Seaweed Leshy (Monster) and others Underwater things


Rules Discussion


Hello,

I recently play a one shot with Aquatic Combat and something feel weird with the Seaweed Leshy in Bestiary 3

This creature is Amphibious and can live underwater and it have a ranged bludgeoning attack called Water Jet
In Aquatic Combat Rules, it says "Ranged attacks that deal bludgeoning or slashing damage automatically miss if the attacker or target is underwater [...]"
So ... Seaweed Leshy can't use Water Jet underwater ? It seems a bit weird no ?
Same things for Grodair from Bestiary 2

For the Creature Vaspercham from Bestiary 2, it have "Water Blast" ability who is a ranged bludgeoning attack but this time it's magical and have water trait.

So, does Seaweed Leshy and Grodair can do their Water Jet attack even underwater and does magical or water trait attack work underwater even if it's deal bludgeoning damage (like Hydraulic push) ?

Sovereign Court

The amphibious trait mentions it doesn't take the -2 penalty underwater for bludgeoning and slashing damage. It doesn't mention ranged attacks, but I would presume that it would negate the cannot attack and the people that made them thought the trait did negate it.

Unless someone else finds something more specific.

Horizon Hunters

Always assume creatures can use everything in their stat blocks. A Dragon Turtle has a Steam Breath attack, which has the Fire trait, which means it won't work underwater, which makes no sense. Why would an aquatic creature have an ability that doesn't work underwater?

Answer: They don't. The rules don't apply to monsters in the same way it applies to PCs. If it's in their stat block, they can use it in their preferred environment just fine.


Raw it seems that amphibious trait gives you the marauder skill feat for free. That's all.

No ranges attacks or anything else.

I don't find it strange though.
Having one attack doesn't meant it is supposed to work in any environment.

And being amphibious means being able to move inside and outside a water environment.

This obviously for what concerns melee/ranged combat within an aquatic environment.

As for the steam breath cordell mentioned, I am inclined to think he's right.

Undine characters have a lvl 5 ancestry metamagic feat which transform fire spells into steam, being able to be cast underwater.

I'd allow it, though by raw the fire trait is clear.

...

On a second thought, I see the dragon turtle breath says

" This steam blast affects creatures within the water, as well as outside. "

So specific rules over general.
The monster ability is perfectly written.


Thanks for the responses ;)

So Amphibious creature who have a bludgeoning range attack should not use them underwater unless it's specified


It's probably meant as a pop head above water, shoot guy swimming/on dry land attack?

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