So I have a rules question because I can't find where to read about this kind of thing.
I have made a level 1 druid who plans to use many wild shapes during his adventure. I also read about the druid Shaman archtypes that allow you do swap out or delay normal druid abilties for those of the shaman type.
For example a Lion Shaman (APG) at level 2 can select to Totem Transform and give himself the natural attacks of a lion (Bite, 2 Claws).
So the main question of the thread is how do monsters handle multiple natural attacks and how do druids handle them? I am confused because if you look at the stats of a CR 1 Eagle (3 attacks) it seems to have no penalties to use multiple attacks, but if you read the monstrous Multi-Attack feat it says a monster with this feat only has a -2 to secondary attacks not a -5.
Where did this -5 come from and how does it affect druids and wild shape?
(And animal companions I guess)
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Natural attacks can be primary or secondary. The attacks you get from the shaman powers are all primary though, so operate at your full BAB, so you can attack with all of them without penalties if you take a full attack action.
If you, for instance, swung a sword, and tried to get a bite in along with it, the bite is considered secondary, -5 to hit, and 1/2 strength.
So if it's secondary specifically, -5 to hit and 1/2 strength. If you use it with a manufactured weapon, -5 to hit, 1/2 strength. These penalties do not stack, so using a secondary with a manufactured weapon is still -5 to hit and 1/2 strength.
Note, you cannot use a natural weapon with the same limb that is making an attack with a manufactured weapon. So bite + sword is awesome, claw + sword is not(unless you had an open hand, then you could sword with one hand, claw with the other).
Natural attacks do not interfere with, or even interact with, iterative attacks.
A two weapon fighter could go all crazy with fifteen sword attacks, then get one bite in edgewise, for instance.
If you are hasted, you can choose any one of your attacks to be that hasted extra attack.
Hope this helps!
Ok, I guess I just don't understand what counts as a secondary attack. For example Claw Claw Bite are all natural attacks so they do not incur the penalty?
So multi-attack isn't necessary for my animal companion nor for my druid once he uses full Wild Shape?
Or does a tigers pounce rake count as secondary?
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It's secondary if it says it's secondary, or if you use it as part of a full attack at the same time as a manufactured weapon.
Cats don't have secondary attacks to my immediate recalling, they're all primary, and operate at full BAB.
Ponies count their hooves as secondary.
Raptors(deinonychous?) use their claws as secondary, but bite and talons as primary.
Multi attack makes those secondaries better, but also means you can use them with manufactured weapons easier too. Many beasties have no secondaries, and are unaffected entirely.
Ahh ok, that makes sense. Thank you both for the answers!