Anti-Grapple Tactics

[Paederon]

I have a PC in a game that I run that tries grappling absolutely everything ( Large golems, various devils, frost giants, a ghost once ( that was interesting! ) even tried it on a dragon before getting flicked off ). This particular monk has rolled insanely well on his HP, and can take a ton of damage, so his strategy is to find the biggest, baddest looking bad guy, and tackle him, and take the AoO from anybody that gets them. Or, if there is an obvious spell caster about, that baddy usually gets dropped insanely fast ( he can usually find a way to get thru whatever line the enemy has set up to my continued chagrin ). This happens constantly! After the last game, I've decided this has to stop ( he took out the spell caster, and the opposing force lost its way to evacuate ).

I need to come up with a particularly brutal way to teach him that grappling isn't always the best approach. I don't think he'll attempt to grapple incorporeal undead anymore, but I need to protect my spell casters! They can't compete against his strength/BaB. I'm all for PCs using sound tactics, but they've used this trick enough, and its about time somebody found a way to counter it.

I've thought of things like fireshield/cold shield, spiked armor, being able to go incorporeal... it never really helps, the bad guys are always put off guard, and the pCs generally proceed then to mop them up.

So... I need a devious trap, something like a tar baby perhaps that will prove a lesson ( I don't want to counter a grapple with a grapple, that seems... to trojan horsey ). Any ideas!

 

[reiella]

Hmm interesting... Fire Shields don't harm grapplers.

One word though. Illithids and Illusions.

If the monk wants to risk getting his brain devoured.

 

[kenjib]

So... I need a devious trap, something like a tar baby perhaps that will prove a lesson ( I don't want to counter a grapple with a grapple, that seems... to trojan horsey ). Any ideas!

High level cleric with the death domain, or any other spellcaster with a touch spell waiting to discharge. There's no need for a touch attack when someone just tackled you and has their arms wrapped around you. You're already touching.

 

[hong]

Harm spell.

 

[Cloudgatherer]

Heh, I'd rule fire shield harms grapplers...

Have him grapple a lich, that will deal a bit of damage....

 

[Impeesa]

So... I need a devious trap, something like a tar baby perhaps that will prove a lesson...

How about a tar baby? (classic story, btw ) Some spellcaster has, for defensive decoy purposes, several large man-shaped tar covered dummies with an illusion over them, making them look like warriors with a very defensive style (i.e. not moving). As soon as he grapples he's stuck.

Now apply the rat bastard DM treatment. Each one of them is a metal frame covered with an inch of tar, and a contingent heat metal that goes off when anything remains in contact with it for a full round. Maybe there's some sovereign glue on the surface of the tar so he doesn't run away before the fun starts.

And feathers. Oh, the feathers...

--Impeesa--

 

[Dog Faced God]

Make up a new item:

Robes of Fire
These robes grant no armor class bonus. Rather, the wearer is treated as the target of the spell Fire Shield as long as the robe is worn.

I would also rule that Fire Shield affects grapplers, and deals damage every time the attacker makes a grapple check.

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

There's nothing wrong with a player designing a character for certain tactics and then using them. A monk designed for grappling is no more broken than a high strength fighter with whirlwind attack great cleave, weapon specialization mercurial greatsword, and power critical. Don't set out to punish the player for designing an effective character.

That being said, the grappler's tactics have one major weakness: he's grappling and grapplers are denied their dex bonus against all opponents except the creature they're grappling. (And melee attackers don't have any chance of hitting their friend instead of their target). Next time, try giving the wizard's 5 bodyguards 9 rogue levels each. After 25d6 of sneak attacks (assuming no haste or full attacks), the rogue will think twice before giving up his dex bonus in the future.

Also, even though the character is a monk, there will always be creatures who are better at grappling than he is. Try throwing a troll monk (or a bull's strengthed troll barbarian) at him some time. See how he likes grappling a creature with rend. A gargantuan fiendish (or anarchic for the smite law) assassin vine could prove difficult as well (assuming he doesn't have some unusual way of penetrating DR 10/+4 or so).

A selection of incorporeal creatures could also force him to vary his tactics from time to time.

 

[Willtell]

If the monk is getting famous

If they are getting famous you could use an illusion spell on this creature, cast by an invisibile and disguised wizard.

http://www.enworld.org/cc/converted/aberration/adherer.htm

 

[CRG]

Chaos beast. Gibbering mouther. Those should be fun to grapple.

Displacer beast. Blink dog. More fun, different angle.