DND_Reborn
The High Aldwin
Don't know if this is addressed anywhere, but I didn't see it in the MM errata.
Why are some creatures natural weapon attacks considered STR and others are DEX?
For example, a wolf has STR 12 and DEX 15, its attack is:
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: (2d4 + 2) piercing damage.
Where as a dire wolf has STR 17 and DEX 15, with its attack as:
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: (2d6 + 3) piercing damage.
Both also carry the knock prone rider as well.
But, this means the wolf is using DEX as where the dire wolf is using STR. You see this in both the attack bonus as the damage bonus.
My question is why?
Is this yet another way in which 5E has its inconsistencies?
I consider these natural attacks equivalent to unarmed strikes in a way and of course unarmed strikes use STR, not DEX (unless you are a monk or something...). A Bite attack is hardly anything akin to a finesse weapon so why use DEX for a wolf but STR for a dire wolf (just a large wolf really)?
Yeah, I know some people will reply these are monsters yadda yadda yadda and don't have to follow the same rules as PCs, blah blah blah. But as a DM if I am making one monster and then another, what justifcation can I have to using STR in one case but DEX in, practically, an identical case?
Have these types of issues been addressed anywhere?
EDIT:
The reason I am posting about this is because new players in our group don't understand that "the DM can design things how they want" and often wonder is it an error in the stat block or on purpose? The Ghast bite as is mentioned below: intentional or an error? The wolf bite: intentional or an error? There are a lot of errors in the MM that have been fixed in the errata so wondering if there are still more is understandable, especially when the printed books our group bought within the last year still have those errors. This also came up when some party members got riding horses but one a warhorse (both stat blocks have errors BTW in the errata).
Why are some creatures natural weapon attacks considered STR and others are DEX?
For example, a wolf has STR 12 and DEX 15, its attack is:
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: (2d4 + 2) piercing damage.
Where as a dire wolf has STR 17 and DEX 15, with its attack as:
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: (2d6 + 3) piercing damage.
Both also carry the knock prone rider as well.
But, this means the wolf is using DEX as where the dire wolf is using STR. You see this in both the attack bonus as the damage bonus.
My question is why?
Is this yet another way in which 5E has its inconsistencies?
I consider these natural attacks equivalent to unarmed strikes in a way and of course unarmed strikes use STR, not DEX (unless you are a monk or something...). A Bite attack is hardly anything akin to a finesse weapon so why use DEX for a wolf but STR for a dire wolf (just a large wolf really)?
Yeah, I know some people will reply these are monsters yadda yadda yadda and don't have to follow the same rules as PCs, blah blah blah. But as a DM if I am making one monster and then another, what justifcation can I have to using STR in one case but DEX in, practically, an identical case?
Have these types of issues been addressed anywhere?
EDIT:
The reason I am posting about this is because new players in our group don't understand that "the DM can design things how they want" and often wonder is it an error in the stat block or on purpose? The Ghast bite as is mentioned below: intentional or an error? The wolf bite: intentional or an error? There are a lot of errors in the MM that have been fixed in the errata so wondering if there are still more is understandable, especially when the printed books our group bought within the last year still have those errors. This also came up when some party members got riding horses but one a warhorse (both stat blocks have errors BTW in the errata).
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