Grapple: LIVING SHIELD [mearls]

[Irda Ranger]

This is the first thing I've heard about 4.0 that actually made me go "REALLY!?" in a positive way. Positively giddy, actually (my inner DM is grinning).

This is the kind of thing I want to hear about...

Give me more. More! MORE!!!

I think the two most likely options are:
1. This is mearls narratively explaining away the 50/50 "to hit" in grapple situations.
2. In 4E, you may Attack vs. an opponent's "Grapple Defense", and if he wins he has some options (like PC meat shield). A Villain Class in Iron Heroes actually had this ability; any time you tried to hit him he could make a check to interpose one of his underlings to absorb the blow. I think it was actually called "Meat Shield" too...

 

[Nine Hands]

I want to see a block mechanic just like Star Wars, but with people instead of lightsabers

 

[Fallen Seraph]

I'm expecting/hoping that there will be a general "stunt" mechanic in the DMG. Basically a guideline for the DM in terms of setting DC's for cool awesome moves not directly addressed by the rules.

Hmm... Be interesting if they included the ideas of Skill-Tricks from Complete Scoundrel into the rules more fluidly and in a more interesting manner.

 

[Generico]

Things that could make it work: If you strike into a grapple, and miss your target, you hit the cover (again)? Possibly with an extra roll, possibly not, possibly involving some work from either grappler?

Maybe someone in a grapple can make a grapple check with their target to switch places with them?

Maybe bugbear stranglers are magic (I think this is least likely)?

Any other ways to parse this?

Well, we know that shields don't just give you an AC bonus anymore. Perhaps one of the things shields can do is absorb damage for you, so that the shield loses HP instead of you. Perhaps something like this:

1) Ranger gets grappled
2) Bugbear strangler has ability to use grappled opponents as a literal meat shield
3) Other PC rolls a critical hit to attack bugbear strangler. Presumably, the fact that it's a crit means normal "randomly hit somebody in a grapple" rules go out the window.
4) Bugbear makes a check of some kind, or uses an ability.
5) PC meat shield takes the critical hit damage instead of bugbear.

 

[Rechan]

I sure do hope that 1) the human shield and 2) reasonable strangling rules are Universal, and this isn't just something unique to The Bugbear.

 

[xechnao]

Here is how I would do it:

You make two attack rolls: each one counts against one of those that grapple. Then you make an initiative check and if you succeed you may choose which attack roll is valid. The initiative DC depends on the difference of the size of the two that are locked in grappling. If you fail you have to accept the attack roll versus the wrong guy (your friend) as the one valid.
The bugbear may have a special ability that augments the DC of the initiative test.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

So does this make strapping halflings to your shield a viable defensive tactic?

 

[Rechan]

So does this make strapping halflings to your shield a viable defensive tactic?

The Blind Kobold still has its uses, it seems.

 

[xechnao]

So does this make strapping halflings to your shield a viable defensive tactic?

If this is about my mechanic suggestion I meant size difference counting the other way around. The smaller your ally that grapples is the better for your initiative roll.
OTOH Bugbears or skilled grapplers may have abilities that make it worse if they are the bigger ones, for example:

Meat shield ability: roll an attack against your adversary's Reflex defense: if you succeed you may use them as "meat shields". This means that the initiative DC your enemies have to take if they attack you is augmented by the number of your attack roll.

 

[Gort]

Remember the Mind Flayer power "Interpose Thrall"? This is very similar-sounding. I wouldn't be surprised if it's a power unique to Bugbear Stranglers.