How does "Improved Natural Attack" work with a Monk

[jgsugden]

A monk's unarmed strike is treated both as a manufactured weapon and a natural weapon for the purpose of spells and effects that enhance or improve either manufactured weapons or natural weapons

The question comes down to this: Does the feat grant an ability that can be called spell or effect?

I think we can all agree that a feat is not a spell, so we can ignore that half of the equation.

Is a feat an effect? That also seems awkward. A feat is never called an effect in any WotC book, so I'm going to say no.

In the alternative, can the resulting benefit of a feat be called an effect? The answer to this question is a definite yes. The text of many feats (extra turning, for example) note that the effects from the feat stack if you take it multiple times. So, the result of a feat can be an effect.

So, the effect generated by this feat can be called an effect. It is an effect that enhances or improves natural weapons. This falls under the description of the monk ability mentioned above, so a monk, by the rules-as-written, can qualify for this feat.

As an aside: I house ruled this feat into a monstrous feat, so PC types can not qualify for it.

 

[Benben]

I haven't seen it to be too destructive in my game, but then most of my world's monks are halflings.

I was unsure about it, but I didn't see it being any different from a fighter taking an exotic weapon proficiency to increase the damage die of a weapon.

 

[Caliban]

If the monk could take the feat it would technically increase his damage die, but unless the monk has a natural weapon without being a monk, he doesn't qualify for the feat.

A prerequisite isn't a spell or effect.

 

[Darklone]

It's not supported by the RAW, but I would simply assume that the monk already HAS this feat as a class ability. Plus some non available upgrades. Just look at his unarmed damage

 

[Plane Sailing]

I consider this to be a monstrous feat, granting bigger talons, sharper teeth etc. I would not allow a monk to take it. What is he going to get? Bigger hands

 

[Derulbaskul]

Using Darklone's argument, the monk's natural attack is a 1d3 unarmed strike (assuming he is Medium size). He is free to advance that using this feat.

 

[Stalker0]

Well I think a feat could definately be called an effect, but it creates... well.... effects!!

Seriously though the book is clear about monk's hands being natural weapons. And there are precedents for pc's using the MM feats (see a whole host of threads about it with search if you'd like). So I'd have to go with a yes on this one.

 

[Scion]

It definately isnt anymore powerful than someone picking up an 'exotic weapon proficiency' so that sounds ok. It is also usually less powerful than weapon specialization.

In any event, sounds fine I like the thoughts of it..lol.. it is cool. Definately not overpowered and anything to make players like their characters more without becoming overpowered is always something to strive for.

 

[Caliban]

Well I think a feat could definately be called an effect, but it creates... well.... effects!!

Seriously though the book is clear about monk's hands being natural weapons.

Yeah, it's clear that they are not natural weapons. They are just treated as one for certain spells and effects.

A prerequisite for a feat is not a spell or effect.

 

[Benben]

It also makes Halfling and Gnome monks a more viable concept. Gnome monks are a bit silly, but Halfling monks take the same place as the wizened, shrunken masters that can be found throughout the Martial Arts genre.