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So I was looking at the attacks of the cerberi. Beyond my question of "Is this creature really appropriate for this level of summon monster?" (Level 4 btw), I was considering their stats under the effects of Augment Summoning and I noticed a few things.
First, Their 3 Bite attacks probably need to be errata'd as the damage listed is 1d6+4 with a strength of 16 and no feats or abilities augmenting the damage. As such the damage should be 1d6+3. If there is a thread where I might post that information (assuming it hasn't already), I would love a link.
Now onto the actual rule question: The cerberi have a rend special attack that has a unique property. It's listed as "rend (2 bites, 1d6+4 or 3 bites, 1d6+8)". The 2 bites rend has the correct damage (bite die type + 1.5 strength) and I understand that the 3 Bites rend is unique. My question is, if the Cerberi's strength is increased for whatever reason, what is the proper equation for determining it's damage? The obvious is (str mod x1.5)x 2 but I would like to make sure (and possibly ask that in future publications, unique rends like this be noted).
Thanks for your time!
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That's incorrect Mathwei. The stats of the Flail Snail, the Amphisbaena, the Giant Crab and many others say otherwise. Here's the hydra for example.
Hydra
XP: 1200
N Huge magical beast
Init +1; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, scent; Perception +10
DEFENSE
AC 15, touch 9, flat-footed 14 (+1 Dex, +6 natural, -2 size)
HP 47 (5d10+20); fast healing 5
Fort +8, Ref +7, Will +3
OFFENSE
Speed 20 ft., swim 20 ft.
Melee 5 bites +6 (1d8+3)
Space 15 ft., Reach 10 ft.
Special Attacks pounce
STATISTICS
Str 17, Dex 12, Con 18, Int 2, Wis 11, Cha 9
Base Atk +5; CMB 10; CMD 21 (can't be tripped)
Feats Combat Reflexes, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes
Skills Perception +10, Swim +11
Racial Modifiers +2 Perception
SQ hydra traits, regenerate head
ECOLOGY
Environment temperate marshes
Organization solitary
Treasure standard
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Fast Healing (Ex) A hydra's fast healing ability is equal to its current number of heads (minimum fast healing 5). This fast healing applies only to damage inflicted on the hydra's body.
Hydra Traits (Ex) A hydra can be killed by severing all of its heads or slaying its body. Any attack that is not an attempt to sever a head affects the body, including area attacks or attacks that cause piercing or bludgeoning damage. To sever a head, an opponent must make a sunder attempt with a slashing weapon targeting a head. A head is considered a separate weapon with hardness 0 and hit points equal to the hydra's HD. To sever a head, an opponent must inflict enough damage to reduce the head's hit points to 0 or less. Severing a head deals damage to the hydra's body equal to the hydra's current HD. A hydra can't attack with a severed head, but takes no other penalties.
Regenerate Head (Ex) When a hydra's head is destroyed, two heads regrow in 1d4 rounds. A hydra cannot have more than twice its original number of heads at any one time. To prevent new heads from growing, at least 5 points of acid or fire damage must be dealt to the stump (a touch attack to hit) before they appear. Acid or fire damage from area attacks can affect stumps and the body simultaneously. A hydra doesn't die from losing its heads until all are cut off and the stumps seared by acid or fire.
hydra have 5 attacks.
hydra have 5 attacks.
Yeah, that is too fundamental for him to have missed (on each of his examples). So I am going to guess he misunderstood 'single attack'.
When we mean single attack, we mean STANDARD ACTION=FULL ATTACK (well, for most purposes; haste or maybe an animal companion/eidolon ability might change that). As in, he only has 1 bite, and if he got 2 bites (like the Amphisbaena) then the 'only one natural attack' rule would not apply.
This is meant to make creatures like wolves stay threatening, since they would only ever get in 1x str and power attack, ever, otherwise.
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Where is this alternate list for the summoning spell that allo you to call a cerberi with monster summoning IV?
And I thought that a cerberi could make all 3 bite attacks as a standard action even after moving (that is how creatures with multiple heads like it work, usually), but I don't see anything confirming that in the monster description. Someone know it they can make 1 attack or three after moving?
Where is this alternate list for the summoning spell that allo you to call a cerberi with monster summoning IV?
And I thought that a cerberi could make all 3 bite attacks as a standard action even after moving (that is how creatures with multiple heads like it work, usually), but I don't see anything confirming that in the monster description. Someone know it they can make 1 attack or three after moving?
Hmm...if I am going to trust the citations I found online, it seems like it was a part of the Council of Thieves (AP 29 specifically). Of course, the same citations also mentioned that the name was slightly wrong, so they are unsure if that was what was actually being talked about.
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Thanks.
Found it in the book thanks to your indication, it say Cerberai. I am not convinced they are the intended creature, even if I can't find a cerberai in the Council of Thieves AP. I suspect that originally the cerberi were intended to be less strong and so an appropriate creature for Monster summoning IV.
A CR 6 creature is one of the strong options for MS V, giving it out for the MS IV spell, even if limited to the followers of Asmodeus, seem excessive.
BTW, the cerberi in the AP have a bite of 1d6+3, it has been modified in the Bestiary.
