Improved Trample Ability

[Garnfellow]

The recent WotC 3.5 conversion of the Tomb of Horrors had this treatment of the infamous juggernaut:

Stone Juggernaut, Stone Golem (1): hp 107; juggernaut trample attack instead of slam attacks (juggernaut gets +5 on all trample-related checks, has Improved Trample, on successful trample attack [trample succeeds if not blocked; see page 157 of Players Handbook], juggernaut automatically deals 2d10+18 points of damage in the restricted narrows of the corridor); see page 136 Monster Manual for other stats.

I'm trying to understand what improved trample does that normal trample doesn't. Any recent examples of monsters with this ability?

 

[Shade]

That is odd. What exactly is a "trample-related check", other than the save DC?

At first, I thought maybe they lifted it from the MM2 juggernaut...but it has Squash instead.

 

[Garnfellow]

That is odd. What exactly is a "trample-related check", other than the save DC?

At first, I thought maybe they lifted it from the MM2 juggernaut...but it has Squash instead.

It is mysterious -- and if I read the 3.5 update pdf for MM2, Squash is replaced by the 3.5 Trample.

 

[Garnfellow]

After taking another look at this, I think the juggernaut description incorrectly cites the Overrun rules from the PHB -- I don't believe trample actions trigger the overrun mechanic; I think it replaces it altogether. Does anyone know different.

From what I can tell, improved trample does two things: gives a +5 on all trample related checks (which is really just the save DC for half damage), and the creature adds twice its strength bonus to damage, rather than just 1-1/2. So the ability description would read:

Improved Trample (Ex) As a full-round action, a creature with this special attack can move up to twice its speed and literally run over any opponents at least one size category smaller than itself. The creature merely has to move over the opponents in its path; any opponent whose space is completely covered by the trampling creature’s space is subject to the trample attack. If a target’s space is larger than 5 feet, it is only considered trampled if the trampling creature moves over all the squares it occupies. If the trampling creature moves over only some of a target’s space, the target can make an attack of opportunity against the trampling creature at a –4 penalty. A trampling creature that accidentally ends its movement in an illegal space returns to the last legal position it occupied or the closest legal position if there’s a legal position that’s closer.

A trample attack deals bludgeoning damage (the creature’s slam damage + twice its Str modifier). The creature’s descriptive text gives the exact amount. Trampled opponents can attempt attacks of opportunity, but these take a –4 penalty. If they do not make attacks of opportunity, trampled opponents can attempt Reflex saves to take half damage.

The save DC against a creature’s trample attack is 15 + 1/2 creature’s HD + creature’s Str modifier (the exact DC is given in the creature’s descriptive text). A trampling creature can only deal trampling damage to each target once per round, no matter how many times its movement takes it over a target creature.