Gimme the Lowdown on Grappling

[chucku]

I am still somewhat confused on grappling. Does the grappler have to continue with grapple checks every turn? When does the grapple do things like pin and the like. How does escape artist fit into the whole thing. Discuss. Compare and Contrast. Create colorful examples!

 

[Bauglir]

Once engaged in a grapple, just about everything is handled by opposed grapple checks.

Each party may attempt to make an attack on the other using a light weapon, with an opposed grapple check.

The initial grappler may, with another grapple check render the defender pinned, in which position they are unable to move other than to try and break the pin with (you guessed it) an opposed grapple check.

 

[kengar]

From PHB:

Repeatedly in a grapple, you need to make opposed grapple checks against an opponent. A grapple check is something like a melee attack roll.

SNIP

When you are grappling (regardless of who started the grapple), you can make an opposed grapple check as an attack. If you win, you can do the following:

Damage Your Opponent: You deal damage as with an unarmed strike (1d3 points for Medium-size attackers or 1d2 points for Small attackers, plus Strength modifiers). If you want to deal normal damage, you suffer a –4 penalty on your grapple check.

Pin: You hold your opponent immobile for 1 round. (If you get multiple attacks, you can use subsequent attacks to damage your opponent. You can’t use a weapon on a pinned character or attempt to damage or pin a second opponent while holding a pin on the first.) While you’re pinned, opponents other than the one pinning you get a +4 bonus on attack rolls against you (but you’re not helpless).

Break Another’s Pin: You can break the hold that an opponent has over an ally.

Escape: You can escape the grapple. You can take whatever movement you get. If more than one opponent is grappling you, your grapple check result has to beat all their check results to escape. (Opponents don’t have to try to hold you if they don’t want to.)

Pinned: When an opponent has pinned you, you are held immobile (but not helpless) for 1 round. You can make an opposed grapple check as a melee attack. If you win, you escape the pin, but you’re still grappling.

SNIP

Wriggle Free: You can make an Escape Artist check (opposed by your opponent’s grapple check) to get out of a grapple or out of being pinned (so that you’re just being grappled). Doing so counts as a standard action; if you escape a grapple, you can also move in the same round.

Also, check out this article.

 

[chucku]

I was wondering if it was that simple. Thanks for the example, kengar. Is it true that a successful AOA on a grappler prevents them from grappling?

 

[Skinwalker]

Is it true that a successful AOA on a grappler prevents them from grappling?

I don't think so. However, the Close-Quarters Combat feat in Sword and Fist allows damage you do on a successful AoO against the initial grapple to add to your opposed grapple check (and allows you to make the AoO even if the grappler has Improved Grab).

 

[Bauglir]

Yep - from the SRD:

A combatant provokes an attack of opportunity from the target the combatant is trying to grapple. If the attack of opportunity deals the combatant damage, the combatant fails to start the grapple.

Note that the Aoo needs to deal damage to break the grapple, just hitting is insufficient (think DR)

 

[00durrin]

if you succeed at an opposed grapple check can you draw a light weapon?
if not, how can you get a weapon into your hand (outside of magic) that wasn't in your hand at the beginning of the grapple?

 

[Zenon]

A good step-by-step article for grappling on Sean K Reynolds site:

http://www.seankreynolds.com/rpgfiles/misc/grappling.html

This clears up a lot of questions. Hope it helps!

 

[00durrin]

line from the seankreynolds website
"The mosters are not considered grappled, so they don't lose their Dex bonus, still threaten an area, and can still make other attacks in the round normally."

i disagree with this
they are only considered not grappling if they make their grapple checks at -20.

 

[Grazzt]

line from the seankreynolds website
"The mosters are not considered grappled, so they don't lose their Dex bonus, still threaten an area, and can still make other attacks in the round normally."

i disagree with this
they are only considered not grappling if they make their grapple checks at -20.

Sean's explanation is pretty good, but you are correct. According to the rules for Improved Grab, the monster has to take -20 on its grapple check in order to not be considered grappled.