Manticore Tail Attack Question

[Mapleaxe]

In the MM, it says that the manticore can attack by snapping its tail and releasing a volley of 6 spikes up to 180 feet with no range increment. Anyone have any idea what sort of spread this volley could take, i.e. what should I do if the manticore is facing off against multiple targets?

 

[kreynolds]

Looks like they all hit one target.

 

[Darklone]

Hmm, I usually rolled randomly d6 how many spikes would hit anyone...

 

[AGGEMAM]

The key sentence is 'as a standard action'.

Attacks that are standard actions generally do not permit multible targets.

 

[kreynolds]

Hmm, I usually rolled randomly d6 how many spikes would hit anyone...

I thought about that at first, but the wording doesn't say "loose a volley of up to six spikes" or similar. It says "loose a volley of six spikes". That's what did it for me.

 

[IceBear]

Yeah, I think in the old editions you rolled randomly.

IceBear

 

[dcollins]

The key sentence is 'as a standard action'.

There is no sentence that actually says that in the manticore description.

Yeah, I think in the old editions you rolled randomly.

No, the 1st Ed. language is almost (as usual) identical. 1st Ed. MM p. 65: "A manticore attacks first by loosing a volley of 6 of its iron tail spikes... They can fire four such volleys."

 

[Caliban]

There is no sentence that actually says that in the manticore description.

From the SRD:

Spikes (Ex): With a snap of its tail, a manticore can loose a volley of six spikes as a standard action. This attack has a range of 180 feet with no range increment. A spike threatens a critical hit on a natural attack roll of 19 or 20. The creature can launch only twenty-four spikes in any one day.

 

[kreynolds]

It's in the MM as well.

 

[Stalker0]

I hate manticores.

I was playing a one on one adventure, with a groundhog day theme, every day waking up to the same thing.

And everyday I would get up. And everyday I would go out. And everyday I met two manticores. And everyday, I died