When an acidic ooze, lets use Black Pudding as an example, attacks it does slam damage, then acid damage, then gets a grab based free grapple. Now, on that successful grapple, does it then do acid damage again this turn, or not until next turn if you don't break the grapple? I've always figured it did the damage along with the grapple, but last night our party got wiped by a black pudding because it pretty much killed us all in two rounds (one character died first round, two more 2nd round cause we split it with slashing). So, that made me wonder... were we running it wrong?
In this instance, grab is about hitting, doing the damage from the slam, with the acid and then holding them in a grapple as a special ability, but the pudding must win the grapple. Then the adventurer is grappled with all that entails.
Now look at the constrict ability, each round something is held I believe that is the damage the target takes when it comes back to the puddings turn, and it wins another opposed grapple check. It doesn't just get to stack stack stack on the damage, it is more a gradual process.
Also keep bab in mind, this pudding can make two slams in a round, but I don't think it can do a slam, slam and a constrict, that is for next round when it holds something and wins another grapple check. It could however one one target, do a slam, grab, and slam with the other attack. Grab sure is strong.
That is how I read it, I am sure you can find full clarification from other posters and looking up the constrict ability in the bestiary.
Beware of puddings!
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Sequence for creatures with Grab and Constrict (assume all are hits and successes):
Attack. Damage. Grapple check. Constrict damage.
Sequence for the round after:
Maintain check. Damage. Constrict Damage.
Summary: do not get into a grapple situation with a black pudding. A wand of grease is a must have for any adventuring group (Grease increases your CMD vs grapple by +10).
- Gauss
I've always figured it did the damage along with the grapple, but last night our party got wiped by a black pudding because it pretty much killed us all in two rounds (one character died first round, two more 2nd round cause we split it with slashing). So, that made me wonder... were we running it wrong?
So I guess it went like this:
1st - Squishy caster gets hit -- 36 avg points of damage takes him out
Melee's turn -- causes split
2nd - 2 others get hit -- 36 avg points of damage each take out two characters
Yeah I can see that destroying a low level party, particularly 4th level. Knowledge: dungeoneering can be your friend (:
So nasty. :D
Alright, so we were in fact doing it right. Ouch. :) Thanks everyone :)