Ranger fighting style shenanigans

[TiwazBlackhand]

1> Ranger combat styles let you take certain feats without meeting the prerequisites.
2> Natural weapons style allows you to select Weapon Focus.
3> This would allow you to, for example, take weapon focus with any exotic weapon you didn't take exotic weapon proficiency with.
4> Catch Off Guard removes the -4 penalty for improvised weapons but doesn't EXPLICITLY grant proficiency.

So, in theory, a dip into ranger or slayer would let you take Weapon Focus with an improvised weapon.

Straw poll: which of the following best reflects your opinion.
A> Weapon Focus (Improvised Weapon) is technically legal.
B> Too Broad, needs to be Weapon Focus(2handed bashing improvised weapon) or similar.
C> Still to broad, You have to make it Weapon Focus (Shovel) or Weapon Focus (chair) specifically.
D> No. Just no, stop, make a different character

[Pink Dragon]

Page 144 CRB

Improvised Weapons: Sometimes objects not crafted to be weapons nonetheless see use in combat. Because such objects are not designed for this use, any creature that uses an improvised weapon in combat is considered to be non-proficient with it and takes a –4 penalty on attack rolls made with that object. To determine the size category and appropriate damage for an improvised weapon, compare its relative size and damage potential to the weapon list to find a reasonable match. An improvised weapon scores a threat on a natural roll of 20 and deals double damage on a critical hit. An improvised thrown weapon has a range increment of 10 feet.

Based on the above, "improvised weapons" are not weapons, but a group of disparate objects that can get used in combat nonetheless. I do not believe that your A> and B> are proper subjects for weapon focus. Nor do I believe that any individual object not listed in the weapon tables could be the subject of weapon focus, although I might allow it in a home game.

[Java Man]

If I'm Gming the answer is "here's a cheese knife, cut it out."

[N N 959]

I agree with Pink Dragon. Even if any individual improvised weapon can be considered a "weapon," you're essentially asking if you can take Weapon Focus in Martial Weapons. You can't take Weapon Focus for a category of weapons. At best you'd get to take WF for a specific object that was an improvised weapon.

As stated, I'd allow WF on a shovel if you had Catch off Guard, but in PFS, I think the answer would have to be no.

[SlimGauge]

CRB wrote:

any creature that uses an improvised weapon in combat is considered to be non-proficient with it and takes a –4 penalty on attack rolls made with that object.

Catch Off Guard removes the penalty (as well as making unarmed opponents flat-footed), but does not grant proficiency.