this is one serious headache inducing thread! A final ruling would be great.
Based on what I've read in this thread it actually seems somewhat simple: Gauntlets can be used as a weapon or as an attack modifier on unarmed strikes.
If used as a medium weapon they do d3 lethal damage and can be enchanted etc. etc. You can't apply any other unarmed feats or modifiers except where explicitly those can be used with an Unarmed Attack (e.g. stunning fist).
e.g. When using the gauntlet as a weapon, its damage dice does not grow with monk unarmed damage, the same as if wielding any other monk weapon (e.g. Kukri).
If used to modify unarmed strikes, then they are not being used as a weapon and any enchantments (+1 Enhancement, Flaming etc.) are not applied to your attacks.
The point is you are either using the gauntlet as a light weapon, or you are attacking with your unarmed strike. But you can't do both in a single attack, and hence you can't double-dip or use the gauntlets as an additional item slot. Specifically, if you aren't attacking with the gauntlets as a weapon, you couldn't activate defending or any other properties - so there is no way to cheese additional bonuses from defending gauntlets etc.
