[RPG] How to read creature attack stats and defense stats

In Dungeons and Dragons 3.5

Rage says, in part,

While raging, a barbarian cannot use any Charisma-, Dexterity-, or Intelligence-based skills (except for Balance, Escape Artist, Intimidate, and Ride), the Concentration skill, or any abilities that require patience or concentration, nor can he cast spells or activate magic items that require a command word, a spell trigger (such as a wand), or spell completion (such as a scroll) to function. He can use any feat he has except Combat Expertise, item creation feats, and metamagic feats. (PH 25).

That raging restricts other abilities requiring patience and concentration, but never specifies what those might be, means the DM has a free hand in declaring certain tasks require patience and concentration and therefore are beyond the raging barbarian. But the DM should probably rarely place such restrictions on tasks, given the limits present later in the description of rage.

Thus, as no mention's made of the raging creature being unable to do it, fighting defensively (PH 140) remains an option, as does total defense (PH 142).

It is odd, but the Player's Handbook just doesn't restrict rage beyond these limits. The game says that if it's not on this list (or specifically prohibited by an option in a later book), the barbarian can probably do it while raging; so it's perfectly acceptable for a barbarian, for example, to apply extra sneak attack damage if he has any, the target's vulnerable to it, and the circumstances mean he'd inflict it; fight defensively or use total defense; attempt disarms or otherwise use nonlethal force; and take the withdraw action.

The goal is to limit the raging barbarians' actions in exchange for increased combat prowess not precisely simulate violent psychopathy in a table top role-playing game. In this case an exclusive list is better than an inclusive list (i.e. the raging barbarian can't do these things versus the raging barbarian can only do these things) because the game knew dozens of books with far more options would follow, so rather than limiting the raging barbarian to actions--requiring every future option to note if a barbarian could use it while raging--, it prevents him from taking some actions, so the raging barbarian can use future options freely.

In Pathfinder

Rage says, in part,

While in rage, a barbarian cannot use any Charisma-, Dexterity-, or Intelligence-based skills (except Acrobatics, Fly, Intimidate, and Ride) or any ability that requires patience or concentration.

And then omits the remainder. Without the rest of the list it's in the DM's hands as to what, exactly, requires "patience and concentration."

A cursory search of the skills turned up nothing explicitly requiring patience, in feats only the aptly named Patient Strike would seem to need it, and the bonus from a traveler's dictionary is increased if the user is patient. But the concept of concentration is loaded with meaning. Concentration is what's needed to cast spells ("To cast a spell you must concentrate"), for instance, and at least one use of the skill Use Magic Device requires concentration.

But the exclusions given for D&D 3.5's rage aren't otherwise present, so a raging barbarian can use Combat Expertise, magic items, and other D&D 3.5 restricted options if the DM rules these don't require patience or concentration. Thus it is up to the DM whether a Pathfinder raging barbarian can use the total defense action or fight defensively.

This is pure speculation, but there is evidence that their price is wrong.

Bison and aurochs were priced on the Animal Archive Player Companion, along with many other domesticable animals, like several on this list on the SRD.

When reared from birth, the following animals can easily be ridden by Small or Medium humanoids, depending on the riding animal’s size. In addition, most of these animals can be purchased already trained for combat.

However, considering the description of both animals, I am inclined to believe their prices were swapped by accident during the writing of the book.

On aurochs, it says:

Aurochs (both singular and plural) are large herd animals similar to domesticated cattle.

While on bison, it says:

Bison are large herd animals. They can grow as long as 12 feet and as tall as 7 feet at the shoulder. Average bison weight 2,200 pounds. The bison’s statistics can be used for almost any larger herd animal, such as the buffalo.

By reading that, we can say the aurochs stats can be used for any common herd animals, like cows, bulls and other similar animals. While bison stats can be used by heavier herd animals, like buffalo and bison, as they are really similar animals.

As for aurochs, the core rulebook already gave us a price on domesticated cattle, 50 gp, with the following description:

Cattle

Price 50 gp; Weight 1,500 lbs.

Cattle are kept for milk and meat and used as beasts of burden. A bull is used primarily for mating. Other males are castrated and become oxen, which are used to carry loads and plow fields.

This price is the same as what was published for bison on the Animal Archive (50 gp), while aurochs were priced as 300 gp (6 times more expensive). And I honestly see absolutely no reason for them being so much more expensive when they have a lower value as cattle (1500 lbs vs 2200 lbs) and are probably harder to domesticate being more aggressive than aurochs and cattle. Even a leopard costs only 100 gp.

People being able to purchase animals has even caused a problem on Pathfinder Society a few years ago, especially when a first level character could start the game with a CR 4 combat-trained buffalo/bison (exactly the topic here), or a 100 gp leopard that could easily learn the attack trick, which caused a new rule to be added on the Additional Resources specifically about the Animal Archive, saying:

Pathfinder Player Companion: Animal Archive

[...] Finally, a PC can only purchase an animal, mount, or similar creature if its Challenge Rating is lower than that character's level; creatures with a Challenge Rating of 1 or lower are exempt from this restriction, as are horses. [...]

If we compare the CR of several of those animals with their price, we will notice that they are priced relative to their CR, except for aurochs and bison:

• Aurochs, 300 gp, 450 gp for combat trained. CR 2

• Bison, 50 gp, 75 gp for combat trained. CR 4

• Tiger, 325 gp, 500 gp combat trained. CR 4

• Lion, 200 gp, 300 gp combat trained. CR 3

• Leopard, 100 gp, 150 gp combat trained, CR 2

• Boar, 100 gp, 150 gp combat trained, CR 2

• Elk, 100 gp, 150 gp combat trained. CR 1

But considering the rules-as-written, this is perfectly legal and the price is official. Player Companions rarely get an errata, as they hardly, if ever, are reprinted. This has happened only a few times, noticeably with the first Adventurer's Armory and the Technology Guide.

However, with Ultimate Wilderness around the corner, it was previewed on 2017 PaizoCon that rules and stats published on both Animal Archive and Familiar Folio will be reprinted, and we could see an errata about this.