Beast Shaped # of attacks based on animal description or own BAB?

[Igor von Uberwald]

Hi,
reading the lot of posts on beast shape I wonder how many attacks you have after shaping:
If my wizard only has a single +3 BAB and shape changes into a giant octopus:
a) either I interpret the rules in a way that he now still has a single +3 attack, but he can chose between bite and tentacle. OR
b) I give him one bite ad 8 tentacles at +3 each.

In my view both interpretations are in line with the rules "you gain any of the natural attacks of the base creature, including proficiency in those attacks. These attacks are based on your base attack bonus, modified by your Strength or Dexterity as appropriate, and use your Strength modifier for determining damage bonuses."

Usually the number of attacks is absed on my BAB (every +5 I get another one).

Is there anything to clarify this?

[Paul Watson]

Igor von Uberwald wrote:

Hi,

reading the lot of posts on beast shape I wonder how many attacks you have after shaping:
If my wizard only has a single +3 BAB and shape changes into a giant octopus:
a) either I interpret the rules in a way that he now still has a single +3 attack, but he can chose between bite and tentacle. OR
b) I give him one bite ad 8 tentacles at +3 each.

In my view both interpretations are in line with the rules "you gain any of the natural attacks of the base creature, including proficiency in those attacks. These attacks are based on your base attack bonus, modified by your Strength or Dexterity as appropriate, and use your Strength modifier for determining damage bonuses."

Usually the number of attacks is absed on my BAB (every +5 I get another one).

Is there anything to clarify this?

Yes.

Natural Attacks do not use BAB to determine their number. As these are natural attacks, you gert all of them.

Full text of Natural Attacks

Spoiler:

Natural Attacks: Attacks made with natural weapons, such as claws and bites, are melee attacks that can be made against any creature within your reach (usually 5 feet). These attacks are made using your full attack bonus and deal an amount of damage that depends on their type (plus your Strength modifier, as normal). You do not receive additional natural attacks for a high base attack bonus. Instead, you receive additional attack rolls for multiple limb and body parts capable of making the attack (as noted by the race or ability that grants the attacks). If you possess only one natural attack (such as a bite—two claw attacks do not qualify), you add 1–1/2 times your Strength bonus on damage rolls made with that attack.

Some natural attacks are denoted as secondary natural attacks, such as tails and wings. Attacks with secondary natural attacks are made using your base attack bonus minus 5. These attacks deal an amount of damage depending on their type, but you only add half your Strength modifier on damage rolls.

You can make attacks with natural weapons in combination with attacks made with a melee weapon and unarmed strikes, so long as a different limb is used for each attack. For example, you cannot make a claw attack and also use that hand to make attacks with a longsword. When you make additional attacks in this way, all of your natural attacks are treated as secondary natural attacks, using your base attack bonus minus 5 and adding only 1/2 of your Strength modifier on damage rolls. In addition, all of your attacks made with melee weapons and unarmed strikes are made as if you were two-weapon fighting. Your natural attacks are treated as light, off-hand weapons for determining the penalty to your other attacks. Feats such as Two-Weapon Fighting and Multiattack can reduce these penalties.

[Igor von Uberwald]

Paul Watson wrote:

Natural Attacks do not use BAB to determine their number. As these are natural attacks, you gert all of them.

Full text of Natural Attacks
** spoiler omitted **...

Great, thanks. I wasn't aware of that, but yes, it's clear now. :-)