A Wizard's question on Grapple

[Bad Paper]

My wizard has the Aberrant Blood (flexible limbs) and Deepspawn feats, and a 15 Strength. After casting Enlarge Person and Bull's Strength, he is the big mean grappler! Add a rogue sidekick, and you have a grapple-and-sneak-attack team! Deadly! Love it!

 

[Kaledor]

My wizard has the Aberrant Blood (flexible limbs) and Deepspawn feats, and a 15 Strength. After casting Enlarge Person and Bull's Strength, he is the big mean grappler! Add a rogue sidekick, and you have a grapple-and-sneak-attack team! Deadly! Love it!

I had considered that option too -- well not that particular set of feats, but something that would make me a better grappler. A selection of magic items and spells and I could be a much more proficient grappler (my strength is already high for a wizard). The problem is -- every round that I spend grappling, is another round that I can't be casting other spells. Player-wise, that's where I do the most damage to the field of enemies Character-wise, he is in love with the offensive spells

Plus, I've been trying to keep my 40some hit points OUT of 7th level combat
That and, I just don't have the BAB to support a really good grapple check.

But it's not a bad idea if you don't mind giving up a few rounds to hang onto an enemy AND you have the hitpoints to survive a grapple. Something to keep in mind. It would be an interesting sight if three of the five members in our party ENLARGED on first round and starting sweeping enemies out of the way

 

[Nail]

You're better off just dropping it on top of the bad guys to start with.

Exactly. Place it so they're right smack-dab in the middle of it.

You might also have the placement room so that you can catch opponents on the edge of the EBT. That way your fighters (and Rogue!) can get to 'em while they are grappled.

This spell is perfect for size Medium opponents, BTW. And once they get bigger than size Large, it's usually not worth casting. We've also found that the spell is much less useful after ~14th level (CR 14 critters).

 

[azhrei_fje]

These are all good suggestions. I would recommend, in order from "less expensive" to "more expensive" (based on spell level or component cost or casting time, for example):

Grease (on the floor in front of you or on your body)
Mirror Image
Levitate, spider climb, or fly (as terrain permits)
Web or Entangle (need druid or ranger) or Evard's Black Tentacles
Greater Invisibility
Fire Shield
Wall of Force (you'll know where it is and they won't)

If you have a familiar, share a touch-attack spell with it. When a grappler attacks you, the familiar (in the same square) gets an AoO as well, don't they? The familiar uses the touch-attack spell and damage is added to the grapple check. (Side question: if the spellcaster has a touch-attack spell as well and hits with their touch, do the two damage results get added together for any grapple checks by the spellcaster and/or familiar?)

If I've misinterpreted how these spells could be used, or the part about the familiar, I'd like to hear about it. Thanks.

 

[Bad Paper]

Plus, I've been trying to keep my 40some hit points OUT of 7th level combat
That and, I just don't have the BAB to support a really good grapple check.

But it's not a bad idea if you don't mind giving up a few rounds to hang onto an enemy AND you have the hitpoints to survive a grapple.

Buy yourself and the cleric each a platinum ring worth 50gp. Tell him that if he casts Shield Other, you'll keep the BBEG well away from him.

 

[irdeggman]

There is another possibility too.

It would have required forthought (and DM okay for the feat) at 6th level.

Leadership.

Get a cohort as a bodyguard, at leadership score of 10 (level + cha mod + misc modifiers) you start getting followers that can be used as "protectors".

 

[Plane Sailing]

If you have a familiar, share a touch-attack spell with it. When a grappler attacks you, the familiar (in the same square) gets an AoO as well, don't they? The familiar uses the touch-attack spell and damage is added to the grapple check. (Side question: if the spellcaster has a touch-attack spell as well and hits with their touch, do the two damage results get added together for any grapple checks by the spellcaster and/or familiar?)

If I've misinterpreted how these spells could be used, or the part about the familiar, I'd like to hear about it. Thanks.

I'm afraid that while the familiar can share personal spells, and deliver touch attack spells, he can't share touch attack spells (and if you cast something else before he's delivered his touch attack, the touch spell dissipates).

Share a polymorph spell with your familiar, sure! Both of you turn into Annis Hags and grappling you will become a whole lot harder...

Cheers

 

[Caliban]

Blink basically makes you immune to grappling, as you can just walk away from any grapple your in. It's been mentioned earlier in the thread, but I think it's worth bringing up again. The 5th level version (Improved Blink) is even better.

 

[Shard O'Glase]

when blink goes wrong: OH god, oh god your hand its sticking form my chest.

Ok rules why it wouldn't exactly happen like that but it should.

 

[Elemental]

Don't forget (Empowered ) Fire Shield.

Or if you use Libris Mortis, Fell Draining Fire Shield. Increases the spell level by 2, deals a negative level to anyone who takes damage. Damage shields and Fell Drain are an evil combination.

Lords of Madness has a nice little level 3 spell called Permeable Form. It's cast as an immediate action (so you can fire it off in response to someone trying to grapple you before the grappled resolves), and makes you incorporeal for 1 turn. Enough time to put something between you and the grappler, and it won't impede your casting.