Tome of Battle & creatures with natural attacks [Archive] - Wizards Community

Tome of Battle & creatures with natural attacks [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Saragon42
11-06-07, 11:45 AM I've got an idea for an awakened deinonychus or clawfoot PC for an Eberron game -- very intelligent and prefers tactical combat over raw power. I'd like to make him a Warblade to reflect that; unfortunately, the only martial school that has any natural attack listed as a weapon is Tiger Claw, which offers "claw" as an option. Are there any ways around this? Are these weapon lists binding for that school, or do they only apply to the feats associated with that school?

On a related note, what are the rules for determining the level adjustment for a magical beast or the like?
CryoSilver
11-06-07, 11:46 AM Preferred weapons almost never matter; you can use any weapon with any maneuver, for the most part.
Salla
11-06-07, 12:00 PM Preferred weapons almost never matter; you can use any weapon with any maneuver, for the most part.

To detail ...

Unless a specific maneuver or feat specifies that it requires a preferred weapon (see, for example, the Shadow Blade or Blade Meditation feats), then what weapon you use doesn't matter. You can most assuredly use your claws with non-Tiger Claw maneuvers. :)
Saragon42
11-06-07, 05:46 PM Excellent! That will make things much easier -- much appreciated.

Now, the other question I had: If I were putting this awakened dinosaur into a game I was running (rather than playing it myself), how would I figure out its ECL? I don't own Savage Species, but a friend of mine who does own it couldn't come up with much from that book -- calling it an anthropomorphic animal seemed to give an awakened deinonychus (a 6HD creature with pounce) only two monster levels, and an awakened clawfoot (4HD) only one level. Either we're badly misreading the book or this isn't the right way to go.

As a rough DM-fiat guess, I'd give an awakened deinonychus a level adjustment of +3 -- 6HD, pounce, big stat boosts, speed, and an above-average Int score seem to warrant it, but it doesn't have any Ex, Su, or spell-like abilities other than pounce. The clawfoot, with its much-reduced stats and attacks, feels like it should be right in the middle of +1 and +2 -- but again, these are judgement calls by an inexperienced DM, not a good calculation. Any suggestions on how to do this better?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Saragon42 11-06-07, 11:45 AM	I've got an idea for an awakened deinonychus or clawfoot PC for an Eberron game -- very intelligent and prefers tactical combat over raw power. I'd like to make him a Warblade to reflect that; unfortunately, the only martial school that has any natural attack listed as a weapon is Tiger Claw, which offers "claw" as an option. Are there any ways around this? Are these weapon lists binding for that school, or do they only apply to the feats associated with that school? On a related note, what are the rules for determining the level adjustment for a magical beast or the like?
CryoSilver 11-06-07, 11:46 AM	Preferred weapons almost never matter; you can use any weapon with any maneuver, for the most part.
Salla 11-06-07, 12:00 PM	Preferred weapons almost never matter; you can use any weapon with any maneuver, for the most part. To detail ... Unless a specific maneuver or feat specifies that it requires a preferred weapon (see, for example, the Shadow Blade or Blade Meditation feats), then what weapon you use doesn't matter. You can most assuredly use your claws with non-Tiger Claw maneuvers. :)
Saragon42 11-06-07, 05:46 PM	Excellent! That will make things much easier -- much appreciated. Now, the other question I had: If I were putting this awakened dinosaur into a game I was running (rather than playing it myself), how would I figure out its ECL? I don't own Savage Species, but a friend of mine who does own it couldn't come up with much from that book -- calling it an anthropomorphic animal seemed to give an awakened deinonychus (a 6HD creature with pounce) only two monster levels, and an awakened clawfoot (4HD) only one level. Either we're badly misreading the book or this isn't the right way to go. As a rough DM-fiat guess, I'd give an awakened deinonychus a level adjustment of +3 -- 6HD, pounce, big stat boosts, speed, and an above-average Int score seem to warrant it, but it doesn't have any Ex, Su, or spell-like abilities other than pounce. The clawfoot, with its much-reduced stats and attacks, feels like it should be right in the middle of +1 and +2 -- but again, these are judgement calls by an inexperienced DM, not a good calculation. Any suggestions on how to do this better?