Talk:Swift Zombies

If the screecher attack does damage, it shouldn't be against touch attack AC, since armor would presumably block whatever is being done (probably slam damage). If it's a touch attack, then it shouldn't do damage (as per the "grab" in the grapple rules), which would make sense. Succeeding to grapple the target, though, would do damage, probably with claws, and further damage can be done afterward with further attacks that the zombie probably gets no penalty on (rather than the usual -4). Strangely enough, pinning an opponent does not give an option to do damage, but a rule can probably be made for this circumstance. -Slitherrr

The screecher attack is a touch attack because it is a modified grapple. I think you're probably right that the grapple needs to be successful for damage. You being on your horse made things a little more complicated for me, so I had to wing it. Next time I'll kill your horse first. After all, the average life span for a mount in most of my games is about 1.5 sessions.

Yeah, none of this is to rebel against your rulings in-game, I just wanted to run the rules in line with 3.5e's combat system to flesh these guys out for future games. The normal grapple rules are touch attack to see if grapple can be initiated (with AoO, but it can probably be assumed that the screecher has an ability that is like the AoO nullifier of Improved Grapple), then opposed grapple check, THEN unarmed damage if the screecher wins the opposed check. -slitherrr

Main points (Hunter) -

1. Hunter may make a leaping charge grapple attack.

It's still double movement (60' maximum), though if you jump from a vertical distance, you can get bonus damage. (1d6 per 10 feet, as per "falling objects" in DMG)

2. Hunter's attack is a sort of charge grapple, so it is a touch attack with bonuses for charge, strength, and an innate SA.

3. If pinned, you are helpless and take rake damage on subsequent rounds. A lot of it.

To note, here, pinning does NOT make the target helpless. To quote: "When an opponent has pinned you, you are held immobile (but not helpless) for 1 round. While you’re pinned, you take a -4 penalty to your AC against opponents other than the one pinning you. At your opponent’s option, you may also be unable to speak." If the zombie gets something special, doing lots of automatic damage is probably plenty without ALSO giving the pinned character a -5 to AC (-9 to melee attacks) and susceptibility to coup de grace. -slitherrr

4. Research Required - there are some creatures that are able to make an attack that grapples on success. Perhaps worth modeling on.

This is worth looking into. However, if an attack does damage directly as a consequence of the attack (like being slammed into), then it should never be a touch attack, because armor should have its say. Conversely, if it's a touch attack, then it shouldn't do damage. The second is the actual grapple rule, the former would be a special case rule that is like the monster abilities (i.e., both claw attacks hit = immediate grapple initiated, that sort of thing). -slitherrr

Main Points (Smoker)

1. Touch grapple @ range, if successful target is helpless, but not prone. (And you're prone, because your ass is dragg'd)

2. On beginning of smoker's round, dragging begins @ 30'/round.

3. When you get to the smoker, you take some raking damage. (Less than hunter)

4. Tongue has 2-3 HP.

Main Points (Boomer)

1. Listen checks within range (20', maybe?) to hear them if they are in range and you're paying attention.

(IE, last game, by the time the boomer was in range to be heard, the sounds of combat were assumed to be drowning it out.)

(When you guy stumbled on the boomer in the barn, you were given listen checks to hear it)

2. The bile explosion is a 10' radius. Puke DC is 15, explosion DC is 25.

I'm sad you missed the game where they were introduced, because it was kind of funny watching Xorry, especially, slowly figure out what was going on. He made a boomer-joke about the fat, boil covered zombie. Then it puked and exploded and there was much laughter, OOC, at least. ;) -gm

Other things : attack bonus, AC, wotnot, you guys might be able to figure out with more experience, but I'm not about to tell it here. the common ones, of course, are pretty obvious and you mostly have sussed out.