Bloodstriker Special Attacks/Qualities [Archive] - Wizards Community

Bloodstriker Special Attacks/Qualities [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
LarryMac
07-14-07, 10:36 PM Can anyone offer an explanation as to why a Bloodstriker Dinosaur's (MM3) Blood Squirt ia an Extraordinary attack (and could therefore be used by a wildshaped Druid), but the Caustic Blood (which is directly derived from the acidic property of the blood) and Spiked Skin (again, a physical quality) are special qualities and can't be used in wildshape?
Morwen
07-15-07, 06:50 PM Umm.. All three abilities are Extraordinary abilities.
LarryMac
07-15-07, 07:39 PM Yes, but the spit attack is listed as an Extraordinary Special Attack (and therefore usable by somebody polymorphed into a Bloodstriker) while the other two are listed as Extraordinary Special Qualities (thereby lumping them in with Low-Light Vision, Blinsense and the like and NOT usable by a polymorphed/wildshaped character).
Morwen
07-15-07, 11:16 PM Well, special attacks are abilities the creature can use to actively attack someone. Special qualities are passive abilities.

That's why those two abilities are listed under special qualities rather than under special attacks; they're not forms of attack. Rather, they are defensive properties of the creature's skin/bones.

As for the reason why polymorphing/alternate form doesn't give you the special qualities of the creature you change form into, that's an altogether different question. It's probably to avoid PC-abuse of some of the more useful such qualities.
LarryMac
07-15-07, 11:30 PM Yeah, I figured as much. Even after decades of playing the game I still sometimes make the mistake of trying to apply logic to it. I figured that if a wildshaped druid could spit the acidic blood and cause damage then maybe the blood would still be acidic if an opponent damaged them in that form and the hide (which is still thick enough for some nice natural armor) would still be really pointy.

Eventually I'll learn. ;)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
LarryMac 07-14-07, 10:36 PM	Can anyone offer an explanation as to why a Bloodstriker Dinosaur's (MM3) Blood Squirt ia an Extraordinary attack (and could therefore be used by a wildshaped Druid), but the Caustic Blood (which is directly derived from the acidic property of the blood) and Spiked Skin (again, a physical quality) are special qualities and can't be used in wildshape?
Morwen 07-15-07, 06:50 PM	Umm.. All three abilities are Extraordinary abilities.
LarryMac 07-15-07, 07:39 PM	Yes, but the spit attack is listed as an Extraordinary Special Attack (and therefore usable by somebody polymorphed into a Bloodstriker) while the other two are listed as Extraordinary Special Qualities (thereby lumping them in with Low-Light Vision, Blinsense and the like and NOT usable by a polymorphed/wildshaped character).
Morwen 07-15-07, 11:16 PM	Well, special attacks are abilities the creature can use to actively attack someone. Special qualities are passive abilities. That's why those two abilities are listed under special qualities rather than under special attacks; they're not forms of attack. Rather, they are defensive properties of the creature's skin/bones. As for the reason why polymorphing/alternate form doesn't give you the special qualities of the creature you change form into, that's an altogether different question. It's probably to avoid PC-abuse of some of the more useful such qualities.
LarryMac 07-15-07, 11:30 PM	Yeah, I figured as much. Even after decades of playing the game I still sometimes make the mistake of trying to apply logic to it. I figured that if a wildshaped druid could spit the acidic blood and cause damage then maybe the blood would still be acidic if an opponent damaged them in that form and the hide (which is still thick enough for some nice natural armor) would still be really pointy. Eventually I'll learn. ;)