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Message: <blockquote data-quote="kjenks" data-source="post: 2069451" data-attributes="member: 12892">The idea of using Power Attack while grappling has two nuances to it:1. Does the Power Attack penalty apply to opposed grapple checks?Grapple checks are a strange beast. The PH and 3e FAQ say they are like a melee attack roll. CW seems to agree. The 3.5e FAQ implies in one place that they are like melee attack rolls (the "grapple while prone" entry has a -4 on grapple checks while prone, implying that they are like a melee attack roll) and in another place says that they are NOT like a melee attack (the Vow of Poverty entry).This rule confusion seems to represent a fundamental disagreement between the people who write the rules. They don't seem to have gotten together to make up their minds about exactly how grapple really works.The PH says flat-out, "A grapple check is like a melee attack roll." You would think there isn't much room for ambiguity there, but how much is it like a melee attack roll, and in what ways is it unlike a melee attack roll?And what about bonuses and penalties that would melee attacks -- do they also apply to grapple checks? The example from the Main 3.5e FAQ mentions a -4 on an opposed grapple check when attacking from prone. That -4 penalty should only apply to a melee attack, not to an opposed Strength check or other check.If a grapple check is NOT really like a melee attack roll, it appears that one can use Power Attack with great benefits (adding bonus damage to unarmed strike) and little penalty (since Power Attack gives a penalty to all attack rolls, but does nothing to opposed Strength checks or the like).What about other attack modifiers like flanking, prone opponent, charging, morale, luck, enhancement? The mancatcher (an exotic weapon described in Complete Warrior, page 157) allows the wielder to add his weapon enhancement bonus and Weapon Focus to opposed grapple checks.So I'd say the jury is still out on this one. The rules state in almost every place that a grapple check is like a melee attack roll, and it works almost exactly like a melee attack roll, including auto-hit and threaten on a natural 20, auto-miss on a natural 1, and all bonuses and penalties that would normally apply to a melee attack roll, except for that pesky "Vow of Poverty" entry in the Main 3.5e FAQ.Unfortunately, it's the most recent rule on the subject (by the new Sage), so it carries a lot of weight.I believe that a grapple check is like a melee attack roll and all penalties and bonuses that would apply to a melee attack roll -- including the Power Attack penalty -- also apply to grapple checks.2. Does Power Attack add bonus damage while grappling?The Power Attack feat description says it does add bonus damage to unarmed strike (it's worded poorly as an exception to the light exception). And damage while grappling (step 3 or Damage Your Opponent) is like an unarmed strike. So I'd have to conclude that Power Attack does give you a damage bonus.Taking these two nuances together, if you take a penalty from all of your attack rolls (including your grapple checks) you can get a one-for-one bonus on your damage rolls while grappling. That actually balances out pretty well in practice because that penalty lasts until your next round, making it easier for the defender to escape the grapple on his turn.</blockquote>

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