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Is your game tomorrow? Tonight? In an hour?
Use this thread to scream out your question. It doesn't matter that the answer is obvious if you read the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook—for whatever reason you can't find it, or you just need quick help.
Let's see how well this experiment goes:
Scenario:
Advanced Fiendish Ankheg F3 - v.3.5 gets auto chance to grapple when it hits.
Question: In Pathfinder RPG, could the Ankheg move/burrow, attack, AND if it hits then get an auto CMB (combat maneuver)? How does that get converted?
Caveat: This may be obvious, but I need help fast. Game tomorrow, slammed with work until then.
Please help & then use this thread (if desired) for future "emergency" questions.
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Ankhegs had Improved Grab in 3.5, in Pathfinder it's just Grab. Here's the description of Grab from the Bonus Bestiary:
Grab (Ex): If a creature with this special attack hits with the indicated attack (usually a claw or bite attack), it deals normal damage and attempts to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. Unless otherwise noted, grab works only against opponents at least one size category smaller than the creature. The creature has the option to conduct the grapple normally, or simply use the part of its body it used in the grab to hold the opponent. If it chooses to do the latter, it takes a –20 penalty on its CMB check to make and maintain the grapple, but does not gain the grappled condition itself. A successful hold does not deal any extra damage unless the creature also has the constrict special attack. If the creature does not constrict, each successful grapple check it makes during successive rounds automatically deals the damage indicated for the attack that established the hold. Otherwise, it deals constriction damage as well (the amount is given in the creature’s descriptive text).
Creatures with the grab special attack receive a +4 bonus on combat maneuver checks made to start and maintain a grapple.
I'd assume if it can successfully grab a target it's just hit with its bite attack, then the ankheg can drag it back down the tunnel afterward.
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Ankhegs had Improved Grab in 3.5, in Pathfinder it's just Grab. Here's the description of Grab from the Bonus Bestiary:
I'd assume if it can successfully grab a target it's just hit with its bite attack, then the ankheg can drag it back down the tunnel afterward.Grab (Ex): If a creature with this special attack hits with the indicated attack (usually a claw or bite attack), it deals normal damage and attempts to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. Unless otherwise noted, grab works only against opponents at least one size category smaller than the creature. The creature has the option to conduct the grapple normally, or simply use the part of its body it used in the grab to hold the opponent. If it chooses to do the latter, it takes a –20 penalty on its CMB check to make and maintain the grapple, but does not gain the grappled condition itself. A successful hold does not deal any extra damage unless the creature also has the constrict special attack. If the creature does not constrict, each successful grapple check it makes during successive rounds automatically deals the damage indicated for the attack that established the hold. Otherwise, it deals constriction damage as well (the amount is given in the creature’s descriptive text).
Creatures with the grab special attack receive a +4 bonus on combat maneuver checks made to start and maintain a grapple.
Thanks. In loo of the Pathfinder Bestiary, I will make the call that the "free grapple" is the equivalent of Grab. So the Ankheg's will burrow up to surprise the PCs, attack, and if successful do a CMB attack to grapple per Pathfinder RPG rules. This seems very easy to adjudicate.
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Thanks. In loo of the Pathfinder Bestiary, I will make the call that the "free grapple" is the equivalent of Grab. So the Ankheg's will burrow up to surprise the PCs, attack, and if successful do a CMB attack to grapple per Pathfinder RPG rules. This seems very easy to adjudicate.
I think you mean, "in lieu of"... although, if you gave the ankheg Spring Attack so that it could burrow, attack, grab, and pull the victim back into the tunnel, then your players may well try to flush you down the loo!
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Question about the CR 1/3 skeletons....
The skeletons as presented in the module are CR 1/3 each. They had two attack options:
(Attack Option #1) Rusted Scimitar +0 (1d6) and Claw -3 (1d4+2)
or
(Attack Option #2) 2 Claws +2 (1d4+2)
I played them as Attack Option #2....each skeleton got two claw attacks at +2, which has potential to do 3-6 damage per attack, or 6-12 damage per round from each skeleton. Seems pretty powerful for a CR 1/3 creature.
I wiped the party out in two rounds with these things....am I playing that right? Should it just be one attack? The players were a little upset with me. :-)
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I wiped the party out in two rounds with these things....am I playing that right? Should it just be one attack? The players were a little upset with me. :-)
You played it correctly, though they only get both attacks on a Full Attack action. If they moved, they only get the 1 attack.
Fresh 1st level characters would probably have ACs around 13-14, meaning the skellys should hit less than 50% of the time. They'll average under 4.5 damage on a Full Attack, around 2 on a Standard Attack. They've only got a few HP, so they'll typically drop on a single hit from bludgeoning or magic. 3 skels sounds like a pretty easy encounter for 4-5 1st level characters, and more just gives the cleric an excuse to try out Channeling.
That said, if the skels rolled hot, the players could be in trouble. Always a risk when starting out your adventuring career.
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I wiped the party out in two rounds with these things....am I playing that right? Should it just be one attack? The players were a little upset with me. :-)You played it correctly, though they only get both attacks on a Full Attack action. If they moved, they only get the 1 attack.
They'll average under 4.5 damage on a Full Attack, around 2 on a Standard Attack.
Wait. I'm calculating an average of 9 damage on a Full Attack using two claws. Likewise, it would be 4.5 on a Standard Attack using just one claw. Seems like a strong attack for a CR 1/3 creature. By comparison, a standard human skeleton (according to the D20 SRD) has only one claw attack....why do PF skeletons get two attacks. Am I missing something?
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Wait. I'm calculating an average of 9 damage on a Full Attack using two claws. Likewise, it would be 4.5 on a Standard Attack using just one claw. Seems like a strong attack for a CR 1/3 creature. By comparison, a standard human skeleton (according to the D20 SRD) has only one claw attack....why do PF skeletons get two attacks. Am I missing something?
Eh? 3.5 skellies also got 2 claw attacks. You may be reading the "attack" vs "full attack" line. Again, they only get 2 attacks if they don't move more than 5 feet.
Your math for "average" damage is only accurate assuming they always hit. They're attacking at +2 against ACs in the 14 region, meaning that 60% of the time on a Standard Attack they will deal 0 damage, and 40% of the time, they'll deal an average of 4.5 damage. Their average damage per round on a single attack is then 1.8.
It's certainly possible for a character to get nailed for 12 damage in a round from a single skelly, and that's going to ruin any 1st level character's day. In the long run, it's very unlikely for that to happen to all your characters before they manage to drop the low-hp baddies.