Could you source this interpretation? I always thought that spells like "claws of the beast" that give claws, but describe it as an unarmed attack made it pretty clear that natural weapons are just a form of unarmed attack.

Claws of the beast and body of the warrior use the exact same language to say, "your unarmed attacks deal..." and it has been ruled that iron fists works with body of the warrior, so it would seem to apply to claws of the beast as well (since they use the exact same language), and therefore I would think to claws in general.

The main point with buffs, is that many spells and abilities *replace* your existing die types. Very few of them give you a die bump.

Pugilist = d4 weapon die
Claws of the beast = d4 weapon die (can be made higher with adaptations)
Body of the Warrior = d4 weapon die (can be made higher with adaptations)

That was my answer's rationale. Natural Claws say your unarmed attacks do d4(Mi). Pugilist says your unarmed attacks do d4(Mi). They don't stack and become 2d4 (Mi) or anything like that. They are two paths to the same end. "Claws of the Beast" also replace your unarmed damage with d4(Mi) but can be augmented.

John

Hmmm. I haven't thought through unarmed attacks and buff spells.

1) My understanding is that you can use unarmed tricks with claws. Correct?

2) if you were wearing a gauntlet, could you use its tricks in conjunction with a fist augmented by body of the warrior?

Yes, claws are an Unarmed Weapon so you can use tricks for the Unarmed Weapon. Claws also use the Melee (Unarmed) Attack Skill.



You can use the tricks for Unarmed Weapons (includes Claws) with the Gauntlet Weapon if you are trained in Melee (Unarmed) Attack Skill, since it has the Worn Quality. You can't, however, use Gauntlet Weapon Tricks with your Claw Weapon without some special ability that would let you do that.

John

Pugilist wouldn't help, since it has a certain die specified, but the talent "iron fists" would give a die bump to any unarmed attack, including natural weapons such as claws.