Minotaur Powerful Charge (Gore)

[Relecs]

Looking at the Minotaur entry in the beastiary (206) I'm somewhat confused by the powerful charge (gore) ability.

the ability states:

Powerful Charge (Ex) When a creature with this special attack makes a charge, its attack deals extra damage in addition to the normal benefits and hazards of a charge. The attack and amount of damage from the attack is given in the creature's description.

What I want to know is: does this mean that when a Minotaur charges he gains a second attack, his gore attack in addition to whatever attack he chooses to execute; or does this just give the minotaur additional damage on his gore attack when it is the attack he chooses to use on a charge.

So...

Situation 1:

A minotaur charges his opponent and makes a single attack with his greataxe, In addition to this the minotaur gains a second attack with his gore, dealing higher damage than a standard gore as shown beside powerful charge

OR

Situation 2:

A minotaur charges his opponent and makes a single attack EITHER his greataxe OR his gore, the gore does double dice damage and 1.5 STR instead of 1 STR, the greataxe does standard damage.

So which situation is it? If #2 why would a minotaur ever bother to use its powerful charge when its greataxe does more damage?

[HaraldKlak]

Relecs wrote:

Situation 2:

A minotaur charges his opponent and makes a single attack EITHER his greataxe OR his gore, the gore does double dice damage and 1.5 STR instead of 1 STR, the greataxe does standard damage.

So which situation is it? If #2 why would a minotaur ever bother to use its powerful charge when its greataxe does more damage?

Situation 2 is correct.

Why would it bother? You are correct that the greatsword attack is better. So they might do it, if they find themselves without a greatsword (not all minotaurs might have the standard equipment). They might do it, because it is an iconic move of the minotaur, as well as the bull, thus being a very flavorful initiation of a battle (despite that it deals 1d6 less damage).
The minotaur's charge feat from Classic Monster Revisited will give a free bull rush attempt when making the charging gore attack.

[Relecs]

HaraldKlak wrote:

Situation 2 is correct.

Why would it bother? You are correct that the greatsword attack is better. So they might do it, if they find themselves without a greatsword (not all minotaurs might have the standard equipment). They might do it, because it is an iconic move of the minotaur, as well as the bull, thus being a very flavorful initiation of a battle (despite that it deals 1d6 less damage).
The minotaur's charge feat from Classic Monster Revisited will give a free bull rush attempt when making the charging gore attack.

Thank you, I guess a kind gm might also use it to start the fight so the players get one round of reprieve before the higher damage starts to pile up.

[Siddhartasam]

If anyone knows how to hide this reference text, please edit my post to do so, or let me know how to do it. I apologize for the long post.

The real question is: is powerful charge a static bonus, or does it increase with a)size changes (a la animal growth) b)inherent base dice increase/decrease (improved natural weapon) c)spell-increased weapon damage (strong jaw)?

I think that to keep the numbers legit, it has to be static. That is how it is worded:
"When a creature with this special attack makes a charge, its attack deals extra damage in addition to the normal benefits and hazards of a charge. The attack and amount of damage from the attack is given in the creature’s description."

Not to munchkin it but consider: Lev 9 Druid Level 3 Mammoth Rider PRS

Choose an arsiniotherium steed - [spoiler=arsiniotherium]"Arsinoitherium- Attack gore (2d8);... Special Qualities powerful charge (gore, 2d8)" [spoiler]

We start with 2d8 base.

Then we do this PRS lev 1 change:
"Gigantic Steed (Ex)- A mammoth rider's steed increases to Huge size..."

Now we are huge, and the gore attack goes up to eithr 4d6 or 3d8, depending on which of several damage tables you consult. (that's covered in other threads). We will go with 3d8

Cast animal growth (Druid 5, transmutation - "The target animal grows to twice its normal size and eight times its normal weight. This alteration changes the animal's size category to the next largest...")

Gargantuan! now we go to 4d8. (and strength hovering around 40 with Bull's Strength)

Alternatively, Strong Jaw (Druid 5, transmutation - "enhance the power of that creature's natural attacks. Each natural attack that creature makes deals damage as if the creature were two sizes larger than it actually is. If the creature is already Gargantuan or Colossal-sized, double the amount of damage dealt by each of its natural attacks instead." This would take us to 8d8 base gore damage.

All of these modifiers generally apply to all attacks.

If powerful charge is based off of gore, the improved natural attack would ratchet all numbers up one step, for 8d8 and massive strength or 16d8 with slightly reduced strength.

So does powerful charge stack the same 2d8 when your pet is 10,000 pounds of angry rhino-beast?

Would vital strike double up to 16d8/32d8, before strength bonus or crit?

Multiply 3 times using Pack Lord to build a herd, and we're talking craazy numbers.

Please clarify before I rampage Golarion with my army.