A Monstrous Tree and Slam Attacks

[Garnfellow]

I'm doing another WD conversion -- this is a lorelei willow (original by Roger Moore) which is a giant evil willow tree.

This is a huge 7 HD plant with 15 ft. reach

Each round the willow should be able to use a slam attack against all creatures within its threatened area, but no creature should be targeted more than once. What is the best mechanic to capture this? Any precedent?

I see two possibilities:

(1) Give the willow 72 (!) slam attacks, one for each threatened square, with the restriction that no target can be subject to more than 1 attack per round; or

(2) Give the willow an area attack ability -- as a full round action, the willow lashes out at all creatures within its threatened area. It can make one slam attack at its full base attack bonus into any occupied square within reach. (So creatures occupying more than one square would be subject to more than one attack).

I strongly prefer the second option, as the cleanest mechanic. Any other ideas?

 

[Shade]

Couldn't you just give it Whirlwind Attack as a bonus feat?

 

[BOZ]

is movement required for whirlwind attack, or is that just for spring attack?

 

[Shade]

I think it will work:

"Benefit: When you use the full attack action, you can give up your regular attacks and instead make one melee attack at your full base attack bonus against each opponent within reach. When you use the Whirlwind Attack feat, you also forfeit any bonus or extra attacks granted by other feats, spells, or abilities."

 

[BOZ]

ah, that is a great feat. don't know why i don't use it more often!

 

[Garnfellow]

Whirlwind Attack as a bonus feat is probably the easiest way. My draft of the Lashing Branches ability pretty much mirrors the feat language.

However, the monster also has improved grab and constrict -- would it be unable to use these abilities? Are these technically "bonus or extra attacks granted by other feats, spells, or abilities"?

My rules-lawyer-fu is weak.

 

[Shade]

However, the monster also has improved grab and constrict -- would it be unable to use these abilities? Are these technically "bonus or extra attacks granted by other feats, spells, or abilities"?

I believe they can still be used. I belived the passage is referring to bonus attacks from haste, Rapid Shot, etc.

 

[BOZ]

i don't see why improved grab/constrict would not work (though you may have a limit on how many creatures on which it can use this ability at one time), though i'd say to maintain the grab in the following round, it would not be able to do a full attack (and thus not use whirlwind attack).

 

[Shade]

"Unless otherwise noted, improved grab works only against opponents at least one size category smaller than the creature. The creature has the option to conduct the grapple normally, or simply use the part of its body it used in the improved grab to hold the opponent. If it chooses to do the latter, it takes a –20 penalty on grapple checks, but is not considered grappled itself; the creature does not lose its Dexterity bonus to AC, still threatens an area, and can use its remaining attacks against other opponents."

Essentially, it can grapple as many creatures as can fit in its space, but it's going to take a -20 penalty on all grapple checks for each one after the 1st.

 

[BOZ]

lame!