While it is a small matter, which might not cause actual problems for anyone, I just stumbled on this in the universal monster rules:
Targets of a trample take an amount of damage equal to the trampling creature's slam damage + 1-1/2 times its Str modifier.
As such, by RAW (in the no common-sense variety), trample doesn't really do other damage than str damage for most creatures that got the ability, since they have gore attacks and not slam attacks.
I admit, it is fairly unimportant, but I just needed to get it off my chest. If at some point someone is browsing through potential corrections, this might just as well be included.
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On the bright side, it's an ancient blunder and we can blame WotC (as is so often the case).
From the SRD:
Trample (Ex): As a full-round action, a creature with this special attack can move up to twice its speed and literally run over any opponents at least one size category smaller than itself. The creature merely has to move over the opponents in its path; any creature whose space is completely covered by the trampling creature’s space is subject to the trample attack. If a target’s space is larger than 5 feet, it is only considered trampled if the trampling creature moves over all the squares it occupies. If the trampling creature moves over only some of a target’s space, the target can make an attack of opportunity against the trampling creature at a –4 penalty. A trampling creature that accidentally ends its movement in an illegal space returns to the last legal position it occupied, or the closest legal position, if there’s a legal position that’s closer.
A trample attack deals bludgeoning damage (the creature’s slam damage + 1-1/2 times its Str modifier). The creature’s descriptive text gives the exact amount.
Trampled opponents can attempt attacks of opportunity, but these take a –4 penalty. If they do not make attacks of opportunity, trampled opponents can attempt Reflex saves to take half damage.
The save DC against a creature’s trample attack is 10 + 1/2 creature’s HD + creature’s Str modifier (the exact DC is given in the creature’s descriptive text). A trampling creature can only deal trampling damage to each target once per round, no matter how many times its movement takes it over a target creature.
Hurray for OGL copy 'n' paste.
Assume slam damage as an improvised weapon. Calculate it by size. Done.
Give it slam damage based on size as per the Monster Natural Attacks Table when using Trample.
M = 1d4
L = 1d6
H = 1d8
G = 2d6
C = 2d8
If the creature has a size, it has a slam damage given by its size.
It may not be able to do this damage normally if it doesn't have a slam attack, but by RAW, this is not a problem.
yeah, trample again. my favourite. any ideas on the movement part (single, double)?
Give it slam damage based on size as per the Monster Natural Attacks Table when using Trample.
M = 1d4
L = 1d6
H = 1d8
G = 2d6
C = 2d8
For existing creatures this is seldom the case. It never fits their own size, and sometimes it is higher than their gore attack, and sometimes lower.
I haven't seen any creatures with trample that is lower than 2d6, even if they are only large.