Fending off Grapples while Unarmed

[Malin Genie]

In our last gaming session, a group of ruffians attacked our party. One of them attempted to grapple the bow-wielding party cleric, another disarmed and a third attempted to grapple the (now-unarmed) paladin.

In each case, as I understand the rules, the character could have taken an (unarmed) AoO to try to fend off the grapple, but that AoO would itself provoke an AoO against them.

This AoO could presumably be a grapple attempt, against which the character would not get an AoO, because they have already used it.

If the AoO-in-response-to-AoO grapple fails, then the AoO would be resolved, and if it failed, the original grapple attempt would be resolved.

If the AoO-in-response-to-AoO succeeds, then the character is grappled ... do the original punch-AoO-in-response-to-grapple and grapple attacks then proceed, or not ??

In the end, we just decided to heck with the Sage, unarmed characters don't threaten an area

 

[Caliban]

Making an unarmed attack against an unarmed person doesn't provoke an AoO.

Attempting to grapple someone does, however.

 

[Malin Genie]

I take your point; however, they were armed (with saps in one hand, the other hand empty.)

AFAIK, there is nothing in the rules suggesting that an armed character, especially one with a free hand, cannot grapple. In fact, given that characters grappling may attack with a light weapon, I would infer that it is possible.

So - given that they are armed, they are allowed an attack of opportunity. An AoO may be 'an attack or manoeuvre substituting for an attack' (my paraphrasing.) Indeed, the Comabt Actions section of the SRD specifically lists Grapple as [AoO:Yes]

So wouldn't they be able to grapple as an AoO, given that the unarmed character attacking an armed opponent provoked one?

 

[Hypersmurf]

So wouldn't they be able to grapple as an AoO, given that the unarmed character attacking an armed opponent provoked one?

I generally don't allow a grapple as an AoO, because after you make your initial grab, you have to move into the opponent's square. And AoOs don't allow movement.

At the time the opponent provokes the AoO, he hasn't moved into your square yet.

-Hyp.