A "Natural Wielder" Ability

[Garnfellow]

The paigoel demon from Green Ronin's Book of Fiends is the horrific fusion of several dead adventurers, a ten-handed monster that wields 10 weapons with no penalties. Its Melee line reads "Melee 10 weapons +16 (2d6+5 or by weapon type)."

Obviously, it doesn't follow the 3.5e rules for monsters wielding weapons (and I suspect this was just a conversion oversight). Rather than "fix" the monster by applying the same rules used by the marilith and athach, I was instead thinking of giving the monster an ability that works something like this:

Natural Wielder (Ex) The paigoel has an unusual bond with any manufactured weapon it wields. Such a weapon is always treated as a natural weapon for purposes of determining additional attacks from a high base attack bonus, strength bonus to damage, and two-weapon fighting penalties. In all other respects such weapons are considered manufactured weapons. All of the paigoel's arms are considered primary weapons.

Does this mechanic seem reasonable? Are there any precedents for such a mechanic?

 

[Shade]

The mechanic looks sound.

About the closest thing that comes to immediate mind is the mimic weapon ability of the keeper (Fiend Folio).

 

[Mortis]

Natural Wielder (Ex) The paigoel has an unusual bond with any manufactured weapon it wields. Such a weapon is always treated as a natural weapon for purposes of determining additional attacks from a high base attack bonus, strength bonus to damage, and two-weapon fighting penalties. In all other respects such weapons are considered manufactured weapons. All of the paigoel's arms are considered primary weapons.

Does this mechanic seem reasonable? Are there any precedents for such a mechanic?

There's the Hecatoncheires' ability

Superior Multiweapon Fighting (Ex)
A hecatoncheires fights with a greatsword or a boulder in each hand. The hecatoncheires does not suffer an attack or damage penalty for attacking with one hundred weapons. However, the press of limbs prevents the creature from making iterative attacks with any of its arms, nor can it make more than ten attacks against a Small or smaller creature, fifteen attacks against a Medium-size creature, or twenty attacks against a Large creature in the same action (it can make all its attacks against a Huge or larger creature in one action).

Regards
Mortis

 

[Garnfellow]

Ah, good old Hecatoncheires -- how could I have forgotten thee? I'm not sure that ability was updated to 3.5, but I'll check my ELH later.

But in using that ability as a start, how does this look:

Superior Multiweapon Fighting (Ex) A paigoel fights with a melee weapon in each hand. The paigoel does not suffer an attack or damage penalty for attacking with ten weapons. However, the paigoel cannot make iterative attacks with any of its arms.

 

[Shade]

That looks good.

 

[Mortis]

I'm not sure that ability was updated to 3.5, but I'll check my ELH later.

Weeellll.... its in the 3.5 SRD. Thats good enough for me

Regards
Mortis