Ok, somewhat complicated question. I'm using a monster from Numeria, Land of Fallen Stars. The monster is Xaubunchror, (LE female
evangelist kyton, monk 9). There is no stat block, so I'm trying to figure out how its attacks would work.
As a kyton (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/monster-listings/outsiders/kyton/kyton), it has 4 chain attacks by default (+11). With the 9 levels of monk it also has 2 iterative attacks (+6/+1). How do the iterative attacks interact with the chain attacks?
To further complicate things, how would flurry of blows fit into this (for example if it was armed with a double-chained kama instead of just "chains")?
Hm.
When you add class levels to a monster, their stats stacks with increases from classes. So an evangelist kyton has a base attack bonus of +8. With 9 monk levels adding six more, that BAB is now +14. Which would give you two iterative attacks: +14/+9/+4.
With BAB +8, the kyton already have an iterative attack (+8/+3). However, it isn't in its melee line. Instead, there are 4 chains with the same attack bonus, +11 - which it gets from adding BAB (+8) to its strength modifier (+2) and Weapon Focus (+1). If the chains were weapons, this doesn’t make sense. There should be an iterative attack and penalties for two-weapon combat. So the chains are most likely natural weapons, which doesn’t work with iterative attacks. So don't worry about that.
As for flurry of blows, normally it doesn’t work with natural weapons. But there's a feat. And your kyton gains 5 feat choices when you apply those 9 monk levels.
So, with feral combat training and flurry and the increase BAB (but not other improvements, such as other feats or ability score increases), you're looking at an attack line like this:
Melee 6 chains +18 (2d4+2)
That's +17 BAB (when flurrying, the monk's BAB is equal to its level, which is 9. And the kyton already had 8), +2 for Str, +1 for Weapon Focus and -2 for flurrying. And there's six attacks, because a 8th or higher level monk adds two additional attacks.
Anyway, that's what I think. But I've never played or GMed for a monk, so flurry of blows aren't my forte.
Blymurka seems to have hit most of the issues. Only thing I would change-
Melee 5 chains +18, 1 chain +13.
The second flurry attack will still be at -5 as if using improved two weapon fighting.
The chain attacks aren't weapons or natural weapons. They come from the kyton's Dancing Chains ability. That allows 4 attacks as a standard action. Increasing the kytons number of attacks won't change this at all.
If the kyton instead attacked normally, it would only get 2 attacks as a full attack (from its +8/+3 BAB) instead of 4 as a standard action. You can work out additional attacks from a higher BAB or other abilities from there.
The chain come from a spell-like ability, not a full attack.
Not change due to additional levels.
Interesting. Seems like it's open to interpretation. I'm still unclear as to whether the 4 chains are intended to be weapon attacks, natural attacks, or part of the dancing chains ability (seeing as it's listed separately from the melee attack).
Anyway, thank you all for your input. At least I have some ideas to draw from. I think the fault lies in the vagueness of the monster description.
Sorry for resurrecting this, but I had to finalize this for my own sake, and for anyone else who might be looking for answers in the future.
I have reviewed this a little more fully now, and I have to fully agree with Blymurka (and dragonhunterq). The way it is written in the description is consistent with a natural attack, and the Feral Combat Training feat can apply. What really reinforced this for me is in the D&D Planar Handbook on p.22 it states "Chain devils treat spiked chains as primary natural weapons and can make two attacks per round with them. Each attack uses the kyton’s full Strength bonus". Now I know that's not PF, but it seeing as PF came from D&D I'll go with that.
Second, I would have to disagree about the attacks being from the Dancing Chains ability. For one thing, it's listed separately, and for another, the phrase "These chains attack as effectively as the kyton itself" means it is a totally separate ability.
Thanks again for your help on this guys!
A kyton can control up to four chains within 20 feet as a standard action, making the chains dance or move as it wishes. In addition, a kyton can increase these chains’ length by up to 15 feet and cause them to sprout razor-edged barbs. These chains attack as effectively as the kyton itself.
Emphasis mine.
Feel free to rule it however you wish in your campaign, That is DM perogative :)
