Trample...?

[Scion]

How does it work? It would seem that it takes a standard action, effects one target, hits automatically for some damage that either gives them an AOO or allows them to save for half.

Is that it? Why would anyone even bother? Generally it is better to just attack, as it normally can do more damage plus doesnt give an AOO and you might be able to attack more than once.

Savage species says that trample is worth at least a +2. If all it does is the above I dont see it being worth a +1, and shouldnt even count in when looking at special abilities, it just sucks!

What am I missing? are you able to move a distance while doing it and hit lots of targets? does it only take a move equivalent action? what??

 

[Camarath]

From SRD

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 creature 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 + 1-1/2 times 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 10 + 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.

 

[Scion]

That must be the 3.5 version.

from the srd 3.0
TRAMPLE
As a standard action during its turn each round, the creature can literally run over an opponent at least one size category smaller than itself. The creature merely has to move over the opponent. The trample deals bludgeoning damage, and the creature’s descriptive text lists the amount.
Trampled opponents can attempt attacks of opportunity, but these incur a -4 penalty. If they do not make attacks of opportunity, trampled opponents can attempt Reflex saves for half damage. The save DC is 10 + 1/2 trampling creature’s HD + trampling creature’s Strength modifier (the exact DC is given in the creature’s descriptive text).

And both of those are different than how the ability reads in the treant in savage species. Very confusing.

The 3.5 one is definately better, although still not worth that high of a level adjustment.