>Though what's interesting that everyone seems to
>overlook...natural weapon specialization probably does help
>you a *LOT*, but more for the fact of improved parry

Yeah. Granted, it's still not far off what an arial sword with its better-than-wood-elf-for-this stats ends up with just right out of the box.

Also, it's a little ironic that there's a gnome-specific edge which is strictly superior in this respect.

(And works with any kind of weapon material.)