Swat Special Attack

by
Thomas N. Baumbach

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The swat ability takes further advantage of a larger creature’s size and reach, being able to move smaller opponents around the board.

Problems: Any creature gains this ability, and with the forced movement, it can have some serious consequences to a party: increased attacks of opportunity, everyone but the rogue spending their move actions to stand up from prone, just another rule to remember.

You can attempt a swat attack as a standard action, or as part of a full-attack routine in place of one standard natural weapon attack or with a bludgeoning weapon for which you have taken the Weapon Focus feat. The target of your swat attack must be at least two size categories smaller than you; otherwise the attack is treated as an unarmed attack. (If you have the Improved Swat feat, you may swat targets one size category smaller.) You deal normal damage for the attack that you use to swat, but you do not apply your Strength bonus to damage.

Initiating a Swat: Make an unarmed melee touch attack against your target. This provokes an attack of opportunity from your target as normal for unarmed attacks. (If you have Improved Swat you do not provoke an attack of opportunity.) If the attack succeeds, you and the defender make opposed Strength checks. The defender gets a -2 penalty for every size category he is smaller than you.

If you beat the defender’s Strength check result, you push him back 5 feet, plus an additional 5 feet for each 5 points by which your Strength check result is greater than the defender’s Strength check result. Also, if you win the Strength check and move the defender at least 10 feet, the defender must make a reflex save, DC 15 plus your Str modifier, or be knocked prone. The defender getrs a -2 penalty for every size category he is smaller than you.

You may perform a swat any number of times in a round, but you may not attempt to swat the same target more than once per round.

Special: If you have Improved Unarmed Strike or its equivalent you do not provoke an attack of opportunity when swatting. If you use a natural attack (that is not considered unarmed, such as a slam) to swat you do not provoke an attack of opportunity when swatting.