PDA

View Full Version : Noob question



Origomar
2009-06-07, 09:06 PM
On the class tables(Ex ranger table) the base attack bonus in the beggining is like +1,+2,+3, ect. what does it mean when it says +6/+1?

Pharaoh's Fist
2009-06-07, 09:08 PM
You get two attacks as a full round action.

Dixieboy
2009-06-07, 09:08 PM
When using a full turn to attack he may make two attacks

One with a BAB of 6
One with a BAB of 1

:smallsmile:

xPANCAKEx
2009-06-07, 09:08 PM
ninja'd - see above

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/combat/combatStatistics.htm#attackBonus

will provide many insights and answers

Eldariel
2009-06-07, 09:12 PM
To extrapolate, Base Attack Bonus grants an extra attack on BAB +6 and every 5 BAB thereafter (that is, 6, 11 and 16 to the maximum of 4 attacks when you have BAB 16 or higher).

Same applies to multiclassed characters; as long as the total BAB of your character is +6, you get a second attack at +1. That means a multiclassed Fighter 3/Barbarian 3 would get a second attack at +1 just as well as a Fighter 6 or a Barbarian 6 would.


The extra attacks are typed out to the chart for single-classed characters for ease of use. Also, only through gaining BAB can you get these attacks called "iterative attacks". Just having a high attack bonus doesn't grant these; they signify your improvement in the skills of a warrior.

These attacks (and any additional attacks beyond the first one you make each round) can only be taken in a full attack action (that is, when you don't move, but spend the entire round attacking a target).

Origomar
2009-06-07, 09:33 PM
So what do things like feats manyshot feat do then? Does it just add even more attacks to the ones that you can already do?

Faleldir
2009-06-07, 09:40 PM
No, those are a standard action. They only stack if they're part of a full attack action.

Yuki Akuma
2009-06-07, 09:40 PM
Rapid Shot adds an extra attack, yes.

Manyshot is entirely different and doesn't rely on iterative attacks at all.

Eldariel
2009-06-07, 09:46 PM
So what do things like feats manyshot feat do then? Does it just add even more attacks to the ones that you can already do?

Manyshot is an alternative, like Whirlwind Attack. Manyshot is a standard action. You can move and make a standard action each turn. Remember how I said you need to spend a full-round action to use more than one attack per round, even if your BAB gives you more than 1 attack? Well, Manyshot gets around that.

It allows you to take move action and then afterwards (or before too) attack with as many arrows as your base attack bonus allows against a target in range. Normally you could only shoot one arrow as a standard action (Rapid Shot doesn't help here; like iterative attacks from BAB, it can only be used during full round attacks). Manyshot enables shooting 2-4 depending on your BAB, albeit at penalties.

Basically, it allows you to "condense" the entire full attack into a standard action. It cannot, however, be combined with full attack in any meaningful way (so you can't make a full attack shooting 2 arrows on each attack).


Whirlwind Attack, on the other hand is a full round action. It's separate from full attack; again a trade-off. Instead of making all your iterative attacks (and attacks from Haste and such) against whatever targets in range, you make one attack at your highest bonus vs. every target in range.

In other words, if there are lots of opponents around, it can allow you to make more attacks than a normal full round attack. However, if you're only fighting one guy, you'll never really benefit of Whirlwind Attack. You cannot again combine these two different full round actions in any meaningful way; you either full attack or you whirlwind attack.

Origomar
2009-06-07, 09:52 PM
Manyshot is an alternative, like Whirlwind Attack. Manyshot is a standard action. You can move and make a standard action each turn. Remember how I said you need to spend a full-round action to use more than one attack per round, even if your BAB gives you more than 1 attack? Well, Manyshot gets around that.

It allows you to take move action and then afterwards (or before too) attack with as many arrows as your base attack bonus allows against a target in range. Normally you could only shoot one arrow as a standard action (Rapid Shot doesn't help here; like iterative attacks from BAB, it can only be used during full round attacks). Manyshot enables shooting 2-4 depending on your BAB, albeit at penalties.

Basically, it allows you to "condense" the entire full attack into a standard action. It cannot, however, be combined with full attack in any meaningful way (so you can't make a full attack shooting 2 arrows on each attack).


Whirlwind Attack, on the other hand is a full round action. It's separate from full attack; again a trade-off. Instead of making all your iterative attacks (and attacks from Haste and such) against whatever targets in range, you make one attack at your highest bonus vs. every target in range.

In other words, if there are lots of opponents around, it can allow you to make more attacks than a normal full round attack. However, if you're only fighting one guy, you'll never really benefit of Whirlwind Attack. You cannot again combine these two different full round actions in any meaningful way; you either full attack or you whirlwind attack.

I understand now thank you :D manyshot is one attack that can hit several things and rapid fire is fireing seperate consecetively weaker attacks.

what does BAB mean? im sure ill reconize it i just dont know the abbreviation.

Faleldir
2009-06-07, 09:56 PM
BAB is Base Attack Bonus.

And just to be pedantic, Manyshot is still only one attack. You need Greater Manyshot to hit several things.

Origomar
2009-06-07, 09:57 PM
BAB is Base Attack Bonus.

And just to be pedantic, Manyshot is still only one attack. You need Greater Manyshot to hit several things.

meh i was close :P

Eldariel
2009-06-07, 10:04 PM
I understand now thank you :D manyshot is one attack that can hit several things and rapid fire is fireing seperate consecetively weaker attacks.

what does BAB mean? im sure ill reconize it i just dont know the abbreviation.

BAB = Base Attack Bonus = the number in the table that tells you how good this class is at attacking. The thing that determines how many iterative attacks you get.


And you seem to have the feat names upside-down, Manyshot (the feat description) specifically says you can only attack one opponent with it. So you can move within 30' of a Dragon and fire 2 arrows at it with Manyshot, but if there were two Orcs in range, you could only hit 1 of them with Manyshot (all arrows fired with one Manyshot hit the same target; Manyshot also Manyshot specifically only uses 1 attack roll, so you roll "20-sided Die + Your Attack Bonus - Manyshot Penalty" - if you exceed or equal the target's Armor Class, all the arrows fired with Manyshot hit that target and deal damage. If your roll is under target's Armor Class, all of them miss). I hope my example of Whirlwind Attack (another feat in Player's Handbook, for melee types) didn't confuse you.


Rapid Shot, on the other hand: If you spend your entire round not moving, you can make a full attack. During your full attack, you can take -2 to all your attacks. If you do so, you can make an extra attack at your full bonus (-2 from using this ability though). Note that when making a full attack, you can split your attacks however you want - that is, assuming you have 3 attacks (say, your Base Attack Bonus 6 so you have 1 iterative, along with rapid shot - this allows you to attack at +4/+4/-1) if you're fighting 3 Orcs, you can aim all your attacks at the same Orc if you want to. Alternatively, you can fire two shots at one Orc and one to another. Finally, you can fire one arrow at all 3 Orcs.

Also, you should know that these attacks are done in consecution - that is, you get to know the results of the first attack before you make the second one. So if your first attack kills the Orc you were targeting, you can shoot the rest to another Orc.

Origomar
2009-06-07, 10:11 PM
BAB = Base Attack Bonus = the number in the table that tells you how good this class is at attacking. The thing that determines how many iterative attacks you get.


And you seem to have the feat names upside-down, Manyshot (the feat description) specifically says you can only attack one opponent with it. So you can move within 30' of a Dragon and fire 2 arrows at it with Manyshot, but if there were two Orcs in range, you could only hit 1 of them with Manyshot (all arrows fired with one Manyshot hit the same target; Manyshot also Manyshot specifically only uses 1 attack roll, so you roll "20-sided Die + Your Attack Bonus - Manyshot Penalty" - if you exceed or equal the target's Armor Class, all the arrows fired with Manyshot hit that target and deal damage. If your roll is under target's Armor Class, all of them miss). I hope my example of Whirlwind Attack (another feat in Player's Handbook, for melee types) didn't confuse you.


Rapid Shot, on the other hand: If you spend your entire round not moving, you can make a full attack. During your full attack, you can take -2 to all your attacks. If you do so, you can make an extra attack at your full bonus (-2 from using this ability though). Note that when making a full attack, you can split your attacks however you want - that is, assuming you have 3 attacks (say, your Base Attack Bonus 6 so you have 1 iterative, along with rapid shot - this allows you to attack at +4/+4/-1) if you're fighting 3 Orcs, you can aim all your attacks at the same Orc if you want to. Alternatively, you can fire two shots at one Orc and one to another. Finally, you can fire one arrow at all 3 Orcs.

Also, you should know that these attacks are done in consecution - that is, you get to know the results of the first attack before you make the second one. So if your first attack kills the Orc you were targeting, you can shoot the rest to another Orc.

thanks for explaining it, some of the ways they explain the rules is a little confusing.