Any way to combine grappling with sneak attack?

[harpy]

I'm currently playing a "dirty fighter" type of character and one thing that I'd like to do, but so far can't find how to do with the rules, is be able to grapple an opponent and also use my sneak attack ability. I want a nasty, in your face, slit the throat type of grappler... but it just doesn't seem to be able to link up well.

Is there some ability or magic item that can bridge the gap and let me pounce on someone and then achieve a garroting/stabbing in the heart/mashing my thumbs into their eyes type of mechanical effect (that is, do a lot of precision damage)?

 

[Shazman]

There was a 3.5 feat in Complete Divine that let you sneak attack as part of a grapple. Unfortunately, you needed to have wild shape to get the feat, and had to be wild-shaped to do it. I suppose you could "feint" while you are grappled to make the opponent flat-footed. If you want to do it as a move action so you still can attack the same round, you will need the improved feint feat which requires combat expertise and a 13 int. By the rules as written, it should work, but a DM could easily disallow it for cheesiness. To pull this off, you will need a very good strength and will need to invest in improved grapple, combat expertise, and improved feint and get your bluff as high as you can. A human or half-orc fighter/rogue will probably work best for this.

 

[RithTheAwakener]

Couldn't you just Grapple, then Pin the oppenent so they become flat-footed, then use Grapple checks to do damage and sneak attack as normal?

 

[Psychotic Jim]

I dunno if this would work, but my only guess would be to take Improved Feint and catch them flat-footed as a move action. Then initiate the grapple and use the deal damage option. Dunno how legit that would be though.

Another option would be to carry some rope with you and use the Tie Up option on a Pinned opponent. Then proceed to get all the Sneak Attack in you can.