Is Power Attack Automatically Added In?


Rules Questions


In any given monster's stats, like, for example, the Arsinoitherium (B2 pg.186), is his Power Attack feat automatically added-in in his gore attack & damage stats? How bout with his powerful charge? Or trample?

Is his Improved Overrun feat automatically bonused to his combat maneuver checks?

Grand Lodge

Neither are added in.


I cannot think of any monster with variable modifiers automatically included. Perhaps some adventures do it but that would be a special case.

If in doubt, run the numbers.


I think I've seen things where the stats presented have rage or certain buffs added in (and then afterwards the base stats are noted). Basically it assumes that the encounter would start with the enemy initiating thing and going with their stuff up.

But for power attack? No, generally not.


Power Attack? No, typically you gotta apply the attack penalty and damage bonus yourself. Though sometimes in APs/Mods/scenarios where a specific creature is meant to always be power zttacking, they'd mention it in the tactics write up and sometimes mention that they did add the Power Attack effects in the stat block already.

In your example of the Arsinoitherium, it has a 28 Str, +14 gore (4d8+13). BAB +6 abd large size.
That does not have Power Attack in the stats.
Attack = 6 BAB +9 Str -1 size = 14.
Damage = The gore attack uses 1.5 x Strength because the gore is the Arsinoitherium's sole natural attack it possesses = +13.
If it was power attacking, if it's applying 1.5 x Str to its gore attack, it's basically a 2-handed weapon for power attack purposes.
+12 gore (4d8+19).

The stat blocks would typically have specific maneuver bonuses that are different from the default CMB in parenthesis after it. Should look closer to: CMB +16 (+18 to overrun); CMD 26 (30 vs. trip, 27 vs. overrun).
I'm unsure if powerful charge or trample benefits from power attack though. But if it does, the CMB would also suffer from the Power Attack penalty to hit.


Thankyou.


Protoman wrote:

The stat blocks would typically have specific maneuver bonuses that are different from the default CMB in parenthesis after it. Should look closer to: CMB +16 (+18 to overrun); CMD 26 (30 vs. trip, 27 vs. overrun).

Gah that should be CMD 28 vs Overrun.


In the Bestiaries, no. But in modules and AP's I've seen monster and NPC entries where it specifically says the stats includes Feat X or, "if anticipating combat, XXX will cast YYY & ZZZ, which are included in the stats."

Sovereign Court RPG Superstar 2011 Top 32

Protoman wrote:

Power Attack? No, typically you gotta apply the attack penalty and damage bonus yourself. Though sometimes in APs/Mods/scenarios where a specific creature is meant to always be power zttacking, they'd mention it in the tactics write up and sometimes mention that they did add the Power Attack effects in the stat block already.

In your example of the Arsinoitherium, it has a 28 Str, +14 gore (4d8+13). BAB +6 abd large size.
That does not have Power Attack in the stats.
Attack = 6 BAB +9 Str -1 size = 14.
Damage = The gore attack uses 1.5 x Strength because the gore is the Arsinoitherium's sole natural attack it possesses = +13.
If it was power attacking, if it's applying 1.5 x Str to its gore attack, it's basically a 2-handed weapon for power attack purposes.
+12 gore (4d8+19).

The stat blocks would typically have specific maneuver bonuses that are different from the default CMB in parenthesis after it. Should look closer to: CMB +16 (+18 to overrun); CMD 26 (30 vs. trip, 27 vs. overrun).
I'm unsure if powerful charge or trample benefits from power attack though. But if it does, the CMB would also suffer from the Power Attack penalty to hit.

Pedantic nitpick: Power Attack at BAB 9 should be at -3/+9 for this creature, so +11 gore(4d8+22).


ryric wrote:
Protoman wrote:

Power Attack? No, typically you gotta apply the attack penalty and damage bonus yourself. Though sometimes in APs/Mods/scenarios where a specific creature is meant to always be power zttacking, they'd mention it in the tactics write up and sometimes mention that they did add the Power Attack effects in the stat block already.

In your example of the Arsinoitherium, it has a 28 Str, +14 gore (4d8+13). BAB +6 abd large size.
That does not have Power Attack in the stats.
Attack = 6 BAB +9 Str -1 size = 14.
Damage = The gore attack uses 1.5 x Strength because the gore is the Arsinoitherium's sole natural attack it possesses = +13.
If it was power attacking, if it's applying 1.5 x Str to its gore attack, it's basically a 2-handed weapon for power attack purposes.
+12 gore (4d8+19).

The stat blocks would typically have specific maneuver bonuses that are different from the default CMB in parenthesis after it. Should look closer to: CMB +16 (+18 to overrun); CMD 26 (30 vs. trip, 27 vs. overrun).
I'm unsure if powerful charge or trample benefits from power attack though. But if it does, the CMB would also suffer from the Power Attack penalty to hit.

Pedantic nitpick: Power Attack at BAB 9 should be at -3/+9 for this creature, so +11 gore(4d8+22).

Counter nitpick. According to the PRD, its Strength mod is +9 and its BAB is only +6 so Power Attack would only be -2 ATT/+6 DMG.

Sovereign Court RPG Superstar 2011 Top 32

Protoman wrote:
ryric wrote:
Protoman wrote:

Power Attack? No, typically you gotta apply the attack penalty and damage bonus yourself. Though sometimes in APs/Mods/scenarios where a specific creature is meant to always be power zttacking, they'd mention it in the tactics write up and sometimes mention that they did add the Power Attack effects in the stat block already.

In your example of the Arsinoitherium, it has a 28 Str, +14 gore (4d8+13). BAB +6 abd large size.
That does not have Power Attack in the stats.
Attack = 6 BAB +9 Str -1 size = 14.
Damage = The gore attack uses 1.5 x Strength because the gore is the Arsinoitherium's sole natural attack it possesses = +13.
If it was power attacking, if it's applying 1.5 x Str to its gore attack, it's basically a 2-handed weapon for power attack purposes.
+12 gore (4d8+19).

The stat blocks would typically have specific maneuver bonuses that are different from the default CMB in parenthesis after it. Should look closer to: CMB +16 (+18 to overrun); CMD 26 (30 vs. trip, 27 vs. overrun).
I'm unsure if powerful charge or trample benefits from power attack though. But if it does, the CMB would also suffer from the Power Attack penalty to hit.

Pedantic nitpick: Power Attack at BAB 9 should be at -3/+9 for this creature, so +11 gore(4d8+22).
Counter nitpick. According to the PRD, its Strength mod is +9 and its BAB is only +6 so Power Attack would only be -2 ATT/+6 DMG.

D'oh. I misread your text as BAB +9, not 6 BAB and +9 Str. My bad.


ryric wrote:
D'oh. I misread your text as BAB +9, not 6 BAB and +9 Str. My bad.

No probs. I tend to get all wall-of-texty when I get long-winded.

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