5-foot step and Huge Monsters

[Random Axe]

In fully generic terms:
A PC with BAB +7/+2 can make two attacks in one round if his only move is a 5' step. If he moves 10' or greater, he can only make one attack.

What about a Huge size monster? Is a Huge creature (Space/Reach is 15/10) also limited to a 5' step in order to make a full attack? Or is it able to move a greater distance proportional to its size while still enjoying the benefit of a multiple attack?

 

[blargney the second]

Only 5 feet. I wish it was called a one-base step. *le sigh*

 

[lukelightning]

"Step" is a metaphor. It's a 5' position adjustment. Don't picture one physical step.

 

[frankthedm]

Yep. It is bad enough the game rigs too many creature's movement speeds to be on par with slow humans, but then they make a medium bases' adjustment the defayult for every size.

 

[Nail]

Is a Huge creature (Space/Reach is 15/10) also limited to a 5' step in order to make a full attack?

Yes.

A creatures size (or movement rate!) has no effect on the "5-foot step"...unless the creature's movment rate is normally 5 feet or less.

The 5-foot step is a "adjustment", rather than an actual step. It's not about how long your legs are.

 

[phindar]

Yeah, I like the Single Step rule in which each size cat's free move is the size of its base. I've never been wild that a Tiny housecat, a Large dire lion and a Colossal cat all make the same position adjustment of 5', but changing has a pretty big impact on the way the game is played.

It makes big creatures scarier and they more easily dominate in melee, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. (I mean, it is for the smaller opponents, but then that's the point.) To me, it has a more Sword-and-Sorcery feel to it, where an ogre is a terrifying sight to behold.

 

[Erywin]

I definitely like your idea phinder, I too like the idea of larger monsters actually being more formidable in melee Maybe I will try out a new game with this house rule

 

[Korak]

Feel free to playtest it, but I think you'll find that huge and larger creatures will get full attacks much more often, and that spring attack will no longer be much of a tool for keeping a safe distance. Think about the enlarged fighter standing adjacent to his huge sized mount, quick mounting, having the mount 15' step, and quick dismounting on the diagonal. The fighter could travel 60' and still full attack.

 

[lukelightning]

I definitely like your idea phinder, I too like the idea of larger monsters actually being more formidable in melee Maybe I will try out a new game with this house rule

I think this is a bad bad bad idea. Larger monsters are already more dangerous, with their reach and (often) high strength and damage output. Now you can have an 8-headed hydra make 8 attacks on someone and then move 15 feet away...anyone who tries to close will get 8 attacks of opportunity. Game over, no fun.

 

[phindar]

As an idea, I don't think its inherently good or bad. I think it has applications. But I'd agree its a substantial change to the combat system. D&D is probably the best system out there for getting into a boxing match with Godzilla. Size and speed tend to break down at the extremes anyway. The tarrasque can't even get out of its own footprint with a single move (30' base, 20' move).

The 5' Step is an essential abstraction to D&D combat as written. That's not to say there's no benefit to exploring alternatives. In an S&S style game, fighting a Tyrannosaurus migh tbe considered an epic encounter. Trying to kill that monster from Jurassic park in a toe to toe fight with nothing more than a yard of edged steel does seem like a type of insanity that the D&D rules don't really reflect.