dharkus |
trying to work something out: how multiple att penalty interacts with monsters if they have multiple options to att. If there's something specific to Monsters for multiple attacks I haven't yet found it.
Multiple Attack Penalty
The more attacks you make beyond your first in a single turn, the less accurate you become, represented by the multiple attack penalty. The second time you use an attack action during your turn, you take a –5 penalty to your attack roll. The third time you attack, and on any subsequent attacks, you take a –10 penalty to your attack roll. Every check that has the attack trait counts toward your multiple attack penalty, including Strikes, spell attack rolls, certain skill actions like Shove, and many others.
say the vrock (Bestiary pg 78) which has 3 different att options (all agile which means penalty is -4, -8 if it applies)
These are (without extra irrelevant stuff):Beak:+21
Claw: +21
Talon: +19
does this mean you could do the 3 atts (assuming you don't move etc. so got 3 actions) at Beak +21, claw +17, talon +11? or if you wanted (for better dmg) beak x3 at +21, +17, +13?
all the core book bits on attacks mention only melee weapons or unarmed for melee attacks
And for the monster right above: Succubus, with just 1 att (again agile):
Claw: +16
So with 3 available actions, could you do 3 attacks with +16, +12, +8?
Another Option would be do do it as PF1e does, where you just do all attacks at listed bonus, so Vrock you'd do Beak +21, Claw +21, Talon +19; and sucubus you'd only ever do 1 att that does dmg, at +16 - seems unlikely this is how it works as PF2 works quite differently
Please in all answers quote the rule bit and/or give pg ref so I and others can look it up too
HammerJack |
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You already quoted the necessary rule bit, from page 446. Monster attacks don't have a rule that they don't follow that, and there isn't a page reference for rules that aren't in the game.
dharkus |
Monsters use MAP same as players.
if that's the case, why would you ever use the other attacks for the vrock example above, 1 att has higher dmg than the others, and one even is less accurate! Talon would only be used for the AoO, and maybe the claw as it's agile and beak isn't? so you've gotta make choice between +21, +16, +11 3d8 or +21,+17,+13 3d6
painted_green |
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You already answered your own question. The lesser damage for the claw may be acceptable in return for a higher hit chance on the second or third hit, and the talons are relevant for the AoO feature.
There are many examples in the Bestiary of attacks which are worse at face value but either have beneficial traits or are used for some other feature of the monster in question. As another example, the giant stag beetle's foot attack is strictly worse than its mandibles, but is used for its Trample feature.
The Gleeful Grognard |
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The Gleeful Grognard wrote:Monsters use MAP same as players.if that's the case, why would you ever use the other attacks for the vrock example above, 1 att has higher dmg than the others, and one even is less accurate! Talon would only be used for the AoO, and maybe the claw as it's agile and beak isn't? so you've gotta make choice between +21, +16, +11 3d8 or +21,+17,+13 3d6
Because it might not always have access to it's beak/claw attack and using its foot is a better option.
Because it's Opportunity attack states
"Attack of Opportunity [reaction] If the vrock is flying and a creature triggers an attack of opportunity, the vrock can make 2 Strikes with its talons against that creature instead of 1 Strike." and two attacks 2d6+8 are better than one attack 3d6+9 or 3d8+9.
And finally because it is a roleplaying game and it can be thematically interesting to roleplay a monster's actions rather than taking the most optimal route to annihilate a player at every turn.
So in summary
Beak is good for the opening attack
Claw is good for getting second and third strikes
Talon is good for when you are making AoO and are flying
Each option is good in case the creature gets incapacitated or loses access to another option.
Xenocrat |
The Gleeful Grognard wrote:Monsters use MAP same as players.if that's the case, why would you ever use the other attacks for the vrock example above, 1 att has higher dmg than the others, and one even is less accurate! Talon would only be used for the AoO, and maybe the claw as it's agile and beak isn't? so you've gotta make choice between +21, +16, +11 3d8 or +21,+17,+13 3d6
That's the second time you've answered your own question.
Red Metal |
The Gleeful Grognard wrote:Monsters use MAP same as players.if that's the case, why would you ever use the other attacks for the vrock example above, 1 att has higher dmg than the others, and one even is less accurate! Talon would only be used for the AoO, and maybe the claw as it's agile and beak isn't? so you've gotta make choice between +21, +16, +11 3d8 or +21,+17,+13 3d6
You can also do beak claw claw for +21 3d8, +17 3d6, +13 3d6