DM question, need help with MM attacks

[RedSwan78]

Hey there all, I'm going to be running my first campaign as a DM and I have a question about the listings of monster's attacks. Here's what I'm troubled about, multiple attacks and such.

Take the Gargoyle for instance (MM1 page 94)

It's attacks are listed as: 2 claws +6 melee, bite +4 melee, gore +4 melee.

So it's first attack is 2 claws at +6 melee? So it can move it's movement and make it's first attack of "2 claws". If it did a full attack it would have 2 claws +6 melee, then it's remaining attacks are at -5, UNLESS it has Multi-attack feat, which the Gargoyle does so that lowers the penalty to -2, so I take it that is already represented by "bite +4 melee, gore +4 melee", those attacks are -2 from the primary.

So I understand that correctly, yes?

Here's the MAIN question I have, it's first attack. It's first attack says "2 claws +6 melee". Do I make ONE roll that represents it making an attack that comprises of 2 claws, and will only do a claw 1d4 dmg. OR, do I make TWO different claw attack rolls for it's "one primary attack" that if BOTH hit would do 2d4 dmg....?

Help!

 

[Ferox4]

You got it.

Roll the claw attacks separately.

And lastly, some unsolicited DM advice:

Be fair
Be firm
And always be prepared - write out battle plans, tactics; DCs for locks, traps, doors, saves; anything and everything to keep yourself from having to look stuff up during play. It can also be helpful to have a player help with initiative - keeping track of spell durations, delays, readied actions and what not. This has made our game run very smoothly. Good Luck and have a blast - "It's good to be king."

Cheers
F4

 

[Spatula]

Hey there all, I'm going to be running my first campaign as a DM and I have a question about the listings of monster's attacks. Here's what I'm troubled about, multiple attacks and such.

Take the Gargoyle for instance (MM1 page 94)

It's attacks are listed as: 2 claws +6 melee, bite +4 melee, gore +4 melee.

So it's first attack is 2 claws at +6 melee? So it can move it's movement and make it's first attack of "2 claws".

It gets one claw attack at +6 unless it takes a full attack. Barring spells/special abilities, you can never move and perform more than 1 attack.

If it did a full attack it would have 2 claws +6 melee, then it's remaining attacks are at -5, UNLESS it has Multi-attack feat, which the Gargoyle does so that lowers the penalty to -2, so I take it that is already represented by "bite +4 melee, gore +4 melee", those attacks are -2 from the primary.

Correct.

Here's the MAIN question I have, it's first attack. It's first attack says "2 claws +6 melee". Do I make ONE roll that represents it making an attack that comprises of 2 claws, and will only do a claw 1d4 dmg. OR, do I make TWO different claw attack rolls for it's "one primary attack" that if BOTH hit would do 2d4 dmg....?

On a full attack, a gargoyle gets 4 attacks: 2 claws, 1 bite, and 1 gore. Each claw does the listed claw damage. Some animals (like hawks, IIRC) have "claws +2" in which case there's only one attack roll. But "2 claws +2" is two attack rolls. The number in front is the number of attacks the creature can make with that weapon, at the listed bonus.

 

[dcollins]

So it's first attack is 2 claws at +6 melee? So it can move it's movement and make it's first attack of "2 claws".

No. If it moves normally then it gets 1 claw attack. It must take a full attack action to get anything more. See MM p. 7.

OR, do I make TWO different claw attack rolls for it's "one primary attack" that if BOTH hit would do 2d4 dmg....?

Yes. With the full attack action, you make 2 attack rolls, one for each claw. Each one can do its own 1d4 of damage (potentially 2d4 total).

 

[RedSwan78]

Very cool! Thanks for the quick, clear answers!

(and the advice, I'm willing to listen to any advice given! )

 

[Ferox4]

Out of curiousity, RedSwan, are you DMing a module or a home brew?