Can a sword and shield fighter make a natural weapon slam attack in the same round?

[Asmor]

Kobolds have tails?!?

I think a kick makes perfect sense, and it's what I've been picturing all along...

A bit of sword play, see an opening, lean back a bit to balance yourself as you raise your leading leg up, and then thrust it forward, hitting them in the chest with the sole of your foot.

 

[Diirk]

I think a kick makes perfect sense, and it's what I've been picturing all along...

A bit of sword play, see an opening, lean back a bit to balance yourself as you raise your leading leg up, and then thrust it forward, hitting them in the chest with the sole of your foot.

Which would be an unarmed strike.

 

[Angrygodofmilk]

So what I'm gathering is that while a leg is, by all definitions of the word, an appendage, there are no "existing" examples of a creature using their leg to "kick" slam damage? There are, however, many examples of an arm being used to "punch/whack/wallop" slam damage.

Right from the start, I imagined that after swinging a one-handed weapon I could slam with the elbow of that same arm using a reverse swing. Correct me if I am wrong, but that seems to fulfill the existing "must be an arm appendage" examples.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Generally, when you use a particular part of your body to perform an attack with a manufactured or natural weapon, you can't use it to perform the other.

For instance, a character with a sword in-hand cannot use that arm to make claw attacks.

So, step 1 would be to determine how that creature gets its natural weapon attack. IMG, I allowed warforged to use a generic "body check" to perform their slam, and it was therefore useable even if the 'forged in question was using both hands on their weapon and / or shield.

 

[Angrygodofmilk]

IMG, I allowed warforged to use a generic "body check" to perform their slam, and it was therefore useable even if the 'forged in question was using both hands on their weapon and / or shield.

Oooo! Body slam! I hadn't even considered that possibility. Are there any existing creatures that use a body slam?

 

[blargney the second]

That was my thinking too, Patryn.
-blarg

 

[Angrygodofmilk]

A dragon can slam with their wings. Is a kick slam really that unusual?

 

[Infiniti2000]

Generally, when you use a particular part of your body to perform an attack with a manufactured or natural weapon, you can't use it to perform the other.

I don't agree since it depends on the weapon. If I had a slam attack and a dagger in my hand, can I still slam if I decided not to make a dagger attack, without dropping/sheathing the dagger?

For instance, a character with a sword in-hand cannot use that arm to make claw attacks.

For this discussion, a claw attack may be different than a slam because it specifically requires ripping with a sharp appendage. If the sharp part of the appendage is wrapped around a dagger then maybe not.

 

[Zurai]

But as already mentioned - all the books and examples all seem to assume slams are arms.

As mentioned, dragons can slam with their wings (or tail, I believe?). All (almost all?) oozes get slam attacks as well. There's plenty of precedent for non-arm slams.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

I don't agree since it depends on the weapon.

You don't agree with the process, or you don't agree with the conclusion?

Considering I never offered a conclusion, you must be disagreeing with the process.

If I had a slam attack and a dagger in my hand, can I still slam if I decided not to make a dagger attack, without dropping/sheathing the dagger?

Hence, "So, step 1 would be to determine how that creature gets its natural weapon attack."

If you decide that you need a hand free in order to perform a slam attack, then you can't slam if your hands are busy. (Dagger in hand = no slam attack with that arm.)

If you decide that you need only not attack with a particular limb in order to perform a slam attack, then you can't slam if you used that limb for something else. (Attack with dagger in hand = no slam attack with that arm.)

I'd have no issue if a DM said, "In order to use your slam attack, you must have your hand free." I'd similarly have no issue if a DM said, "In order to use your slam attack, you can't attack with that arm at all otherwise." I'd similarly have no issue if a DM said, "In order to use your slam attack, you just have to describe it appropriately based on how you're currently fighting."

IMG, I decided that a warforged didn't need any hands free in order to use his or her slam attack.