Hi folks.
So, I have a conundrum I am trying to solve. It appears that swarms do not add their (usually negative) Strength modifier to the damage done by their swarm attacks. For instance, have a gander at this spider swarm with a Strength score of 1, whose swarm attack is not incurring a -5 penalty to its damage. By contrast, the sample troop described here does indeed seem to be adding the troop's +8 Strength modifier to the damage done by its troop attack.
As far as I can tell, there is no text in either the swarm or troop subtype clarifying how swarm attacks and troop attacks are supposed to work in this regard. I mean, it seems reasonable to assume that swarms don't add Strength, while troops appear to do so, but it's never spelled out. Any ideas? Has this ever been explained?
Cheers,
- Gears
You deduced the right conclusions.
STR-Bonus for troopes, but not for swarms.
You dont get treatises on why certain monsters work this and not this way. They just do.
I honestly wish, though, that the rules language regarding these two kinds of special attacks would have been more expansive. For instance, can you take Weapon Focus (troop attack) as a feat to bolster your hit chance when using the troop attack to make AoOs? Do swarm attacks count as natural attacks (for instance for the purposes of utilizing the Eldritch Claws feat)? Et al. Anyway, I realize this is not within the purview of my original question, I just mean to say that there are arguably quite a few question marks surrounding swarm & troop attacks, aside from the one I brought up in the OP.
Cheers,
- Gears