So I was looking at Aesthetic Warrior and notice that you can deal lethal damage with. However, if you're a Vesk or some other similar species you instead get the Stun quality (as well as a few other), so for you to deal nonlethal damage you have to spend a move action to set your teeth to stun. This seems like a weird design choice. Why didn't they just say "you can deal lethal or nonlethal damage" instead? Wouldn't need to add the Stun quality at all.
Vesk can already do nonlethal damage with their natural weapons. Their entry says that they "CAN" deal lethal damage, and the attack doesn't count as archaic. It doesn't say that the damage MUST BE lethal.
So the OP's question is very valid. Why would I set my tail slap to stun with a move action if I can simply elect to do nonlethal damage like a normal Unarmed Strike?
At first I thought that it might give the Stunned critical hit effect, but it's impossible to say. Between "Aesthetic" Warrior and Qi Adept, I've no idea what's going on in the Soldier chapter.
Vesk natural weapons can deal nonlethal damage, yes, but that does not mean that every unarmed attack can do nonlethal damage without penalty. Ring of fangs bites are the most common example I can think of that cannot.
Vesk natural weapons can deal nonlethal damage, yes, but that does not mean that every unarmed attack can do nonlethal damage without penalty. Ring of fangs bites are the most common example I can think of that cannot.
That is a good point.