DmRrostarr |
So I have a guy in my group who is playing a human with the Racial Heritage feat (Ratfolk). He also took the feat Sharptooth which gives him a bite attack at 1d3 damage.
The problem is, Sharptooth is only available if you are a Ratfolk (small sized creature) or taken with Racial Heritage (which as a medium sized human he did).
Question is: does he use the damage based on the feat (1d3) or does he do bite damage based on his medium size (1d6)?
I'm inclined to think that the the feat is correct as this is a matter of specific over general rule.
Thoughts?
vhok |
ignoring the racial heritage part and assuming this works it would not be 1d6
1d3 would turn into 1d4 not 1d6. the ratfolk bite damage is smaller then normal. think about if a ratfolk got enlarged the damage would only go up one die and since they have tiny size damage for their bite it would go up to small(1d4). so even though he is a medium human it would at best be 1d4.
DmRrostarr |
Normal Small bite damage is d4, not d3, so at Medium he'd do d4, not d6, if you want to adjust it.
I'd probably give him the boost but I think it's reasonable either way.
Yes you are correct that NORMAL small bite damage is d4, but Sharptooth feat specifically says you gain a bite attack at d3 damage.
Sharpttooth feat:
Your teeth are especially sharp and sturdy.
Prerequisite(s): Ratfolk.
Benefit(s): You gain a bite attack. This is a primary natural attack that deals 1d3 points of damage.
DmRrostarr |
ignoring the racial heritage part and assuming this works it would not be 1d6
1d3 would turn into 1d4 not 1d6. the ratfolk bite damage is smaller then normal. think about if a ratfolk got enlarged the damage would only go up one die and since they have tiny size damage for their bite it would go up to small(1d4). so even though he is a medium human it would at best be 1d4.
Under the Universal Monster rules: a medium sized creature gains a bite attack that does d6 damage.
vhok |
I agree that by RAW you would use 1d3 regardless, but that there's no harm in letting him have 1d4. The silliest part is just imagining a human going around nibbling people, though maybe the character would have big beaver-like incisors and be even goofier-looking.
apparently you have never had someone bite you. normal human teeth can do quite a lot of damage IRL.
Bloodrealm |
Bloodrealm wrote:I agree that by RAW you would use 1d3 regardless, but that there's no harm in letting him have 1d4. The silliest part is just imagining a human going around nibbling people, though maybe the character would have big beaver-like incisors and be even goofier-looking.apparently you have never had someone bite you. normal human teeth can do quite a lot of damage IRL.
Doesn't make it look less silly to imagine someone going around nibbling things like a rodent.
Fuzzy-Wuzzy |
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Fuzzy-Wuzzy wrote:Normal Small bite damage is d4, not d3, so at Medium he'd do d4, not d6, if you want to adjust it.
I'd probably give him the boost but I think it's reasonable either way.
Yes you are correct that NORMAL small bite damage is d4, but Sharptooth feat specifically says you gain a bite attack at d3 damage.
Sharpttooth feat:
Your teeth are especially sharp and sturdy.Prerequisite(s): Ratfolk.
Benefit(s): You gain a bite attack. This is a primary natural attack that deals 1d3 points of damage.
Yes, so since the feat gives you a bite that does less than standard Small bite damage, a promotion should give it less than standard Medium bite damage. And the natural promotion from 1d3 is 1d4.
The Universal Monster Rules are giving you typical damage for attacks of each type and size, not absolutes, which is why the table says "Individual creatures vary from this value as appropriate." EDIT: Which is why it doesn't matter that the table value for Medium bite is 1d6.
Java Man |
Java Man wrote:As much as a bowie knife?Yes.
It's a lot harder to bite someone than it is to stab them, but if someone manages to get a good bite in, they're going to do a whole mess of damage.
Still not seeing it, can't picture any part of my body where I wouldn't prefer to be bitten than stabbed/ cut with a solid knife.
DmRrostarr |
DmRrostarr wrote:Fuzzy-Wuzzy wrote:Normal Small bite damage is d4, not d3, so at Medium he'd do d4, not d6, if you want to adjust it.
I'd probably give him the boost but I think it's reasonable either way.
Yes you are correct that NORMAL small bite damage is d4, but Sharptooth feat specifically says you gain a bite attack at d3 damage.
Sharpttooth feat:
Your teeth are especially sharp and sturdy.Prerequisite(s): Ratfolk.
Benefit(s): You gain a bite attack. This is a primary natural attack that deals 1d3 points of damage.
Yes, so since the feat gives you a bite that does less than standard Small bite damage, a promotion should give it less than standard Medium bite damage. And the natural promotion from 1d3 is 1d4.
The Universal Monster Rules are giving you typical damage for attacks of each type and size, not absolutes, which is why the table says "Individual creatures vary from this value as appropriate." EDIT: Which is why it doesn't matter that the table value for Medium bite is 1d6.
Ah...that's a good point about the vary quote....