AoOs for creatures w/ multiple appendeges

[TrizzlWizzl]

If a creature has a primary attack with multiple appendeges, how many does it get to use for it's Attack of Opportunity?

For example, would running up to a Girallon provoke 4 claw attacks (his primary attack), or just one? Or some other number?

I really can't believe I don't know this. I've always assumed a creautre attacks with the whole primary attack (8 tentecles, 4 claws, etc.), but now I'm not so sure...

My game is in two hours and I'd really like to get this sorted out before then... please help!

P.S. If when responding you could also site the location of the rule, that'd be cool... thanks!

P.P.S. I apologize if this is a repeat, but the board seems to be acting screwy...

 

[Dark Ranger]

HI!
On pg 122 of the PHB it states:

'An attack of opportunity is a single melee attack, and you can only make one per round.'

Combat reflexes gives you additional AoOs but only against different targets.

 

[Gromm]

The only exception to this rule that I know of is the hydra, which has the confusing sentence along the lines of "because of their Combat Reflexes hydras can use all their heads in AoOs."
Its a hydra ability, not a CR ability.

 

[dr_nukem]

You could probably get away with a house rule to the effect that if a monster has Combat Reflexs then they can use all of their natural attacks as an AoO.

Of course, this does open a door for *any*thing that has natural attacks (Monk?) to get their full attack as an AoO.

Better off not going there...

 

[Celebrim]

I've always assumed that the sentence about Hydra's Combat Reflexes meant that they got one AoO per head rather than the usual of 1 plus thier DEX bonus (Hydra's don't have a DEX bonus). Regardless, an AoO is one melee attack, and a creature may only make one AoO against any given foe in a single round no matter how many AoO they provoke.

Therefore Hydras cannot use every head to bite a person that provokes an AoO from them. However, if seven people provoke an AoO from a seven headed hydra, each is attacked. The eighth can take the run action with fear.

I personally think that WotC should have separated the Hydra's special feat from Combat Reflexes, and called it something like Multi-Reflexes.

Multi-Reflexes (Monster)
You have more than one independently functioning head.
Prerequisite: More than one head.
Benefit: You may make up to one additional AoO per additional head you have per round. Each attack of opportunity must be with a different appendage, and that appendage must threaten the target of the AoO. For these purposes, appendages include arms, tentacles, heads with effective bite attacks, and legs with effective claw attacks. This benefit stacks with combat reflexes.
Example: If you have two heads, a 15 dex, and both Multi-Reflexes and Combat Reflexes, you can make 4 AoO per round (1 normal, +2 for Dex bonus +2, +1 for the second head).