Do combat maneuvers (which have the attack label) take a multiple attack penalty even though they're skill checks?


Playing the Game


Topic. I find this REALLY unclear atm.


Yes. Anything with the attack label is an attack, even if it's a skill check (or a spell) and not a Strike. All attacks are subject to (and contribute to) the MAP.


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The wording could be clearer:

Current wording, p. 178:
MULTIPLE ATTACK PENALTY
If you attack more than once on the same turn, your
attacks after the first take a penalty called a multiple
attack penalty. Your second attack takes a –5 penalty, and
any subsequent attacks take a –10 penalty. This penalty is
untyped and is cumulative with all other penalties.

My suggested revision:

Revised wording:
MULTIPLE ATTACK PENALTY
If you take more than one action with the Attack trait on the same turn, any such action after the first takes a penalty called a multiple
attack penalty. Your second action with the Attack trait takes a –5 penalty, and any subsequent actions with the Attack trait take a –10 penalty. This penalty is untyped and is cumulative with all other penalties.

It's a little wordy but it avoids any uncertainties.


I have a question about disarm. For example I have 1 lvl paladin +4 str trained in athletics (+5 total). I'm going to disarm 1st lvl goblin (DC 15 Reflex). So I have a 55% chance to succeed (10-20 on roll) and only 5% chance to crit (just natural 20).
On success I do not disarm goblin, instead just weaken his grasp (wich is giving me +2 bonus on next attempt). But my next attempt to disarm suffers -5 penalty (wich is results in no chance to disarm the target at all). Can I use -4 penalty for agile? Is unarmed (free hand) works as agile?
If I'm a ranger and i'm hunting the target, can I use -3 penalty on my second disarm attempt?

Multiple attak penalty may looks "ok" with other combat maneuvers (since success is actualy success), but disarm looks useless with this penalty as it almost can't result in actual benefit (at least for party with single athletic character).

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