When Druids Attack!

[0-hr]

Polymorph Other, on pg.95 of Tome & Blood says "A body with extra limbs does not allow a character to make more attacks than normal."

Masters of the Wild pg.11 has pretty much the same text except that it ommits this sentence.

So that means a druid does gain extra attacks if they turn into a critter with multiple appendages?

And my obvious follow-up question: What are the penalties for a giant octopus fighting on dry land? Things with a swim speed suffer no penalties when fighting in water. So do things with a land speed likewise fight just fine on land? (an octopus has a 20ft land speed listed).


Honestly, I've already answered these questions for my own campaign, but I'm curious as to what the rules as written say (or, more likely, fail to say).

 

[Mahali]

Druids get the attack rate of the monster and they never increase due to BAB.

None.

 

[SteelDraco]

Druids gain whatever natural attack forms the creature they've turned into has. Remember that as of MotW, wild shape is completely divorced from the various polymorph spells - they might have similiar effects, but they're not the same thing. MotW, p10-12, described pretty much everything you need to know about wild shape, and it addresses this question.

A creature that can't breathe (like an octopus on land) will begin to suffocate immediately. Use the rules for drowning - I'd assume that the druid takes a good breath before they activate wild shape, so they'll have a bit to act.

I don't know of any precedent for giving a penalty to actions for an aquatic creature above the water. If the giant octopus has a land speed listed, then apparently it can move around on land.

Obviously, the ink cloud and jet abilities aren't going to work out of the water, though.

(Edit: Added more thoughts, removed bit about octopus not having a land speed, 'cause I was wrong.)

 

[Saeviomagy]

Actually octopi DO have a land speed, it's 20ft, and was listed in the original post.

However, I daresay an octopus WOULD drown on land - although following the standard rules for holding ones breath, it won't start drowning for some 26 rounds, more than enough to finish off a fight.

Next up - take a look at what you can do as a giant squid! Just suck back a potion of flying, and away you go.

 

[Eldorian]

Heh, I was always a fan of druids in octopus form..

"Curse those evil octopi..."



Eldorian Antar

P.S. bonus points for people that know where that quote is from.