[RPG] Are there any issues with creating creatures that can make multi-target melee attacks

attackdnd-5ehomebrewmelee-combattargeting

The Issue

Looking through plus-sized creatures in the 5e Monster Manual, I am unable to find any monsters that can target more than one creature with a single melee attack. I would think that a huge-size giant, for example, could swing an axe in a large enough arc to hit several playable characters at once. Stat block descriptions for melee attacks always specify “one target”, indicating the possibility of multi-target attacks, but from what I can tell this is an unused feature. Attack descriptions for larger-sized creatures do generally have a longer reach, befitting the creature’s size, but that’s the extent of it.

Why It Matters to Me

I would like to homebrew a few creatures that can target more than one creature in a single melee attack, but I am suspicious about the fact that RAW materials do not seem to include such mechanics. I suspect multi-target melee attacks are absent for a good reason, and I would like to learn why this might be problematic before I unleash such a creature against my players.

Question

Is there a specific game design reason why I should not create a creature with a multi-target melee attack? Specifically, I would like to edit creature stat blocks that would read like this:

Morningstar. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 10 ft., one
target. Hit: 21 (3d8 + 8) piercing damage.

to read like this:

Morningstar. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 10 ft., two
targets. Hit: 21 (3d8 + 8) piercing damage.

Is this a problem? Could making this change result in a game-breaking problem, or absurd outcome?

Best Answer

In 5E, the design standard seems be that almost all attacks - especially weapon attacks - feature a separate roll for each target. An “attack roll” in 5E is by convention a single attack vs a single target. Multiple target attacks generally have separate attack rolls made by the attacker (as in the case of multiattack actions), but if not, there's usually no attack roll and instead each target makes a saving throw to avoid some or all of the effect of the attack.

For melee attacks, there are two exceptions: the variant "Cleaving through Creatures" rules in the DMG and the Battle Master's Sweeping Attack manoeuvre, both of which allow an attacker to target a second creature as if making a second attack, but use the result of the initial attack roll. Both have limitations on when they can be used, though, and aside from reusing the initial roll, both are a second, separate attack. (Thanks to KorvinStarmast and Slagmoth for pointing these out.)

There are more examples of single attack vs multiple targets when it comes to spells: auto-hit spells like Magic Missile, which forgo a roll altogether (and as a result cannot critically hit), and unusual spells like Sleep or Color Spray which have the caster roll for a number of hit points of creatures who will be affected (but these spells don’t inflict damage).

An attack that hits more than one target with a single roll has several strengths and drawbacks that are not already present in the system:

  • a single roll will be compared against multiple, potentially different armour classes - not gamebreaking, but it may remove some tactical options;
  • it allows a creature to potentially score multiple critical hits with a single die roll - something not intended by the system;
  • most importantly, there may be circumstances in which advantage or disadvantage applies against one or more targets, but not all - in which case, do you apply it to the roll or not? Rules for advantage and disadvantage may not allow for this case, and may become more or less powerful than intended depending on how you rule this.

I think these are all reasons why this was not a feature included in the game design, and so I’d be cautious about adding in your homebrew creations.

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