Improvised Bite Attack - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Improvised Bite Attack

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
valentein
Sep 02, 2008 12:26:57 Has anyone else wanted to rule something like this? I'd like to see humans having an "improvised bite attack" that deals very little (possibly nonlethal) damage, but still counts as "having a bite attack" for prerequisites for things like the Acidic Saliva mutation. My initial thought was the attack taken at a -4 penalty (like other improvised weapons, due to nonproficiency) dealing 1 or 1d2 damage. I'm not sure on adding the Strength bonus, and whether it'd be lethal or nonlethal damage. Perhaps nonlethal at -4 and the option of making the damage lethal at -8. If anyone else has come up with smoother rules for this, I'd be glad to hear them! Thanks.
#2
tema69
Sep 02, 2008 15:28:04 One could rule a -4 (improvised weapon). But then again, normally, you are proficient in your own natural attacks.
Then one could rule a -5 (secondary attack) or something.

Remembering D&D rules about stuff like that, I'd say -5 (secondary attack), 1d3+1/2 Str Lethal Damage. And, of course, an AoO is in order.

Perhaps, the attacker must be in the same square as the target (grappling?).
#3
Master_Vega
Sep 02, 2008 22:52:40 I dunno about 1/2 strength for damage, the human jaw is strong. Most people just aren't trying to take a chunk out of whoever they're biting (eww...) I'd rule the target must be in grapple with the character, but then the damage dealt by a bite is 1d3+str.
#4
valentein
Sep 03, 2008 1:16:52 Aha, secondary attack. Didn't think of that one. I had also thought about the restriction of being in the same square (grappling), but that doesn't apply to any other bite attacks, even those of humanoid creatures like vampires where (I don't think...) the presence of vampiric fangs would make it any easier to bite someone, just make the resulting bite do more damage.
#5
tema69
Sep 03, 2008 2:40:42 Well, I'd rule that the head doesn't have reach, and must thus be in the same square as the target.
Also, the human jaw might be strong, but not nearly as strong as a punch or a kick. You can't jaw open a door, can you? :D
The 1/2 Str also comes from the many 1/2 Str added to a lot of secondary attacks, incl. bite ones.
#6
Master_Vega
Sep 03, 2008 11:27:47 Um, Tema, I'm pretty sure bites are 1+1/2 strength, but let me go check.

Ah, I see. Bites are usually primaries, and thus typically gain the 1+1/2str bonus. Got it.

Anyhow, I could open a door with my jaw, given there was a handle for my jaw to fit, and a method for getting aforementioned jaw out of the path of the door. Apparently the jaw has one of the strongest muscles in the human body behind it, exerting up to ~270lbs in force (on a small area, too. ) when closing.

Your punches and kicks can't crunch a jawbreaker, can they? ;)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 valentein Sep 02, 2008 12:26:57	Has anyone else wanted to rule something like this? I'd like to see humans having an "improvised bite attack" that deals very little (possibly nonlethal) damage, but still counts as "having a bite attack" for prerequisites for things like the Acidic Saliva mutation. My initial thought was the attack taken at a -4 penalty (like other improvised weapons, due to nonproficiency) dealing 1 or 1d2 damage. I'm not sure on adding the Strength bonus, and whether it'd be lethal or nonlethal damage. Perhaps nonlethal at -4 and the option of making the damage lethal at -8. If anyone else has come up with smoother rules for this, I'd be glad to hear them! Thanks.
#2 tema69 Sep 02, 2008 15:28:04	One could rule a -4 (improvised weapon). But then again, normally, you are proficient in your own natural attacks. Then one could rule a -5 (secondary attack) or something. Remembering D&D rules about stuff like that, I'd say -5 (secondary attack), 1d3+1/2 Str Lethal Damage. And, of course, an AoO is in order. Perhaps, the attacker must be in the same square as the target (grappling?).
#3 Master_Vega Sep 02, 2008 22:52:40	I dunno about 1/2 strength for damage, the human jaw is strong. Most people just aren't trying to take a chunk out of whoever they're biting (eww...) I'd rule the target must be in grapple with the character, but then the damage dealt by a bite is 1d3+str.
#4 valentein Sep 03, 2008 1:16:52	Aha, secondary attack. Didn't think of that one. I had also thought about the restriction of being in the same square (grappling), but that doesn't apply to any other bite attacks, even those of humanoid creatures like vampires where (I don't think...) the presence of vampiric fangs would make it any easier to bite someone, just make the resulting bite do more damage.
#5 tema69 Sep 03, 2008 2:40:42	Well, I'd rule that the head doesn't have reach, and must thus be in the same square as the target. Also, the human jaw might be strong, but not nearly as strong as a punch or a kick. You can't jaw open a door, can you? :D The 1/2 Str also comes from the many 1/2 Str added to a lot of secondary attacks, incl. bite ones.
#6 Master_Vega Sep 03, 2008 11:27:47	Um, Tema, I'm pretty sure bites are 1+1/2 strength, but let me go check. Ah, I see. Bites are usually primaries, and thus typically gain the 1+1/2str bonus. Got it. Anyhow, I could open a door with my jaw, given there was a handle for my jaw to fit, and a method for getting aforementioned jaw out of the path of the door. Apparently the jaw has one of the strongest muscles in the human body behind it, exerting up to ~270lbs in force (on a small area, too. ) when closing. Your punches and kicks can't crunch a jawbreaker, can they? ;)