Grapple Checks and Armor

[Water Bob]

Armor is restrictive. Although not a 3.0/3.5 rule, shouldn't the Armor Check modifier apply to grappling checks, making it easier to grapple and wrestle in leather rather than plate?


What are your thoughts?

 

[Greenfield]

I've often thought that armors should be subdivided into "Soft" and "Hard" armor, to reflect that some is flexible and some is made with rigid plated over non-rigid portions of the human body.

Leather and Studded Leather would qualify as "soft" So would chain shirt, chain mail and scale.

Breastplate, Plate, Banded, Splint etc would be considered "hard".

On the original question: Not sure I agree. Having a hard surface to crush someone against has its advantages, and having a solid metal plate between you and the guy you're trying to pin does lend a certain confidence. I mean, you don't worry about him having a knife up his sleeve or anything like that.

 

[Water Bob]

I don't know where I stand on this either. I'm just pondering. Right now, I'm going with RAW. But, I wonder...does a savage wearing a loin cloth have an advantage grappling a foe wearing a rigid breast plate?

 

[The Crimson Binome]

I don't know where I stand on this either. I'm just pondering. Right now, I'm going with RAW. But, I wonder...does a savage wearing a loin cloth have an advantage grappling a foe wearing a rigid breast plate?

Off the top of my head, I would say no. The savage will have more flexibility, but the rigidity of the plate would serve to impede the savage. You can't bend a rigid target.

I'd probably say that the penalty to the knight's check is equal to the penalty imposed on the savage's check. If I wanted to be complicated, I would say that the knight has a penalty to initiate a grapple, but not escape or avoid one.

 

[narayan]

Hmm, I dunno I could go either way with this one. Yes lighter armors make maneuverability easier so you can twist and squirm better, but something solid around your limbs could also help you defend against blows while also helping you clobber your opponent.

 

[Grogg of the North]

I think my biggest concern would be that your full plate fighter (Heaven help him if he has a tower shield!) is never going to be able to fight off a grapple monster*. Trying to resist being swallowed would go from "This is going to be difficult" to "Don't even bother."

*Yes, I know size modifiers are probably going to influence grapples more than ACP. However, I feel that adding ACP into the mix is just a bit too much.

 

[Water Bob]

*Yes, I know size modifiers are probably going to influence grapples more than ACP. However, I feel that adding ACP into the mix is just a bit too much.

I think that you are probably right.