Sweeping Attacks

[Pinotage]

I was watching Lord of the Rings: Return of the King last night, and there were several creatures (Nazgul Steeds, Oliphaunts and Trolls) that could in D&D terms attack several creatures with one attack. So, for example, the Nazgul Steed could grapple and grab three creatures in a single claw, or the Oliphaunt could smack away three horseriders with a single swing of its head.

Is there something in D&D like this? Awesome Blow, Knock-Down, Whirlwind Attack and Great Cleave spring to mind, but none allow a huge or larger creature to say 'Attack all creatures in its threatened area in a 15 ft wide arc'.

Thanks

Pinotage

 

[Darklone]

Dragons Tail Sweep.

Tail Sweep (Ex): This special attack allows a dragon of at least Gargantuan size to sweep with its tail as a standard action. The sweep affects a half-circle with a radius of 30 feet (or 40 feet for a Colossal dragon), extending from an intersection on the edge of the dragon’s space in any direction. Creatures within the swept area are affected if they are four or more size categories smaller than the dragon. A tail sweep automatically deals the indicated damage plus 1-1/2 times the dragon’s Strength bonus (round down). Affected creatures can attempt Reflex saves to take half damage (DC equal to that of the dragon’s breath weapon).

The warhulk (miniHB or CW) has a similar sweep attack ability.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

I think there are some special abilities that do the effects:
Oliphant: (Dire) Elephants Trample with a different visual.
Dragons have Tail Sweep, Crush and Hover to mimic some of these effects.
Improved Grab allows you to take a -20 to penalty on your grapple checks and continue to threaten your opponents.

Especially against low level or otherwise weak enemies, these powers (plus many attacks per round due to high BAB) should be enough.

 

[Targos]

Maybe the feat Area Attack from Savage Species would work. It requires a large weapon, but I think it would be fair to let a natural weapon apply if it has reach.

 

[argo]

I think the best way to do it is just to call it a full attack/great cleave chain which the DM describes as a single massive attack for cinematic reasons.

DnD combat is abstract, use that to your advantage.

 

[Tyrol]

Is there something in D&D like this? Awesome Blow, Knock-Down, Whirlwind Attack and Great Cleave spring to mind, but none allow a huge or larger creature to say 'Attack all creatures in its threatened area in a 15 ft wide arc'. Emphasis mine.

Pardon, but it looks to me like whirlwind attack does exactly what you want: Benefit: When you use the full attack action, you can give up your regular attacks and instead make one melee attack at your full base attack bonus against each opponent within reach. A huge or larger creature could 'Attack all creatures in its threatened area in a 15 ft wide arc,' provided it had reach of 15 ft.

WHIRLWIND ATTACK [GENERAL]
Prerequisites: Dex 13, Int 13, Combat Expertise, Dodge, Mobility, Spring Attack, base attack bonus +4.
Benefit: When you use the full attack action, you can give up your regular attacks and instead make one melee attack at your full base attack bonus against each opponent within reach.
When you use the Whirlwind Attack feat, you also forfeit any bonus or extra attacks granted by other feats, spells, or abilities.
Special: A fighter may select Whirlwind Attack as one of his fighter bonus feats.

Hehe. Admittedly, I don't believe whirlwind attack could be used to grapple, but it could be used to attack everyone in range.

Tyrol

 

[Hypersmurf]

Hehe. Admittedly, I don't believe whirlwind attack could be used to grapple...

Nothing preventing it.

The only problem is that the moment you succeed at grappling someone, you no longer threaten an area, so you'd lose all your remaining attacks in the whirlwind...

Although if, after achieving your hold and dealing damage, you chose not to move into their space to maintain the grapple, you'd be able to continue attacking.

That actually has a fairly Seagalish feel to it... grab them, whack them, let them go, and move on to the next guy...

-Hyp.

 

[Tyrol]

Nothing preventing it.

The only problem is that the moment you succeed at grappling someone, you no longer threaten an area, so you'd lose all your remaining attacks in the whirlwind...

Although if, after achieving your hold and dealing damage, you chose not to move into their space to maintain the grapple, you'd be able to continue attacking.

That actually has a fairly Seagalish feel to it... grab them, whack them, let them go, and move on to the next guy...

-Hyp.

Hahaha. Seagal.

Hmm, what you said about grappling and losing your remaining attacks... so you could grapple the last enemy attacked in a Whirlwind Attack (after having hit everyone else within reach with the whirlwind attack)?

Interesting.

Tyrol

Edit: Put the words "losing remaining your attacks" in the correct order "losing your remaining attacks." Hehe, you meant what I knew to say

 

[Hypersmurf]

Hmm, what you said about grappling and losing remaining your attacks... so you could grapple the last enemy attacked in a Whirlwind Attack (after having hit everyone else within reach with the whirlwind attack)?

Can't see any reason why not.

-Hyp.

 

[Sejs]

On a slightly related note to the Whirlwind Grapple, is why Circle Kick was so fun for a monk with Improved Trip and Improved Grapple. Improved Trip opponent A, follow-up attack opponent A who is now prone and use stunning fist, Circle Kick into opponent B, grapple opponent B. So now one guy is on his backside, stunned for a round and will have to spend part of his next action to stand up, and you've got the other guy in a grapple where you can abuse him at your leisure.