D&D 5E The Harmless Suplex?

[raleel]

Depending on how your DM views "Unarmed Attack" (i.e. does grappling count), a 3rd level open hand monk can grapple-flurry+trip.

 

[DEFCON 1]

The grapple would be the grabbing by the throat. The chokeslam I would treat as a slam attack and do damage based on the STR and the surface the target was being slammed into. So this move could only be performed in a single round by a character capable of making two attacks. A feat might be available as well that would summon flames to erupt near the point of impact.

Once this occurs though, make sure you look around for a zombie named Katie Vick, because the fighter in the party is going to try and sleep with her to get you mad.

 

[Wolfskin]

As far as I'm aware, you can just attack normally while grappling in 5e. So if you succeed on the grab the target is "grappled," then you can attack them freely. So you can totally do the suplex or chokeslam thing, that's just a successful grapple followed by one or more attacks.

Yeah, that's how I see it. Grapple+Attack and that models grabbing someone and then squeezing the hell out of him.

The thing with grappling in RPGs is that, while IRL its a bad-ass combat tactic, it's not much fun if grappling is OP in the system. I've seen this in quite a few games, where grappling is THE thing to do, (namely Exalted 3E and L5R 4E) and the "sword and sorcery" or "magic samurai" vibe quickly degenerates to an outright grapplefest, because if you don't grapple your ASAP opponent he'll grapple you and kill you.

 

[Authweight]

Yeah, that's how I see it. Grapple+Attack and that models grabbing someone and then squeezing the hell out of him.

The thing with grappling in RPGs is that, while IRL its a bad-ass combat tactic, it's not much fun if grappling is OP in the system. I've seen this in quite a few games, where grappling is THE thing to do, (namely Exalted 3E and L5R 4E) and the "sword and sorcery" or "magic samurai" vibe quickly degenerates to an outright grapplefest, because if you don't grapple your ASAP opponent he'll grapple you and kill you.

As I see it, normal fighting in d&d includes a certain amount of grappling/wrestling. That's why there's opportunity attacks, for instance. It's all abstracted away into regular old attacking.

The actual grapple mechanic is there for the purpose of truly immobilizing enemies at the cost of an attack. Not every grapple has to invoke the specific grappling mechanic.

 

[Hand of Evil]

I am also grappling is an attack that then allows you to perform another attack/action, like grapple and then sulpex them into a table.

 

[BigVanVader]

These are actually some pretty good ideas.

Someone has to Chokeslam Katie Vic, though. Twice as hard.

 

[MacMathan]

Grappling can be pretty fun in 5e. In terms of narrative the grapple has to be the start of the move with the follow up attacks being the actual slams, pile-drivers etc. Once a fighter type has multiple attacks the target could be grappled, proned and attacked numerous time at advantage all in 6 seconds which could be described in a number of brutal ways. Grappling then proning a target is pretty nasty as is the ability to drag them all over the scenery and drop them off or on to things. This guide goes into the mechanics for 5e: http://community.wizards.com/forum/player-help/threads/4142801

 

[Negflar2099]

The thing with grappling in RPGs is that, while IRL its a bad-ass combat tactic, it's not much fun if grappling is OP in the system. I've seen this in quite a few games, where grappling is THE thing to do, (namely Exalted 3E and L5R 4E) and the "sword and sorcery" or "magic samurai" vibe quickly degenerates to an outright grapplefest, because if you don't grapple your ASAP opponent he'll grapple you and kill you.

It's about that and what D&D represents. Sure if you get in a fist fight in real life grappling is a great tactic, but I never saw D&D as emulating reality. For me I would rather it emulate cinema and in most action movies you rarely see grappling. That's because it's sort of boring to watch (compared to sword fights or a rapid fire exchange of kicks and punches). People do throws and tosses but that's it.

Of course the real reason they probably did it this way is simplicity and even though I wouldn't use it I would appreciate seeing alternative rules in the DMG that made grappling as powerful as it in RL.

 

[BigVanVader]

Boring to watch? Tell that to the Steiner Screwdriver.

 

[Bayonet]

It's about that and what D&D represents. Sure if you get in a fist fight in real life grappling is a great tactic, but I never saw D&D as emulating reality. For me I would rather it emulate cinema and in most action movies you rarely see grappling. That's because it's sort of boring to watch (compared to sword fights or a rapid fire exchange of kicks and punches). People do throws and tosses but that's it.

Of course the real reason they probably did it this way is simplicity and even though I wouldn't use it I would appreciate seeing alternative rules in the DMG that made grappling as powerful as it in RL.

Here's some good grappling in cinema. I think western media is too enamoured of the striking style "slug fest" for entertainment, but a good wrassle can be fun to watch, if done properly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BmDS8IxSaM



You guys have made some interesting cases for using grappling effectively, though. I really thought that it would end up being useless or just underpowered in D&D, but it looks like I just wasn't thinking of ways to make the rules work for me.

Next session, some kobolds are getting hurled at the scenery.