D&D 5E [Question] Grappling

[FormerlyHemlock]

RAW you can still attack or cast spells while grappled or restrained while pinned.

Yes, but RAW you also need a free hand in order to use somatic components. The DM needs to rule on whether pinned creatures still have a free hand.

 

[Plaguescarred]

Yes, but RAW you also need a free hand in order to use somatic components. The DM needs to rule on whether pinned creatures still have a free hand.

The rules as written don't say being restrained makes your arms not free anymore, yet even your hands.

 

[happyhermit]

My original reply was mistakenly assuming you were wondering how it worked from a GM perspective, and that's why I mentioned playing it out. Grappling works fine in 5e (as opposed to other rpgs...). It may sound strange but "mulitattack" is simply one action among many for some monsters and npcs. It can come up with player "controlled" npcs or beasts as well, but it might not.

Of course, like mentioned, the GM can rule that it can split them up, just like they can rule anything. They can rule the creature sprouts another limb if they want to, just like they can rule a dragon shows up.

 

[Rhenny]

The rules as written don't say being restrained makes your arms not free anymore, yet even your hands.

I think that's why the player should specify very clearly what his intentions are when he grapples and pins. If he attempts to hold the hands/arms to prevent movement of the arms, I think that could be a DM ruling. The result of the checks can help DM adjudicate the outcome.

Wow...grappling is turning out to be almost as complicated as an illusion spell. lol.

 

[Plaguescarred]

The thing is, grappling or even being restrained, is not meant to prevent attacking or spellcasting. And while the DM can rule otherwise as always, he'd impose additional limitations that aren't normally suppose to occur, and to which would always prevail if there is no drawback whatsoever in doing so. I mean, why would a creature not always restrain an enemy in a manner that prevent it from attacking or spellcasting if he can just like that?

In 5E grappling, pinning or otherwise restraining impede on attacking and prevent movement, but not actions.

 

[ExploderWizard]

The thing is, grappling or even being restrained, is not meant to prevent attacking or spellcasting. And while the DM can rule otherwise as always, he'd impose additional limitations that aren't normally suppose to occur, and to which would always prevail if there is no drawback whatsoever in doing so. I mean, why would a creature not always restrain an enemy in a manner that prevent it from attacking or spellcasting if he can just like that?

In 5E grappling, pinning or otherwise restraining impede on attacking and prevent movement, but not actions.

Yep, thats pretty much it. Want to keep a creature from taking actions? Find a way to make it dead, or incapacitated. The former can be accomplished by bringing it to 0 hit points then making sure it stays dead. The latter can be accomplished by paralyzation, petrification, or rendering the creature unconscious.

Wrestling or grappling does none of those things.

 

[Springheel]

What exactly does "grappling" look like when a humanoid does it? Is it just grabbing someone?

 

[Cap'n Kobold]

What exactly does "grappling" look like when a humanoid does it? Is it just grabbing someone?

Pretty much yes. In as complex fashion as you wish to describe, but the only thing that you're preventing is movement.

So if you wanted to do some form of "joint lock" that would be covered under the grappler feat. The classic judo technique would be grapple then shove options: your opponent is now on the floor and can't get up as long as you maintain that grapple.

 

[Rhenny]

5e lacks specifics for unarmed fighting, so I'd be inclined to allow PCs/NPCs to describe what they are attempting. If someone wants to give up attacks to wrestle and hold a person so that he prevents the person from using his hands/arms, I think there should be a way to do it. For me, winning 2 strength vs. strength/dexterity contests should allow for that. First one to grapple, second one to hold/pin/throw, etc.

The fighter in our group has done this a few times lately. The one above that I mentioned with Aerisi, and the game before he grappled an invisible stalker so the others could have an easier time locating it (negating disadvantage).

 

[Springheel]

The classic judo technique would be grapple then shove options:

Does grappling give a benefit to shoving? Why grapple first?