Flurry of Blows to initiate a Grapple?

[Waylander the Slayer]

Since Flurry of Blows is an Attack action, is it possible to use FoB to initiate a grapple? If the answer is yes and you suceed with the first FoB attack, and then suceed in the grapple check, can you use the remaining attacks to Attack the grappled character (these would be at a -4 penalty?).

Or if the first attack fails, can you use your additional attacks from FoB to attempt to grapple again?


Also, I believe that the initial grapple check does not do damage, only subsequent ones do if the grappler so chooses, correct?

 

[Shazman]

I believe you are correct, although I'm not sure where you get the attacks wiht the -4 penalty. Shouldn't it be the standard penalty for using flurry of blows? Anyway, if you try this as a monk, you better have improved grapple and a decent str.

 

[mvincent]

is it possible to use FoB to initiate a grapple?

Technically no, since FoB can only be done specifically with unarmed strikes (and other monks weapons) rather than all unarmed attacks (which is what an attempt to initiate a grapple is, and is technically not a monk weapon).

The distinction between unarmed attacks and unarmed strikes (which are a subset of unarmed attacks) is odd, but evidently purposefully done in the rules. I cannot say if the end result is the writer's intent though. I'd still ask your DM if it is allowed. Chances are he'll say yes.

 

[Waylander the Slayer]

I am the DM!

 

[mvincent]

I am the DM!

So what's your answer?

 

[werk]

I am the DM!

Did you say yes?



I'd say yes, I think.

 

[Legildur]

Technically no, for the reasons MVincent outlined.

 

[Vegepygmy]

Since Flurry of Blows is an Attack action, is it possible to use FoB to initiate a grapple?

According to the FAQ, the answer is yes.

Can a monk make disarm, sunder, and trip attacks during her flurry of blows? What about grapple checks? What about bull rushes, overruns, or other special combat maneuvers?

As long as every attack is made with one of the monk’s special weapons (that is, weapons allowed as part of a flurry), the monk can perform any special attack that takes the place of a normal attack. She’s free to disarm, sunder, trip, and grapple to her heart’s content.

She couldn’t bull rush or overrun (since those don’t use special monk weapons), nor could she aid another (which requires a standard action) or feint (which requires a move action).

Some people don't like this answer, and claim that "technically" you cannot flurry and grapple.

If the answer is yes and you suceed with the first FoB attack, and then suceed in the grapple check, can you use the remaining attacks to Attack the grappled character (these would be at a -4 penalty?).

Yes, that's right. -4 (for attacking with a light weapon in a grapple) on top of whatever penalties you incur for flurrying.

Or if the first attack fails, can you use your additional attacks from FoB to attempt to grapple again?

Yes, you can.

Also, I believe that the initial grapple check does not do damage, only subsequent ones do if the grappler so chooses, correct?

Incorrect.

Step 1: You provoke an attack of opportunity (unless you have Improved Grapple).
Step 2: You make a melee touch attack to grab your opponent.
Step 3: You make an opposed grapple check. If you win, you deal damage to the target as if making an unarmed strike.
Step 4: You move into the target's space if you wish to maintain the grapple.

 

[Hypersmurf]

According to the FAQ, the answer is yes.

According to the FAQ, the answer is yes, as long as the attack is made with a special monk weapon.

So if you find a way to grapple with an unarmed strike or a siangham, you're fine. If you can't, you can't do it.

According to the FAQ.

-Hyp.

 

[Vegepygmy]

According to the FAQ, the answer is yes, as long as the attack is made with a special monk weapon.

And since the FAQ explicitly notes that a flurrying monk can grapple, we must conclude that you can indeed grapple with an unarmed strike.