Slam Attack

[Ail]

Hi,

I'd like to know what is a slam attack. I keep seeing that in lots of monsters but I've looked for a definition in MM, PHB and DMG (all 3.5) and found none. What does it mean, then, to say that
"a vampire gains slam attack" ?

Ail

[Coan]

I believe it is when the monster can use their hands and fists as weapons that no longer do subdual damage.

[Jester of the FoS]

They hit you really hard.

[ScS of the Fraternity]

That's basicly the size of it. A slam is like a punch or a slap, except that it hits puny humans like a sledge hammer. As an alternative, scottish vampires are known to replace the slam attack witha headbutt.

[Snake]

This is how I picture many slam attaks, especially vampires. Picture Shao Kahn's shadow charge. (His name is probably spelled wrong) The boss in Mortla Kombat 3, among others. Basically it's a real fast and hard attack that can be a chrge, punch, etc like said above.

[Shoon VII]

the proper technique for a slam is to clasp both hands together, fingers firmly locked, and slam the sugar honey ice tea out of your opponent.

[Wiccy of the Fraternity]

A slam is a physical attack, most likely treated as a punch, elbow strike or uppercut for ease of use in D&D, the attack is so powerful that it inflicted actual damage rather than subdual damage.

[DeepShadow of FoS]

From the SRD, under Natural Weapons:

Natural weapons have types just as other weapons do. The most common are summarized below.
Bite: The creature attacks with its mouth, dealing piercing, slashing, and bludgeoning damage.
Claw or Talon: The creature rips with a sharp appendage, dealing piercing and slashing damage.
Gore: The creature spears the opponent with an antler, horn, or similar appendage, dealing piercing damage.
Slap or Slam: The creature batters opponents with an appendage, dealing bludgeoning damage.
Sting: The creature stabs with a stinger, dealing piercing damage. Sting attacks usually deal damage from poison in addition to hit point damage.
Tentacle: The creature flails at opponents with a powerful tentacle, dealing bludgeoning (and sometimes slashing) damage.

[Gonzoron of the FoS]

the proper technique for a slam is to clasp both hands together, fingers firmly locked, and slam the sugar honey ice tea out of your opponent.

Ah, the "Captain Kirk Maneuver"

[Brother_Martyn]

And there was me thinking that vampires kept picking PCs up and slamming 'em down to the canvas for the 1,2,3...

[Stygian Inquirer]

Regarding slam attacks, I have always wondered if you can apply the Monk's Unarmed Attack Bonus or the Unarmed Damage bonus like, say if you had a vampire monk. Has anyone ever done this? And if so, how did it turn out? I know that vampires are traditionally chaotic evil but in my Ravenloft campaigns I am more lenient. It keeps the PCs on their toes.[/i]

[ScS of the Fraternity]

I'd say that monk abilities wouldn't apply to an attack like a slam. The monks unarmed strike is a different attack than the slam. One is a series of precise blows made by the fist, fingers, foot, knee, elbo and head, while the other is a brute force slap. Consider the situation similar to a monk using a bite attack - sure its a natural attack without weapons, but the technique is completly different.

[Jester of the FoS]

Regarding slam attacks, I have always wondered if you can apply the Monk's Unarmed Attack Bonus or the Unarmed Damage bonus like, say if you had a vampire monk. Has anyone ever done this? And if so, how did it turn out? I know that vampires are traditionally chaotic evil but in my Ravenloft campaigns I am more lenient. It keeps the PCs on their toes.[/i]

As ScS said.
But remember that it would still be able to energy drain with the unarmed attacks and have the strength bonuses so a high level monk/vamp might be be better served by not using the slam.

[Jason of the Fraternity]

I'd say that monk abilities wouldn't apply to an attack like a slam. The monks unarmed strike is a different attack than the slam.

I don't remember which issue of Dragon Magazine it was covered in, but the sage gave a very similar answer. Basically, the unarmed strike of a monk doesn't stack with a monster's slam attack.

But remember that it would still be able to energy drain with the unarmed attacks and have the strength bonuses so a high level monk/vamp might be be better served by not using the slam.

I don't remember if this portion was directly covered in the question, but David's comment makes sense. While the slam attack might not apply, a vampire monk could still make an energy drain attack each round.

[Primus_Raven]

I allways thought of a slam attack as being what cops do in the movies throw there shoulders into the door.