Confusion with Behir Bolter Whelp Trait

[Stumblewyk]

I'm looking to use the Behir Bolter Whelp in an upcoming adventure session, but I have a question on it's mechanics in combat.

The creature possesses a trait called Lightning Reflexes which reads:

The behir bolter whelp acts three times in a round, on initiative counts 20, 15, and 5. It cannot delay or ready actions. On each turn, it has a standard action instead of the normal allotment of actions. It can use one immediate action between each pair of turns.

I take this to mean that if it wants to use a minor action, then it must spend a standard action to do so, on one of it's three turns/round. Same goes for a move action.

So...then why does the thing have any minor actions? It has a pretty cool minor action to charge and knock a target prone as a minor with a recharge (4, 5, 6). But it's not really a minor action, since it has to use one of it's three standards to use it, right?

In reality, it doesn't "act" on three initiative counts, as I'm reading Lightning Reflexes. It really has the standard array of actions, they're just all spread out over three turns each round. It's just extra flexible in how it can spend those actions (getting to take extra standards, instead of having to use a minor action).

Please tell me I'm wrong on this, and that there's been some errata I'm unaware of. This creature's action economy actual makes it feel slow, instead of fast and aggressive, as I'm thinking it's intended to feel.

 

[Joshua Randall]

I think you're reading it right -- knockdown rush may as well be a standard action.

But I disagree that the creature seems slow or weak. Being able to make 3 standard action attacks in a round is strong, even if it's just spamming claw attacks.

Also, its ability to use its immediate action between each pair of turns means it will be making (up to) an additional 2 claw attacks every round, assuming the PCs engage it in melee. So now it's up to 5 attacks in a round. That's a whirling storm of claw-y death.

 

[twilsemail]

I think that's up to 6 attacks, if I'm reading correctly. One interrupt between 20 and 15, one betweeon 15 and 5 and one between 5 and 20. This along with another possible three between its 3 standard actions.

 

[Stumblewyk]

I think that's up to 6 attacks, if I'm reading correctly. One interrupt between 20 and 15, one betweeon 15 and 5 and one between 5 and 20. This along with another possible three between its 3 standard actions.

Yeah, that's how I was reading the interrupts as well. Which does add to the number of attacks per round. I really just don't understand why they call Knockdown Rush a minor action. It should just be another standard. Calling it a minor confuses the issue, and makes my brain hurt trying to come up with fear-inducing uses for it. I guess it's just useful for closing a gap quickly, or getting to the backline casters.

 

[twilsemail]

Yeah, that's how I was reading the interrupts as well. Which does add to the number of attacks per round. I really just don't understand why they call Knockdown Rush a minor action. It should just be another standard. Calling it a minor confuses the issue, and makes my brain hurt trying to come up with fear-inducing uses for it. I guess it's just useful for closing a gap quickly, or getting to the backline casters.

There are Leaders out there that can grant actions other than standards. If one grants a move or minor to a BBW, then the Whelp can use the minor action off turn.

 

[MrMyth]

Yeah, that's how I was reading the interrupts as well. Which does add to the number of attacks per round. I really just don't understand why they call Knockdown Rush a minor action. It should just be another standard. Calling it a minor confuses the issue, and makes my brain hurt trying to come up with fear-inducing uses for it. I guess it's just useful for closing a gap quickly, or getting to the backline casters.

I'm guessing a previous version of the creature's design may have had a different 'multi-turn' mechanic, which involved minor actions. When they changed it to just standards and immediates, they didn't adjust the minor action power. Thus, the wonky but functional result we have now.