Doing a "Justicar"

[rounser]

This is probably an obvious one, but I don't have the books handy:

If a 3E ranger does an unarmed strike with his off-hand attack, but is holding a bastard sword in his other hand, is he treated as armed, or does he still need the Improved Unarmed Strike feat in order not to draw AoO from armed opponents with his off-hand attack?

 

[whatisitgoodfor]

Any attack made without a weapon (natural weapons count) is treated as an unarmed attack. It doesn't matter what is in your other hand.

 

[Hypersmurf]

This is probably an obvious one...

Heh.

It's so obvious, that last time the question was asked, the debate lasted several pages, and never really convinced anyone to change their minds

There are people here who will say "Yes", and people who will say "No".

-Hyp.

 

[Staldin*Freefall]

You holding the sword in your off hand? Not that that isn't a pretty anal qualification

 

[Zerovoid]

Any attack made without a weapon (natural weapons count) is treated as an unarmed attack. It doesn't matter what is in your other hand.

I agree with this. You are making an unarmed attack, it doesn't matter that you are also armed. So, you would threaten an area because you had the bastard sword, but you would still provoke the AOO when you punched.