After reading about the Digmaul I was excited it was added as an animal companion but then swiftly disappointed in its stats barely matching the creature's stat block. It was as if someone was told it was "like the small cat with a tail attack" and they did no research. With the permission of my DM I have altered the animal companion's stats as a silvercat variant. Please let me know what you think of the changes and how you might improve upon them. The idea was to be stronger than the small cat but on par or weaker than the big cat:
Silvercat Digmaul
Size: Small. Speed: 30ft Climb 20ft
AC: +1 Natrual Armor. Attacks: Bite (1d4) 2 Claws (1d3) Tail (1d3)
Stats: Str 12 Dex 21 Con 13 Int 2 Wis 12 Cha 6
Special Qualities: Ball tail (bludgeoning only, +6 bonus), Lowlight vision, Scent
7th level
Size: Medium. AC: +2 Natural Armor
Attacks: Bite (1d6) 2 Claws (1d4) Tail (1d4)
Stats: Str +6 Dex -2 Con +4
My last question is on secondary attacks and standard actions. If the digmaul where to charge and make a single attack, could it use its tail attack as a primary since it is the only attack it makes that round? Or does having a primary attack available prevent that?
It'd be a secondary attack. If the digmaul only had the tail attack (or multiple tail attacks), then it could make the attack as a primary attack.
I've been tempted to house rule that any single natural attack is a primary attack, but there are likely knock-on effects that I haven't considered. Plus, most creatures with both primary and secondary attacks would prefer to use the primary given the choice.
It'd be a secondary attack. If the digmaul only had the tail attack (or multiple tail attacks), then it could make the attack as a primary attack.
I've been tempted to house rule that any single natural attack is a primary attack, but there are likely knock-on effects that I haven't considered. Plus, most creatures with both primary and secondary attacks would prefer to use the primary given the choice.
Thank you, I could never find a definitive answer on the matter. It would be nice to have a full bab trip combat maneuver as an opener but I suppose that's the problem. The +6 bonus helps negate the penalty after you get multiattack and try to trip something large
It's a custom companion; you could always tweak it a bit. If it favors the tail attack, you could make it a primary and maybe make the claws or bite secondary if you think not doing so would be imbalanced.
It's a custom companion; you could always tweak it a bit. If it favors the tail attack, you could make it a primary and maybe make the claws or bite secondary if you think not doing so would be imbalanced.
Thanks for the suggestion, I'm just keeping it as true to the Digmaul's stat block as possible. It was more of a question on how secondary natural attacks work outside of full attacks.
In the case of the half-orc's race trait, tusked, it specifies that the attack takes a -5 during a full attack even when used with other natural attacks; but is considered a primary attack in a standard action.
I can't say whether they meant to have Tusked work at -5 with other natural attacks, but that's how they worded it. That's a specific exception to the general rules, though; normally, a bite would only be secondary (-5) when combined with iterative attacks.
I can't say whether they meant to have Tusked work at -5 with other natural attacks, but that's how they worded it. That's a specific exception to the general rules, though; normally, a bite would only be secondary (-5) when combined with iterative attacks.
I'm currently playing a half orc goliath druid. I have the tusked race trait for a secondary bite attack and the aspect of the beast feat for primary claws. However if I wildshape into a troll my bite attack becomes primary. The Digmaul is for a back up character, our GM is ruthless.