Troll Lord Games

I'm confused by the stat blocks in the Classic Monsters book regarding # of attacks.

For instance...The entry for the Babbler has "Attacks: 2 claw (1d4), 1 bite(1d6)" whereas the entry for the Breater Basilisk is "Attack 3 (2 claw 1d8, 1 bite 1d6)". Putting that together, it seems like the Babbler gets EITHER 2 claw attacks OR a 1 bite attack whereas the Greater Basilisk gets 2 claw attacks AND 1 bite attack.

But then in Monsters and Treasure I read a Black Dragon does "Attacks: 2 Claw (1d4), Wing (1d8), Tail (1d8), BIte (2d12)". Following the convention above, this would mean a black dragon can only do ONE of the attacks since it doesn't say something like "Attacks: 5 (2 Claw 1d), Wing 1d8, Tail 1d8, BIte 2d12). This just doesn't seem correct. I'm a bit baffled by how to read the "Attack" stats for creatures with more than one attack.

Entries like "Attacks: 3 (2 claw 1d8, 1 bite 1d6)" totally make sense (but this format seems to be rare in the manuals)...the rest of them baffle me. How do I know when something has multiple attacks and not merely different attack options?

Almost everything gets as many attacks as it has listed unless something else in the description says otherwise. Dragons have their own combat rules (see the first paragraph of Dragons and Combat), but similar to every other monster, common sense is important, like the example for the dragon:

It should be noted that the size of the victim and the dragon plays a large role in the number of attacks a dragon can make. For example, if an ancient dragon scoops up a halfling, it is hardly going to be able to rake, claw, and bite the unfortunate victim without doing itself great damage.

This should probably apply to any monster in the book. They are entitled to all of their attacks, but use the ones that make sense in the situation. Ignore inconsistent typography, it likely means nothing.

Also, reproduced for convenience (bold added):

ATTACKS (ATTACKS) list the variety of weapons, both natural and manufactured, that monsters may use in battle. All of the monster’s physical attack forms are listed here. The number of attacks is listed first. If there is no number, then only one attack per round is assumed. The form of attack is listed next. Damage from each form of attack is included in the adjacent parentheses. An attack listing of 2 Claw (1d6); Bite (1d8) would mean that the creature can attack three times per round: twice with claws, for 1d6 points of damage each, and once with a bite, for 1d8 points of damage.

MrGrim wrote:How do I know when something has multiple attacks and not merely different attack options?

Normally, the number you see in attacks is the number of total attacks that monster gets. If it says "2" in any iteration of the semantics you described, it's 2. For further clarification, the heading "COMBAT" in the body will let you know. Sometimes I listed it as "Attacks: 3" and sometimes, "Attacks 3" or whatever. It was just a mistake. Like Breater Basilisk.

I think what was throwing us off was the inconsistency with the way some of the entries read. For instance...

Attacks: 3 (2 claw 1d4, 1 bite 1d6)
Attacks: 2 claw (1d4), 1 bite(1d6)
Attacks: 2 claw (1d4), dagger (1d4) - (How does a creature attack with claws and a dagger at the same time? Shouldn't this read Attacks: 2 claw 1d4, or dagger 1d4?)
Attacks 2 claw (1d4) or 1 bite(1d6)

The first entry is the clearest syntax but the inconsistency in the format is what causes discussion at the table.
----
P.S. I'm going to have to make up a new stat block for the terrifying "Breater Basilisk". Heard it first here...