I'm making an "animated object" using craft construct feat. Each gets a base amount of construction points i get to spend, and for more money i can add more.
http://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/monster-listings/constructs/animated-objec t#TOC-Construction-Points
Well, there's one that gives me an additional "slam" attack. There's no base model for the animated object, meaning idk how many limbs it has (i assume i can have it however i want).
So im wondering how i determine how many additional "slam" attacks i can add on. I've looked everywhere, but it all pertains to limb based, if you have the limb, you have the attack. So in theory i can have a big ass dude with -insert dumb # here- slam attacks that i can then mod and have fun with. This doesn't seem right, I'm missing something.
Slam is a general body-blow attack, and is the "miscellaneous" Natural Attack because while tons of creatures have Slam attacks, it varies from creature to creature - it's conceivable that a creature could use its massive belly to bludgeon enemies, for example.
While you're hard-pressed to explain how a Tiger can have 7 Claw attacks, there's no real limit to the number of Slam attacks a monster can conceivably get.
Think of it like the monster body-checking the enemy to death.
I've never seen an actual definition of a slam attack, but I've never imagined it as being a body-blow. I've always imagined it as being a hit with a limb, and the monsters I, at least, have seen, and I will admit that's not an exhaustive amount, generally have slam attacks limited by their limbs or equal to their limbs. May I ask where you got the impression or ruling that slam can be a body-blow?
I've never seen an actual definition of a slam attack, but I've never imagined it as being a body-blow. I've always imagined it as being a hit with a limb, and the monsters I, at least, have seen, and I will admit that's not an exhaustive amount, generally have slam attacks limited by their limbs or equal to their limbs. May I ask where you got the impression or ruling that slam can be a body-blow?
May I ask where you got the impression or ruling that is ISN'T a body-blow?
Like I said - it's the "miscellaneous" Natural Attack, and other forumgoers have described it as a "body-check" or elsewise.
If you need a specific example of imagining a monster body-checking an enemy, however, there's this:
A creature with the push ability can choose to make a free combat maneuver check with a certain successful attack (often a slam attack). If successful, this check pushes a creature directly away as with a bull rush, but the distance moved is set by this ability. The type of attack that causes the push and the distance pushed are included in the creature’s description. This ability only works on creatures of a size equal to or Smaller than the pushing creature. Creatures pushed in this way do not provoke attacks of opportunity and stop if the push would move them into a solid object or creature.
Format: push (slam, 10 feet); Location: Special Attacks and individual attacks.
Also, Trample seems to indicate that the intent of a Slam is a full-body thing
As a full-round action, a creature with the trample ability can attempt to overrun any creature that is at least one size category Smaller than itself. This works just like the overrun combat maneuver, but the trampling creature does not need to make a check, it merely has to move over opponents in its path. Targets of a trample take an amount of damage equal to the trampling creature’s slam damage + 1-1/2 times its Str modifier. Targets of a trample can make an attack of opportunity, but at a –4 penalty. If targets forgo an attack of opportunity, they can attempt to avoid the trampling creature and receive a Reflex save to take half damage. The save DC against a creature’s trample attack is 10 + 1/2 the creature’s HD + the creature’s Str modifier (the exact DC is given in the creature’s descriptive text). A trampling creature can only deal trampling damage to each target once per round, no matter how many times its movement takes it over a target creature.
Format: trample (2d6+9, DC 20); Location: Special Attacks.
Unlike other Natural Attacks, there is no allocated, or even completely logical or illogical, limb for Slam Attacks; monsters just have Slam attacks or they don't.
But, the general vibe from a lot of monsters is that a Slam is some manner of body-blow of some kind or another, thus why things like animated candlesticks can perform Slam attacks.
Dolphin has no arms and a slam attack.
Its USUALLY a fist but doesn't have to be.
You should be picking the attacks that thematically fit the object.