Yar!
I'm at work, so I don't have time at this very moment to provide links or quotes, but I can paraphrase the rules regarding this situation!
#1: Whenever your damage is reduced to 0 or less due to a negative strength modifier, it gets converted into 1 point of nonlethal damage.
#2: Once an opponent is below 0 HP, each point of nonlethal damage inflicted turns into 1 point of lethal damage.
So, it IS possible to get mauled to death by a cat... but it takes a really long time.
~P
That's kind of the point. Cats claws aren't going to be lethal to adventurers without some serious help. Take a cat and slap on a bull' strength, magic fang, and other buffs on it, and it might actually do lethal damage.
The rule is (and I don't recall where this is listed, but it's there somewhere) that if damage is listed like that (1d2-4) than any damage rolled that's calculated to less than 1hp does 1hp of nonlethal damage. So a cat isn't going to kill anyone, not even that 1st level commoner. However, once a creature has taken nonlethal damage equal to its total hp, then any further damage is considered lethal.
Everything always deals a minimum of 1 damage. Too tired to look up the rules a the moment, but I'm certain this is true (eta or maybe it's the nonlethal thing shadowborn says).
The reason they always include the damage dice is in case you "level" the creature in some ways (increase hit dice, boost with a spell, level as a familiar or animal companion, give a class level, etc.) That way you know what the base damage die is when you make changes. If a cat's Strength got raised high enough, for example, it might be able to deal additional damage.
The average hit points of a commoner is 3.
Three hits and he's staggered. One more and he's out.
Yes, but he has to take at least two more hits before he takes lethal damage, and (assuming 10 Con) ten more hits after that for the cat to kill him. That's plenty of time for that level 1 fighter to come running and save the day. Cha-ching! 100XP and the adoration of the whole hamlet. A dozen more of those killer cats and that's level 2 for you.
Maybe he's lawful good?
Oh, and I found the rule in the PRD:
Minimum Damage: If penalties reduce the damage result to less than 1, a hit still deals 1 point of nonlethal damage.
Actually, with 2 claws the cat does two points of nonlethal per round.
Don't forget the bite, VM mercenario. Om nom nom.
Actually, with 2 claws the cat does two points of nonlethal per round.
Pfft. Yeah, like that commoner is going to stand there and let that crazy cat take a full attack action. Now if cats got the pounce ability...
mind you a cat has to enter the commoners space in order to attach him that gives the commoner one attack of opportunity.
Only if the commoner is armed. You can't take an AoO with an unarmed strike unless you have Improved Unarmed Strike.
you're right
I think the commoner would probably spend his rounds grappling.
Once the cat is grappled he is screwed so he will probably run if he ever breaks grapple.
So we have all learned today that cats can't take down zombies.
Was that not assumed?
Have you ever grappled a cat? I would assume they get automatic hit on both claws unless you can catch them flat footed...
Have you ever grappled a cat? I would assume they get automatic hit on both claws unless you can catch them flat footed...
Yeah, unless that commoner pulls off a quick pin and gets the cat in a sack, he's just asking for a world of pain.
Actually, I used to have problems with tom cats. Grappling a cat isn't all that hard.
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Actually, I used to have problems with tom cats. Grappling a cat isn't all that hard.
Well, with CMD 6, your average Commoner is in fact likely to succeed at that...though he'll potentially take a round or two of attacks and an AoO before he pins 'em.
I'd also note that the 'average' commoner in Golarion (and Pathfinder in general) is probably level 2, not level 1, just for the record.
you may not care about a single cat, but what about a whole pride of cats? Just imagine, 50 mangy street cats charging you, or even your party, and tell me that you wern't scared, even for a moment
Fireball? Burning Hands? Flaming Sphere?
Mmhmm... stir fry anyone?
So what I've learned in this thread, is that Pathfinder commoners are super-pathetic. 4 or 5 scratches from a house cat and they're already dying! ;)
I think what we've learned is that Pathfinder cats are pretty powerful. For a cat.
Touché