Hyborian Apeman said:
I am anxiously awaiting your post when the Rulesmaster responds.
OK, so I just got an answer from the Rulesmasters on this issue with Power Attack and Monster Slayer. It seems you were both right and wrong on this one Apeman (right on Monster Slayer, wrong on Power Attack). This was the answer I got (with a part of my question posed as three different scenarios):
Rulesmasters said:
1) It is only the attack penalty that is restricted by BAB. Therefore, if I for example have BAB +6, I could take a -6 attack penalty to get a +18 damage bonus (+12 from PA, +6 from MS).
2) It is the damage bonus that is restricted by BAB. With BAB +6, I could at a maximum go for a -2 attack penalty, giving me a +6 damage bonus (+4 from PA, +2 from MS).
3) The two feats (PA and MS) are different in regards to this. For PA, number 1 above is true (attack penalty is restricted), while for MS it is number 2 (damage bonus is restricted). This is actually the conclusion I would come to from a strict reading of the feat descriptions, but it seems very strange to me...
Option 2 is the correct option. Monster Slayer is not supposed to allow PCs to strike for mind-blowing amounts of damage against Large creatures - it is just supposed to increase a PCs effectiveness when using PA against these creatures.
For instance: A 6th-level soldier wielding a two-handed sword with PA and MS faces off against a Large ape. If he just uses a full PA, he can get a +12 damage bonus at the price of a -6 penalty to attack. Or, he can employ his MS feat and get only a +6 damage bonus - but suffer only a -2 penalty to attack.
Cheers,
Ian Belcher
RPG Manager
So, when using Power Attack alone, the rules of D&D3.5 apply; the BAB restriction is on your attack penalty only.
With Monster Slayer, however, the scenario is a bit different; by choosing to use Monster Slayer you also impose the restriction that the
damage bonus can't exceed BAB. The bonus that you do get though, you get at a very nice discount.
I think I like this limitation on Monster Slayer; it keeps those otherwise horrendous damage-bonuses down at least a little bit.
And just to note; this ruling is actually exactly what the description of the feats say. Its just that I (and others with me I think) just assumed that the rules for Power Attack and Monster Slayer should be the same; that both or none should have a restriction on the damage bonus.
And that example in the FAQ really should be changed; its damned confusing.
