A bevy of monk-related feat questions...

[Lord Pendragon]

Which begs the question, is there a corresponding feat out there in the wealth of WotC material to do the same thing for grapple checks? Or is this just too unbalanced?

I've never heard of such a feat. Personally, I probably wouldn't allow it. It just seems to me that no matter how dextrous you are, it's raw strength you need to break someone's hold on you, or hold someone in your own grip. Sure, dexterity might help you get your hands where they need to be more quickly, but at that point, it still comes down to strength. Or so it seems to me. Your DM might feel differently.

It's also interesting that weapon focus (unarmed strike) wouldn't help you with the melee touch attack needed to start a grapple, although you could think of it as being trained specifically to hurt and not grab I suppose.

It's the difference between being taught Shotokan karate and being taught collegiate wrestling, or so I imagine it.

Also, I didn't realize that weapon focus (grapple) wouldn't affect the grapple check by the RAW, but only the initial grab! Talk about a weak feat!

I actually disagree with this. There's nothing in the rules (that I've noticed) that clarifies that Weapon Focus (Grapple) only works on the touch attack, so I rule that it also adds +1 to grapple checks. Until someone shows me a quote stating otherwise, I feel I'm comfortably in "interpretation land" on that one, just shy of a House Rule.

In any case, thanks for all the input. I very much appreciate it.

Cheers,
Vurt[/QUOTE]

 

[Klaus]

One way to make Dexterity affect a grapple is by using Escape Artist to escape a grapple. Which is why those pesky halflings are so damn hard to squeeze into a pulp!

 

[Doctor Shaft]

I've never heard of such a feat. Personally, I probably wouldn't allow it. It just seems to me that no matter how dextrous you are, it's raw strength you need to break someone's hold on you, or hold someone in your own grip. Sure, dexterity might help you get your hands where they need to be more quickly, but at that point, it still comes down to strength. Or so it seems to me. Your DM might feel differently.

Well, it's not raw strength that does it. In reality, there's a combination of both... and in truth, dexterity is actually more effective.

Yes, if I took an example of an old woman, atrophied to the letter, and had big strong Dan grab her wrist, it's very possible that no amount of dexterity, wriggling, or the like will ever allow her to escape his grip. If the woman can't even move her own arms that well, how's she supposed to get free?

However, human beings are, in many respects, comparable to each other in strength. And, in D&D, characters very much are. So long as you're able to move your own mass at a sufficient level, dexterity can play a very big role in freeing you from grapples.

Yes, in a situation where you are entirely tied up... then strength becomes the primary factor. But initiating or escaping tie-ups... to use raw strength is foolish.

In the end, it's a very serious combination of both. So long as I'm in position to move my body sufficiently, then my dexterity may prove more deadly than another man's raw power, as I can use his to help me too. But, if you've got me plastered to the floor with three guys, and my legs can't even wriggle, then yes, raw strength it is.

However, for grapple checks... no I don't think there's any dex feats for it. I know there are few 3rd party ones for trip-attacks, but not grapple.