Help me understand the Solar's slam attack.
Damage:(2d8+13)
I can understand how the +13 comes from
"If a creature has only one natural attack, it is always made using the creature's full base attack bonus and adds 1-1/2 the creature's Strength bonus on damage rolls."
But... why 2d8? According to "Universal Monster Rules", Large creatures deal 1d6 slam damage. The solar is dealing slam damage as though it were a Colossal creature, why is that? I cannot find anything that suggests that this should be the case on it's stat block.
Your help is appreciated
Help me understand the Solar's slam attack.
Damage:(2d8+13)
I can understand how the +13 comes from
"If a creature has only one natural attack, it is always made using the creature's full base attack bonus and adds 1-1/2 the creature's Strength bonus on damage rolls."But... why 2d8? According to "Universal Monster Rules", Large creatures deal 1d6 slam damage. The solar is dealing slam damage as though it were a Colossal creature, why is that? I cannot find anything that suggests that this should be the case on it's stat block.
Your help is appreciated
Some creatures have natural attacks that are more or less powerful than the standard. For example, the typical bite damage for a gargantuan creature is 2d8 damage, but a Tyrannosaurus has a 4d6 bite damage (he bites as if his size was larger).
The universal monster rules are most handy for designing your own monsters, as well as using them for effects that call for natural attacks. There are no medium-size bears in the Bestiary but there are medium sized bears in 3.5 sources as well as reality. When a druid or mage casts beast shape I and turns into a medium bear, you need to know what damage its natural attacks do; and the universal monster rules can be referenced to see what a medium-bear would do.
Likewise, if you wanted to turn into a medium tyrannosaur, then you might have a single 1d8 bite (since tyrannosaur bite as a category larger).
I cannot find anything that suggests that this should be the case on it's stat block.
Sure you can. It's right there is the stat block:
Melee +5 dancing greatsword +35/+30/+25/+20 (3d6+18) or slam +30 (2d8+13)
The damage values listed in the Universal Monster Rules for various attacks and sizes aren't hard-fast rules. Exceptions can and do exist.
The "Base Damage by Size" table is simply a guideline, suggesting the most common damage values for various attacks. The asterisk lets you know that some creatures don't follow the table:
* Individual creatures vary from this value as appropriate.
Are, thanks! I knew I missed something. From what I've seen, Paizo is pretty good about covering their tracks when it comes to these kinds of things.
I cannot find anything that suggests that this should be the case on it's stat block.Sure you can. It's right there is the stat block:
The damage values listed in the Universal Monster Rules for various attacks and sizes aren't hard-fast rules. Exceptions can and do exist.Melee +5 dancing greatsword +35/+30/+25/+20 (3d6+18) or slam +30 (2d8+13)
This kind of explanation is very broad and doesn't satisfy my curiosity. I like text from book. I apparently didn't look hard enough.
Basically, don't make a solar wuss slap you. It'll hurt if it does. :)