Attacking grapplers

[Clumsy Bob]

A situation occured in last nights game where a PC was grappled by an opponent. Another PC wanted to attack the grappler, however the only penalty to this we could find is that a random grappler loses his dex bonus.
Is this right? I am sure I read elsewhere that here were more penalties for attacking grapplers but I could not find it anywhere.

Any help appreciated.

Bob

 

[AGGEMAM]

No Dexterity Bonus: You lose your Dexterity bonus to AC (if you have one) against opponents you aren’t grappling. (You can still use it against opponents you are grappling.)

If You’re Pinned by an Opponent
When an opponent has pinned you, you are held immobile (but not helpless) for 1 round. While you’re pinned, you take a –4 penalty to your AC against opponents other than the one pinning you.

3 Roll randomly to see which grappling combatant you strike

Combining a strong brute grappler with a sneak attacking rogue is a very effective tactics. Just be sure to have the rogue power attack so much that he cannot hit his friend.

 

[Plane Sailing]

Yep, you've got the IMO bizarre situation that a tank grappling someone has nothing to fear unless there is a rogue around in which case he is in for a lot of pain.

I know that others will find this perfectly reasonable, but it still bugs me in the same way that catching someone with no dex bonus flatfooted gives you no benefit at all unless you are a rogue. I'd like to have seen something more general which rogues get to improve upon instead of something which is only for rogues.

Ah well.

 

[AGGEMAM]

Strict reading of the rules makes this tactics even better, since the rogue is not an opponent but an ally, so only the 'bad guy' is subject to the sneak attacks.

That's not how I'd rule it though.

 

[GakToid]

3 Roll randomly to see which grappling combatant you strike

I can't find this in the SRD, but I'm pretty sure that you only roll randomly when making a ranged attack.

Melee attacks have no chance of hitting the wrong person in a grapple.

-Gak Toid

 

[JimAde]

I can't find this in the SRD, but I'm pretty sure that you only roll randomly when making a ranged attack.

Melee attacks have no chance of hitting the wrong person in a grapple.

-Gak Toid

You are correct!

It's cleverly hidden as a footnote to the Armor Class Modifiers table:

3 Roll randomly to see which grappling combatant you strike. That defender loses any Dexterity bonus to AC.

This #3 is only in the ranged column for the grappling line, so you are right.

 

[AGGEMAM]

Yup, you're right GakToid I forgot to mention that. Thanks.