Monster BAB and Number of Attacks

[Artoomis]

I'm confused on monsters BAB and number of attacks. Perhpas this has been calrified for 3.5? Anyone know?

Anyway, if anyone can concisely explain how BAB and number of attacks per round work for monsters, I;d appreciate it.

Specifically, if a riding dog (normally one attack) were advanced to 8 hit die (never mind how, that's another topic), would it have one attack at +8 or two at +8/+3?

 

[Dwarmaj]

I don't belive creatures with natural attacks get itterative attacks based on BAB. A 6HD Dire wolf gets one bite attack, a 14HD Legenday Wolf gets a single bite attack.

If they were awakened and had class levels then they could get itterative attacks if they used an opposable weapon.

 

[the Jester]

Dwarmaj, that's usually true but there are some exceptions (like elementals). I can't figure out why they're exceptions, though- or if there's some sort of pattern to it or what.

 

[Silver Griffon]

I think that if a creature is advanced by type it does not gain additional attacks, but if a creature advances by class it does. So, I think your riding dog would not gain additional attacks. However there is still the issue of awakened animals. If the above is true, then I would say that it could choose each round whether to attack with its normal attack routine or just its primary attack a number of times based on its BAB. Personally, I think an awakened animal should be re-written from the ground up. Just re-write it as if it were an intelligent magical beast with the appropriate number of HD. Its not like a creature adding a class, it is a complete magical redefinement of what the creature is.

Anyway, I hope 3.5 will clear this up. It sounds like Savage Species and MM 3.5 are supposed to be a lot clearer on things like this. Heck, maybe the awaken spell will get a more detailed treatment in PHB 3.5.

I guess we'll see...

 

[Dr. Zoom]

I'm confused on monsters BAB and number of attacks. Perhpas this has been calrified for 3.5? Anyone know?

The stat blocks in 3.5 will have things like BAB, grapple attack bonus, attack, and full attack listed. That seems very helpful.

 

[Gilwen]

I'm confused on monsters BAB and number of attacks. Perhpas this has been calrified for 3.5? Anyone know?

Anyway, if anyone can concisely explain how BAB and number of attacks per round work for monsters, I;d appreciate it.

Specifically, if a riding dog (normally one attack) were advanced to 8 hit die (never mind how, that's another topic), would it have one attack at +8 or two at +8/+3?

He would get one attack with more damage and better to hit depending one the monster advancement rules.

Animals/Monster's don't get more attacks than listed.


Take the leopard for instance, it's attacks are listed as:
Bite +6 melee; 2 claws +1 melee

It get two attacks using the full attack option or just the bite using the stanard attack option.

No matter how many HD this thing had it would always have two attacks period...of course this is barring anything such as the awakened spell that would it to take a class an progress normally.


HTH,

Bryan

 

[Kraedin]

That's true except for creatures with a single slam attack. They (generally, with some exceptions, like zombies) get normal addtional attacks by BAB.

 

[Dwarmaj]

I was looking at Golems as well. An Iron golem only gets 2 slam attacks. Based on it's BAB it should have 3.

WotC isn't very consistant with it's monsters.