Wha! She turned me into a newt! : A Polymorph Question

[Enkhidu]

... and I didn't get better.

Well, actually it was a wolverine, but it sounds better the other way.

Here's the story: this past session, my character was polymorphed into a wolverine. We won't go into how, exactly, because that's just embarrasing. Anyway, this character has a +6 BAB at the moment, which normally gives iterative attacks. Well, on the off chance that this polymorph is not immediately reversible (as in I might have to do quite a bit of fighting in this form), I need to find out how the 3 attack routine of a wolverine and iterative attacks jive with one another. The spell descriptions don't seem to have any info about it (though I'm pretty much resigned to always having a -2 to all my rolls - danged DC19 will save...).

I can see this same question coming up in any creature with an attack routine and enough levels to gain iterative attacks through BAB, like awakened animals, etc.

So, am I right in saying that this info isn't readily available, or is this just an example of why I should be considered legally blind and stupid?

 

[The Souljourner]

The way monsters work is a little different than the way player characters work. They don't get iterative attacks due to BAB. They have a set number of attacks, generally based on limbs and mouth, and you simply apply the BAB to those attacks.

The attacks are generally split up by type - bite, claw, tail slap, etc. One of these type is chosen to be the "main" attack, and uses the full BAB. The rest are considered secondary attacks and are at -5 to hit. With the wolverine we see that its main attack is its claws, so you'd have claws at +6 each (+6BAB, +2 for 14str in wolverine form, -2 for an unfamiliar form), and a bite at +1 (as claws, but -5 to hit for the secondary attack).

Secondary attacks also only apply half the creature's strength bonus to damage, much like offhand attacks. So in this case, the bite only gets +1 damage from the 14 strength.

Polymorph states you gain the target creature's attack sequence (claw, claw, bite, in this case), but it doesn't say you must use it. It's not entirely clear if you are allowed to use your own iterative attacks... but personally, I would let you if I were the DM. However, in this case, obviously it would be better to simply use the wolverine's attack sequence.

-The Souljourner

 

[carpedavid]

From the SRD, regarding the Attacks line in a creature entry: "The first entry is for the creature's primary weapon. The remaining weapons are secondary and have -5 to the attack bonus, no matter how many there are."

The wolverine, for example, has "2 claws +4 melee; bite -1 melee."

The "2 claws" is the wolverine's primary attack. The bite is a secondary attack. I've always treated the secondary attacks from a creature as usable only if they take a full round action - sort of like fighting with an off-handed weapon.

So in this case, if you had a high enough BAB to give you a second iterative attack, and you took a full round action, I'd rule that you'd get 2 claws, 2 claws, and a bite (as a secondary attack). If you took a standard action, you'd only get the 2 claws, regardless.

Of course, I could be completely wrong. If anyone has info to the contrary, please let me know.

DMG

 

[dcollins]

I've always treated the secondary attacks from a creature as usable only if they take a full round action - sort of like fighting with an off-handed weapon.

The bottom of MM p. 7 makes it clear that any monster (like any other character) must take the full attack action to use more than 1 attack. So never mind the secondary attacks -- if the wolverine charges, it gets only 1 claw attack in that round (not 2).

 

[Mahali]

You now get 2 claws at your highest BAB and 1 bite at BAB -5.

The same is true even if you have a BAB of 20. You're maxed out at 3 attacks.

 

[Grog]

Don't worry about the DC 19 Will save - it's been taken out in the latest version of the spell. I can't remember what book it's in, though (Tome and Blood?)