What does that last line entail, exactly?
When you use the Whirlwind Attack feat, you also forfeit any bonus or extra attacks granted by other feats, spells, or abilities.
I have a trip build around Whirlwind Attack, and I suddenly realised I've never read that last line. What does the "any bonus (...) granted by feats etc." mean? I can't make more attacks with Haste, that's obvious, but do I also lose to-hit bonuses? Is "bonus" part of the "extra attack" clause, or is it its own clause ("any bonus attacks and/or extra attacks" versus "any extra attacks and bonuses")? I've obviously spent a lot of feats and money into boosting my trip chance, but if those are all voided when I Whirlwind Attack, I pretty much only have my CMB left.
The language is unclear to me, and I'd like to make sure before I play this again.
If it said "bonuses or extra attacks" I'd say yes, you'd loss to-hit bonuses. Bonus, on the other hand, seems to imply things like bonus attacks from having a high base attack bonus.
So a 16th level fighter has to decide between two attack options, Whirlwind Attack or Full Attack.
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That line was added due to an exploit in earlier versions with the old version of Great Cleave - the idea was to run up to the BBEG, surround yourself with wimpy targets via summons or just dumping a bag of rats, then Whirlwind Attack all the enemies, Cleaving off each wimpy foe you dropped to get, say, 9 attacks all on the BBEG in one round.
The intention is that if you Whirlwind that's all your attacks.
haste, TWF, cleave, Flurry of blows, ki power for an extra attack, spellcombat, etc. All are spells, feats, or special abilities that give extra attacks. None of them work with whirlwind.
It's cause the language in these abilities is "make an extra attack in a full attack" or "you can make a bonus attack at full bab" so the language in whirlwind is written to cover both language styles.
haste, TWF, cleave, Flurry of blows, ki power for an extra attack, spellcombat, etc. All are spells, feats, or special abilities that give extra attacks. None of them work with whirlwind.
It's cause the language in these abilities is "make an extra attack in a full attack" or "you can make a bonus attack at full bab" so the language in whirlwind is written to cover both language styles.
This is where the disagreement comes in.
You are perfectly free to TWF during whirlwind, taking a penalty to hit on all your attacks. But you still only get 1 attack per target in range. TWF doesn't allow you to get any extra attacks beyond those 1 per target.
Likewise the monk could FoB to take a -2 to hit, but set BAB to monk level, but again, like TWF, you'd still only get 1 attack per target in range, and not any extra attacks beyond that.
Likewise spell combat may or may not generate an extra attack, depends on the spell. But there is a whole 'nother thread discussing that specifically if any care to see opinions on it.
I think the OP is more worried about the possible interpretation that "bonus" is referring the bonus to attack rolls. He is worried that if he has something like Weapon Focus(x) that he won't get the +1 to hit because Whirlwind Attack says you don't get bonus or extra attacks from other sources. He realizes that there is no way to get more attacks after using Whirlwind Attack. He just wants to be sure he gets all of his bonuses to hit with the attacks that Whirlwind Attack gives him.
I think the intent is that you can't get bonus attacks, i.e. more attacks from high BAB, or extra attacks from spells, feats, etc. and has nothing to do with bonuses applied to rolls.
I think the OP is more worried about the possible interpretation that "bonus" is referring the bonus to attack rolls. He is worried that if he has something like Weapon Focus(x) that he won't get the +1 to hit because Whirlwind Attack says you don't get bonus or extra attacks from other sources. He realizes that there is no way to get more attacks after using Whirlwind Attack. He just wants to be sure he gets all of his bonuses to hit with the attacks that Whirlwind Attack gives him.
Yes, exactly this. I'm in a fairly high-level group right now, and despite having Whirlwind Attack for 10 levels now, I've only just noticed that line there. My current to-trip after all my bonuses is +52, with some options to increase it even further, while my CMB is only 29. If all those bonuses fell off, my Whirlwind Attack trip routine would be a lot less effective.
I think the intent is that you can't get bonus attacks, i.e. more attacks from high BAB, or extra attacks from spells, feats, etc. and has nothing to do with bonuses applied to rolls.
Yeah, that's what I'm getting from this thread, thanks!
As for what my goal is, I'm trying to make area denial happen. I'm playing Rappan Athuk right now, where nearly every encounter has the potential for a TPK. I'm primarily going for area denial, with some damage dealing as a backup, but I'm not as good at that as the Paladin player, who crits way too often and has a ridiculous damage output. I'm just here to make sure the baddies won't be able to reach us, and incidentally deal some extra damage through Greater Trip. I could post a quick build, but it's mainly a Slayer build with a lot of trip feats and items. I'm pretty sure a Lore Warden would be even better at this, but I had some other duties that required me to go Slayer.
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Likewise spell combat may or may not generate an extra attack, depends on the spell. But there is a whole 'nother thread discussing that specifically if any care to see opinions on it.
I know that thread. Spell Combat allows for two actions that take the place of attacks, which has been pointed out by more than me in that thread. The two abilities do not mix, just like TWF, Haste extra attack and so on.
Each enemy within reach gets one roll for the Full Round Attack with Whirlwind. That is it.