I'm gonna play a cleric (actually a Fighter 1/Cleric 1 character), and I'm interested in the spell "Summon Monster I".
The eagle looks good to summon, but I don't understand how to read its melee entry (or any melee entry for a monster with "natural attacks" for that matter).
The entry goes like this :
Melee 2 talons +3 (1d4), bite +3 (1d4)
Does that mean an eagle can take a Move Action and then a Standard Action:
1. To attack once with a bite at +3 (1d4).
or
2. To attack once with ONE talon at +3 (1d4).
And if the eagle takes a Full Attack Action, does he :
a) attacks TWICE with 2 talons (once each talon) with a +3 to hit on EACH talon and +1d4 damage with each talon
b) whatever.
Am I the only one to think that the natural attack rules could be better explained ?
I'm thinking about GMing one of these days, but how can I do that if I don't understand those damn "natural melee attack" entries in the bestiaries ?
Hrmm, I am a little frustrated by this.
Full attack your eagle gets 2 talon attacks at +3 each for 1d4 damage each, and one bite at +3 for 1d4 damage. (So 3 attacks in all.)
Standard action one talon or one bite at +3/1d4. (One attack in all.)
Natural attacks have changed since 3.5. Now, almost all natural attacks are considered "primary", only ones which are specifically designated as "secondary" (such as wings or tail) are.
Thus, in your example, if the eagle moves, they choose either one bite, or one talon. If it full-attacks, it gets both talons and the bite, all at the full attack bonus of +3. Basically, if a creature full-attacks with natural weapons, it gets all listed attacks, without penalty.
Thank you all. It makes sense now.
And it makes monsters a little bit nastier than I thought they were... just the way I like it :-).
Thank you all. It makes sense now.
And it makes monsters a little bit nastier than I thought they were... just the way I like it :-).
Indeed, they can be particularly brutal on a full attack if they have alot of attacks. Something to keep in mind if you are ever designing encounters as a dm.