Claw Blades

[Manticulon]

Sorry to make two threads in rapid succession, but this is totally unrelated to my other thread but also bothering me. A number of feats require you to be using a weapon, and claws are unarmed. However, claw blades, which are designed as replacement claws for clawless catfolk, are a weapon, and thus can be used with these feats (such as Double Slice). Now, obviously, this can be house ruled in whatever way, but it seems like a bit of an oversight.

[HammerJack]

How is that any different than gauntlets and fists? I'm missing what the actual question is, here.

[Manticulon]

I guess it comes down to the description. The weapon is explicitly designed “to resemble the natural claws” of the designers in order to allow catfolk without claws to “share the fighting customs of their kin.” This indicates the intent of the weapon is to duplicate the natural weapons of other catfolk, but in practice because of a weird quirk in the rules, it ends up being strictly better in most situations. Why would a catfolk who lacks natural claws be more adept at fighting with claws than one born with claws? I know strictly by the rules it works that way, but this goes beyond the silliness of gauntlets and fists to the degree that it’s actually a detriment to have natural claws, as opposed to fake ones.

[Mellored]

I don't see how spending a feat, dropping a die size, and losing the ability to grapple
makes then strictly better than a claw.

Sure. You can dual strike now. But you paid for it.