specifically in regards to races whose natural weapons let them deal a different damage type with their unarmed strikes, would i be able to use the fighting style to replace the damage dice of a bite or claw attack without also altering the damage type to bludgeoning, and can the feature be used in conjunction with Charge (from the centaur), Hungry Jaws (from the lizardfolk) and the shifting feature of a longtooth shifter, where all of these require you to make a specific type of unarmed strike? Because it seems like the unarmed fighting style always turns the enhanced damage you deal into bludgeoning damage
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i am soup, with too many ideas (all of them very spicy) who has made sufficient homebrew material and character to last an thousand human lifetimes
This really seems like a DM call situation. Personally, if you have a race with a natural weapon, say a tabaxi claw, I’d be ok with giving you the d8 and calling it slashing instead of bludgeoning, since there’s really no difference in game between the two — except maybe if you want to take slasher or crusher feats.
Most of the other racial features seem to talk about specific body parts, teeth, hooves and such. In those cases, I’d leave them as they are, since punching things well doesn’t translate to biting things, imo. And if you start giving all attacks the extra die, you’re practically giving them monk’s martial arts class feature.
In terms of RAW I think it would override the damage type, as Unarmed Fighting specifies "bludgeoning damage" unlike a Monk's Martial Arts which only changes the damage dice, so in that case there'd be no benefit to having an extra unarmed damage type as you'd lose it if you use the improved damage.
I don't see why any DM should have a problem with you just using the better roll with the Claws, Talons, or whatever damage type though as the most damage you're doing is equivalent to one-handed martial weapons that you could take anyway.
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specifically in regards to races whose natural weapons let them deal a different damage type with their unarmed strikes, would i be able to use the fighting style to replace the damage dice of a bite or claw attack without also altering the damage type to bludgeoning, and can the feature be used in conjunction with Charge (from the centaur), Hungry Jaws (from the lizardfolk) and the shifting feature of a longtooth shifter, where all of these require you to make a specific type of unarmed strike? Because it seems like the unarmed fighting style always turns the enhanced damage you deal into bludgeoning damage
My take is this: If the description of your natural weapons says you can use it to make unarmed strikes, then the fighting style will apply. I would say that you can get the damage boost from the fighting style, and if the natural weapons says it does a damage type other than bludgeoning, then you do that. If it says you "can" do a different type, it's your choice. For example the Tabaxi claws just do slashing damage, the Minotaur's horns just do piercing damage, but the Leonin's claws say "you can deal slashing damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike", so you get to pick. As for combining it with the Centaur's Charge ability, yes I believe it can combo. Attacks all fall into one of four categories, melee vs ranged and weapon vs spell, regardless of what you're actually attacking with, and in this context an unarmed strike is considered a melee weapon attack.
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specifically in regards to races whose natural weapons let them deal a different damage type with their unarmed strikes, would i be able to use the fighting style to replace the damage dice of a bite or claw attack without also altering the damage type to bludgeoning, and can the feature be used in conjunction with Charge (from the centaur), Hungry Jaws (from the lizardfolk) and the shifting feature of a longtooth shifter, where all of these require you to make a specific type of unarmed strike? Because it seems like the unarmed fighting style always turns the enhanced damage you deal into bludgeoning damage
i am soup, with too many ideas (all of them very spicy) who has made sufficient homebrew material and character to last an thousand human lifetimes
This really seems like a DM call situation.
Personally, if you have a race with a natural weapon, say a tabaxi claw, I’d be ok with giving you the d8 and calling it slashing instead of bludgeoning, since there’s really no difference in game between the two — except maybe if you want to take slasher or crusher feats.
Most of the other racial features seem to talk about specific body parts, teeth, hooves and such. In those cases, I’d leave them as they are, since punching things well doesn’t translate to biting things, imo. And if you start giving all attacks the extra die, you’re practically giving them monk’s martial arts class feature.
In terms of RAW I think it would override the damage type, as Unarmed Fighting specifies "bludgeoning damage" unlike a Monk's Martial Arts which only changes the damage dice, so in that case there'd be no benefit to having an extra unarmed damage type as you'd lose it if you use the improved damage.
I don't see why any DM should have a problem with you just using the better roll with the Claws, Talons, or whatever damage type though as the most damage you're doing is equivalent to one-handed martial weapons that you could take anyway.
Former D&D Beyond Customer of six years: With the axing of piecemeal purchasing, lack of meaningful development, and toxic moderation the site isn't worth paying for anymore. I remain a free user only until my groups are done migrating from DDB, and if necessary D&D, after which I'm done. There are better systems owned by better companies out there.
I have unsubscribed from all topics and will not reply to messages. My homebrew is now 100% unsupported.
My take is this: If the description of your natural weapons says you can use it to make unarmed strikes, then the fighting style will apply. I would say that you can get the damage boost from the fighting style, and if the natural weapons says it does a damage type other than bludgeoning, then you do that. If it says you "can" do a different type, it's your choice. For example the Tabaxi claws just do slashing damage, the Minotaur's horns just do piercing damage, but the Leonin's claws say "you can deal slashing damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike", so you get to pick. As for combining it with the Centaur's Charge ability, yes I believe it can combo. Attacks all fall into one of four categories, melee vs ranged and weapon vs spell, regardless of what you're actually attacking with, and in this context an unarmed strike is considered a melee weapon attack.