Monsters and Power Attack

[pogre]

Greetings!

Today I was running an adventure wherein numerous monsters had the power attack feat. These were fairly intelligent monsters with INTs ranging from 10-17. I had them go all out power attack against the mage when they got a shot, about 2/3 power attack against lightly armored foes, and 1/3 or none against heavily armored foes. Fairly easy to adjudicate with intelligent monsters.

THE QUESTION:
How do you handle less intelligent monsters with power attack? All power attack all the time? Do you let less intelligent monsters learn when they fail to hit a foe?

 

[Li Shenron]

For low-Int monsters I most likely either

(a) use the same PA rate during the whole encounter

or

(b) start with no PA, and then PA for max when the creature is close to death and enters "panic mode"

 

[wedgeski]

(b) start with no PA, and then PA for max when the creature is close to death and enters "panic mode"

This is exactly the method I use... if indeed the poor thing actually gets a *chance* to enter panic mode.

 

[frankthedm]

Hard target prey mean less power attack, soft targets get more power attack.

soft looking and pink? full power attack

Hard and shiny shell? half power attack if has cracked hard shells before. None otherwise

 

[Particle_Man]

I use a "what happened last round" system.

Start with full power attack. IF that missed, next round do no power attack. If that hits, next round go half-way, etc.

For less intelligent monsters, you might have them flip from none to all and back again a lot.

But a wolverine in rage would be APAAT, baby!

 

[Kae'Yoss]

I'd say that even with monsters of lower int, it's more than an all-or-nothing affair. Based on apparent difficulty to hit (does it have apparent carapace? Is it moving quickly and erratically?) And then go with no, some, half, much, or full power attack. It adjusts it according to how often it hits in the first round: No hits: go to no PA. Some hits, go one step back. Equal hits and misses, stay on current level. Hits more often than not, go up a level. Hit all the time, go to full PA.

Only mindless creatures without the right programming will not adjust their power attack.

 

[The_Gneech]

I'm always somewhat conflicted about Power Attack, because the monsters who have it tend to do sick amounts of damage from sick amounts of STR in the first place. So the good thing is that if they power attack, they'll hit less often, but the bad thing is that if they hit at all, they're likely to one-punch (or one-and-a-half-punch) the party members.

In the end, I tend to make the call based on the mindset and general brutality of the creature. Vicious creatures go APAAT; more tactical-minded ones start with no power attack and build it up based on how easy a time they've had hitting their target.

-The Gneech

 

[pogre]

(b) start with no PA, and then PA for max when the creature is close to death and enters "panic mode"

I like this idea of panic mode - the idea of a wounded creature raging has a certain appeal.

 

[Mark]

I like this idea of panic mode - the idea of a wounded creature raging has a certain appeal.

I am of a mind that raging would be all out on attack with none saved towards damage, whereas a creature able to attack rationally might hold back on its attack in favor for striking a vital spot for greater overall damage. A creature in panic mode would not have the rationality to try and just manage to hit but would feel it needs to hit at any and all costs.

 

[pogre]

I am of a mind that raging would be all out on attack with none saved towards damage, whereas a creature able to attack rationally might hold back on its attack in favor for striking a vital spot for greater overall damage. A creature in panic mode would not have the rationality to try and just manage to hit but would feel it needs to hit at any and all costs.

I guess I view power attack differently. I see power attack as giving up "accuracy" to bring it with all you got - the homerun swing if you will. That's why the panic idea appeals to me.

BTW,
I received a lot of great suggestions here - my thanks to all.