Base Attack Bonus and Monsters [Archive] - Wizards Community

Base Attack Bonus and Monsters [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
windquake
10-17-04, 11:37 PM The issue was this: Does a monster that has a BAB (Base Attack Bonus) of +6 or higher, get extra attacks, as the classes do?

My first thought was to check out the Monster Manual. Reading the Full Attack description of monsters, it states that "...shows all the physical attacks the crature makes when it uses a full-round action..." and "It gives the number of attacks along with the weapon, attack bonus, and form of attack." In those entries, the monsters that have one mode of attack, such as the Monsterous Spider, Colossal. This monster has a BAB of +24, however the Full Attack listing only lists a single attack, "1 Bite", same as the Tiny version of the same monster.

I then went to the back of the Monster Manual, where it talks about advancing monsters. It talks about advancing a Otyugh from 6HD to 15 HD. The 6 HD Otyugh has a BAB of +4, and lists its full attack as 2 tentacles and a bite. The 15 HD Otyugh has a BAB of +11, however the full attack listing is the same, 2 tentacles and a bite.

I went to the Player's Handbook, because I figured I should research the rule on when additional attacks are granted. The listing under Base Attack bonus says "Numbers after the slash indicate additional attacks at reduced bonuses: +12/+7/+2 means three attacks per round." But it never blanketly says that when you reach +6 BAB, no matter what, you get an additional attack.

On the flip side, all monsters run their BAB on the same tables characters do, and so, should they be benefactors of the additional attacks?

For example, a creature such as the Monsterous Spider, Colossal, whose BAB is +24, should it get 4 bites a round, during a full attack action, such as +24/+19/+14/+9?

So what do you think, and why?

Thanks!

-Windquake
m00
10-17-04, 11:43 PM Creatures with natural attacks do not get iterative attacks. However, creatures that are using manufactured weapons and have high base attack bonuses do get iterative attacks.

From the SRD:
Natural Weapons: Natural weapons are weapons that are physically a part of a creature. A creature making a melee attack with a natural weapon is considered armed and does not provoke attacks of opportunity. Likewise, it threatens any space it can reach. Creatures do not receive additional attacks from a high base attack bonus when using natural weapons. The number of attacks a creature can make with its natural weapons depends on the type of the attack-generally, a creature can make one bite attack, one attack per claw or tentacle, one gore attack, one sting attack, or one slam attack (although Large creatures with arms or arm-like limbs can make a slam attack with each arm). Refer to the individual monster descriptions.
windquake
10-18-04, 12:02 AM Ah. I didn't think of looking under "Natural Weapons" but I see it now.

Thanks. That confirms my thoughts on the matter.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
windquake 10-17-04, 11:37 PM	The issue was this: Does a monster that has a BAB (Base Attack Bonus) of +6 or higher, get extra attacks, as the classes do? My first thought was to check out the Monster Manual. Reading the Full Attack description of monsters, it states that "...shows all the physical attacks the crature makes when it uses a full-round action..." and "It gives the number of attacks along with the weapon, attack bonus, and form of attack." In those entries, the monsters that have one mode of attack, such as the Monsterous Spider, Colossal. This monster has a BAB of +24, however the Full Attack listing only lists a single attack, "1 Bite", same as the Tiny version of the same monster. I then went to the back of the Monster Manual, where it talks about advancing monsters. It talks about advancing a Otyugh from 6HD to 15 HD. The 6 HD Otyugh has a BAB of +4, and lists its full attack as 2 tentacles and a bite. The 15 HD Otyugh has a BAB of +11, however the full attack listing is the same, 2 tentacles and a bite. I went to the Player's Handbook, because I figured I should research the rule on when additional attacks are granted. The listing under Base Attack bonus says "Numbers after the slash indicate additional attacks at reduced bonuses: +12/+7/+2 means three attacks per round." But it never blanketly says that when you reach +6 BAB, no matter what, you get an additional attack. On the flip side, all monsters run their BAB on the same tables characters do, and so, should they be benefactors of the additional attacks? For example, a creature such as the Monsterous Spider, Colossal, whose BAB is +24, should it get 4 bites a round, during a full attack action, such as +24/+19/+14/+9? So what do you think, and why? Thanks! -Windquake
m00 10-17-04, 11:43 PM	Creatures with natural attacks do not get iterative attacks. However, creatures that are using manufactured weapons and have high base attack bonuses do get iterative attacks. From the SRD: Natural Weapons: Natural weapons are weapons that are physically a part of a creature. A creature making a melee attack with a natural weapon is considered armed and does not provoke attacks of opportunity. Likewise, it threatens any space it can reach. Creatures do not receive additional attacks from a high base attack bonus when using natural weapons. The number of attacks a creature can make with its natural weapons depends on the type of the attack-generally, a creature can make one bite attack, one attack per claw or tentacle, one gore attack, one sting attack, or one slam attack (although Large creatures with arms or arm-like limbs can make a slam attack with each arm). Refer to the individual monster descriptions.
windquake 10-18-04, 12:02 AM	Ah. I didn't think of looking under "Natural Weapons" but I see it now. Thanks. That confirms my thoughts on the matter.