Multiple creature attacks

[SuspiciousHero]

Hello, I'm a total newbie to dm'ing and i'm still trying to get a grasp on the rules (specifically for combat)

I wanted to try an encounter with an ettercap

The melee section says: bite +5 (1d6+2 plus poison) and 2 claws +5 (1d4+2)

How exactly does the attack of this creature work?
The bite and claws are two separate attacks, but it says 2 claws. Does that get treated as 2 separate attacks or just 1? And if it is 2 attacks are there penalties or anything like that to take into account?
I know there's some sort of penalty for using two weapons as a pc but i wasn't sure if it was different for creatures or more specifically natural weapons

[VoodistMonk]

On its turn, it gets three attacks (bite/claw/claw), each at a +5 bonus to hit.

[SuspiciousHero]

VoodistMonk wrote:

On its turn, it gets three attacks (bite/claw/claw), each at a +5 bonus to hit.

Awesome, thank you!

So does that mean that it's all treated as 1 attack or is it 3?
And that would mean it also gets it's move action as well right?

It's treated differently from say an npc wielding two weapons right?

[MrCharisma]

It's treated as 3 attacks.

In order for a PC/NPC/Monster/whatever to make more than one attack they have to take a Full-Round-Action. This means that they do not get a move action or standard action. So if your monster wants to make all 3 attacks it can't move (except for a 5-foot-step).

There are exceptions to this rule, but they are very clearly spelled out.

[CBDunkerson]

If the Ettercap DOES move then it can still use a standard action to attack... but it only gets one attack. Most likely it would choose the bite.

[SuspiciousHero]

CBDunkerson wrote:

If the Ettercap DOES move then it can still use a standard action to attack... but it only gets one attack. Most likely it would choose the bite.

That clears it up very well, thank you!

[SuspiciousHero]

MrCharisma wrote:

It's treated as 3 attacks.

In order for a PC/NPC/Monster/whatever to make more than one attack they have to take a Full-Round-Action. This means that they do not get a move action or standard action. So if your monster wants to make all 3 attacks it can't move (except for a 5-foot-step).

There are exceptions to this rule, but they are very clearly spelled out.

Very helpful, thank you very much

[Magda Luckbender]

@ OP: You got some misleading answers! If and only if that ettercap is able to FULL ATTACK then it gets 3 attacks. If it takes a MOVE action then it only has a Standard Action left, which means only ONE ATTACK.

[Cavall]

Magda Luckbender wrote:

@ OP: You got some misleading answers! If and only if that ettercap is able to FULL ATTACK then it gets 3 attacks. If it takes a MOVE action then it only has a Standard Action left, which means only ONE ATTACK.

CBD and MrCharisma were very clear in their answers, which match yours. They were not slightly misleading. Even VoodistMonk made it clear its 3 attacks.

[MrCharisma]

I feel like I said that, but hey - if it wasn't clear then it is now.

It did also lead me back here, and this time eound I noticed this:

SuspiciousHero wrote:

It's treated differently from say an npc wielding two weapons right?

A PC/NPC wielding two weapons would get bonus attacks, but would also take penalties to all their attacks: SEE HERE.

A monster (or PC/NPC) with Natural Attacks does NOT take these penalties. If you're using a moster stat-block then don't worry about this level of detail, as the bonuses/penalties should already be included in their attack stats.

[Magda Luckbender]

Cavall wrote:

Magda Luckbender wrote:

@ OP: You got some misleading answers! If and only if that ettercap is able to FULL ATTACK then it gets 3 attacks. If it takes a MOVE action then it only has a Standard Action left, which means only ONE ATTACK.

CBD and MrCharisma were very clear in their answers, which match yours. They were not slightly misleading. Even VoodistMonk made it clear its 3 attacks.

They were, but not every answer was so clear. I've seen many novice and even not-so-novice GMs and players get this wrong.