I would say no. It just tells you that it deals the same damage as a punching dagger, not that it functions as a punching dagger. It just means rather than whatever the normal damage dice would be for that kind of improvised weapon, you use the damage dice for the punching dagger.
As an Improvised weapon, I would say that is would not be affected by any feats or class features that boost knives or a particular dagger. Typically, a description will specifically say if feats for a different weapon apply to the weapon in question. Like the Two-Weapon Drunkard feat.
Any feats, traits or class features that improve improvised weapons would improve your stiletto's performance.
Catch Off Guard, Improvised Weapon Mastery, Improvised Defense, Surprise Weapon(trait), Equipment Trick(boot tricks), etc.
The phrase "deals damage as" is used in different places throughout Pathfinder. It is used a shorthand for "deals damage equivalent to".
I think you're reading way tooooo much into it.
If they hand intended it to function as a punching dagger instead of writing it "deals damage as" they would have written "functions as".
Word count is usually very important when publishing these books to get everything to fit on one page. So if they had intended for it to function exactly like a punching dagger why use a (slightly) longer phrase.
You've hit the nail on the head with your edit, but the fact is they don't use "functions as".
Maybe, but feats like weapon specialization affect you, not the weapon.
I would say no. It just tells you that it deals the same damage as a punching dagger, not that it functions as a punching dagger. It just means rather than whatever the normal damage dice would be for that kind of improvised weapon, you use the damage dice for the punching dagger.
I find this extremely odd though. Why put the extra words in it they mean nothing?
"You can use the heel of a stiletto boot as an improvised weapon,
dealing damage as a punching dagger." instead of
"You can use the heel of a stiletto boot as an improvised weapon,
dealing 1d3 damage [medium]."?
I could see it if "dealing damage as" means the whole damage profile: 1d3, x3 crit, P: as is though, why the extra words when a simple damage die can be used?
I would say no. It just tells you that it deals the same damage as a punching dagger, not that it functions as a punching dagger. It just means rather than whatever the normal damage dice would be for that kind of improvised weapon, you use the damage dice for the punching dagger.I find this extremely odd though. Why put the extra words in it they mean nothing?
"You can use the heel of a stiletto boot as an improvised weapon,
dealing damage as a punching dagger." instead of"You can use the heel of a stiletto boot as an improvised weapon,
dealing 1d3 damage [medium]."?I could see it if "dealing damage as" means the whole damage profile: 1d3, x3 crit, P: as is though, why the extra words when a simple damage die can be used?
Well, comparing it to a punching dagger arguably also tells us the Size Category.
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 nonproficient 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.
So they may have saved a few words.
Gisher: But it didn't save words and it takes up MORE space to use the "dealing damage as" method. Both ways in my post noted damage and size, so they give identical information. The way it's printed though takes up more precious space in the book for no extra information and forces you to look up the actual stats in another book.
Gisher: But it didn't save words and it takes up MORE space to use the "dealing damage as" method. Both ways in my post noted damage and size, so they give identical information. The way it's printed though takes up more precious space in the book for no extra information and forces you to look up the actual stats in another book.
I do see what you mean. I was thinking that it would be replacing "1d3 [small] and 1d4 [medium]" but I suppose you could just use the tables to extrapolate the small-size damage. I might argue that "dealing damage as a punching dagger" also tells us that the Stiletto Boots deal Piercing damage. I don't use improvised weapons very often, so I'm not that familiar with the rules. Would comparing it to a Punching Dagger also identify it as a Light Weapon?
Gisher: But it didn't save words and it takes up MORE space to use the "dealing damage as" method. Both ways in my post noted damage and size, so they give identical information. The way it's printed though takes up more precious space in the book for no extra information and forces you to look up the actual stats in another book.I do see what you mean. I was thinking that it would be replacing "1d3 [small] and 1d4 [medium]" but I suppose you could just use the tables to extrapolate the small-size damage. I might argue that "dealing damage as a punching dagger" also tells us that the Stiletto Boots deal Piercing damage. I don't use improvised weapons very often, so I'm not that familiar with the rules. Would comparing it to a Punching Dagger also identify it as a Light Weapon?
As I recall it's mostly left up to the DM, much like dirty trick. I admit, I'm not that familiar with the exact rules either. I really should dig into them now that you can get enchantment bonuses to them with the new gloves in the adventurer's armory 2.