I am working with the Claw/Claw/Bite 'attack routine' in my fanzine and 4e campaigns. I thought I would share some ideas on how I have been using it. As mentioned above, the Claw/Claw/Bite helps solve some 4e issues. If a monster is dazed, using Claw/Claw/Bite as a single standard action helps a monster with action recovery. It also helps monsters do more damage since they end up with a better chance to hit. Both good things.
Claw/Claw/Bite attacks allow lots of room for DM creativity. I have used multiple variations. For example, the bite could be contingent on at least one claw having hit. So if you don't hit with a claw, there is no bite. OR if you hit with at least one claw, the bite always hits and does automatic damage. Maybe if you hit with a claw, the bite does extra damage if it hits. Or if all three attacks hit, the target is stunned. You can have both claws target one defense, with the bite attack targeting another for flavor. Maybe it isn't even Claw/Claw/Bite...maybe it is Punch/Punch/Headbutt! There is a lot of variety within the 'simple' Claw/Claw/Bite sequence that might not be immediately apparent, but if you work with it for a bit, you find that it opens up a lot of room for flavorful design.
A Claw/Claw/Bite goes GREAT with "Savage" monsters. Like butter. It is very easy to DM a monster that uses a Claw/Claw/Bite as its primary attack; this in turn helps the game play faster, helping address another 4e issue, namely combat speed.
Anybody else utilizing the Claw/Claw/Bite attack routine in 4e? Leave a post!
Not exactly, but I have a few other ways to challenge multiple PCs with one action. First I use At-Will Blasts and Bursts as a way to damage multiple PCs. Also, I often use Multi-Target Ranged and Melee attacks. Both work well as a way to mitigate bad rolls too. Either way, you WILL hit something eventually.
ReplyDeleteAs for the Movement problem, I use traits that give the Monster a conditional Free action Shift X Squares ability. I usually have it go off when the Monster Hits with an attack.
Another way to get extra Attacks is an Aura. When an enemy enters the Aura, The Monster makes a Basic Melee against it.
I've used all of these a couple of times each and have had success with them all. Feel free to try any of them or all of them.
GF
I have most monsters use modified Twin Strike or attack with CA by using abilities. That's at Heroic
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