D&D 5E quick question on giant octopus

[Rexwell]

I was thinking of using a giant octopus for an encounter. It's attack reads:

Tentacles: Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) bludgeoning damage. If the target is a creature, it is Grappled (escape DC 16). Until this grapple ends, the target is Restrained, and the Octopus can't use its tentacles on another target.


My initial reading was after a grapple, the octopus cannot use it's tentacles. But then I realized the octopus has no other attack.

Reading closer, it seems like the giant octopus gets an auto-grapple/restrained on a creature target (and assuming on a successful hit), and it can use it's tentacles, but only on the same (grappled + restrained) target.

Does that sound right?

 

[The Crimson Binome]

Yes, it cannot use its tentacles on another target, which means it can use its tentacles against the same target.

 

[Rexwell]

Thank you!

 

[Oofta]

The octopus gets to continue to attack the grappled creature, it just can't attack a different creature. Remember it gets advantage since it's target is restrained. Of corse, it can also just swim away with it's meal as well.

 

[Rexwell]

Yeah, I was a bit deflated initially thinking the octopus couldn’t attack again and most PCs per PHB can hold their breaths for a few minutes!

But being able to beat on the poor restrained PC makes it all good.

A side question: the PHB says there aren’t many CON ability checks, but holding your breath could call for one (hehe)...why do you think a spell concentration check is a CON saving throw rather than a CON ability check?

 

[cooperjer]

Yeah, I was a bit deflated initially thinking the octopus couldn’t attack again and most PCs per PHB can hold their breaths for a few minutes!

But being able to beat on the poor restrained PC makes it all good.

A side question: the PHB says there aren’t many CON ability checks, but holding your breath could call for one (hehe)...why do you think a spell concentration check is a CON saving throw rather than a CON ability check?

As Oofta indicated the octopus can move and when it does it can move the creature that is has grappled. Depending on how interesting you want to make the encounter the octopus can grapple a creature at the extent of its reach (15-ft) and then "move" 0 or more feet pulling the character it grappled adjacent to it. That could mean the character is now on the other side of the octopus than when it started and separated from the rest of the party. I feel it would be natural for the octopus to move away from the rest of the heroes the following rounds.

In my home game I implemented a house rule that states characters can hold their breath for a number of rounds equal to their Con score / 2 while exerting themselves more than a casual swim. I missed the Con ability check on holding the breath.

In general I feel ability checks are active attempts by a character to perform a feat while saves are a reactive attempt by a character to prevent something from occurring. Thus, it might be a Con save to hold one's breath before being submerged under water, but on the characters turn it would be a Con ability check to keep conscious or keep from opening ones mouth to take a breath while being submerged and tossed around by an octopus for that round.

 

[Ganymede81]

Of corse, it can also just swim away with it's meal as well.

Personally, I would it rule that it could not move while grappling someone in this way, for the same reason that I'd rule a human PC grappling two targets at once can't use somatic components.

 

[cmad1977]

Personally, I would it rule that it could not move while grappling someone in this way, for the same reason that I'd rule a human PC grappling two targets at once can't use somatic components.

Except that octopi don’t use their limbs for propulsion.


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[Ganymede81]

Except that octopi don’t use their limbs for propulsion.

The grappled creature is in the way of the water jet.

 

[Rexwell]

I don’t see a problem with the octopus moving away...that’s trying to model “real life” with the game system a little too much.

But I don’t expect to do that anyway; that would really be piling on one PC too much. Plus with the octopus’ 15’ reach, the rest of the party can only use range or jump on in to help.