Grappling? Any good builds?

[RangerWickett]

I haven't gotten PHB 3 yet, but we're starting a new game next week at 9th level, and I'm looking for ideas for my character. I was considering going monk, but I want to see if I can mix unarmed punching and stuff with grappling.

Can you grapple with a monk? Effectively, I mean? I know there's the new fighter build that's good with grabbing, but do monks get anything? Or is that not considered an appropriately striker-y ability?

Honestly, what I want to do is play a halfling or gnome, and to grapple large creatures, just because I like the image.

 

[bganon]

Monks don't really have much actual grabbing, but they get a lot of sliding and knocking prone that's easily refluffable (or already fluffed as) "throws".

The Brawler Fighter build from MP2 is fairly grabby, but it's really more of a "stab and grab". Stone Fist Monk and Brawler Fighter have overlapping ability scores, so multiclass/hybrid combos might work pretty well.

 

[RangerWickett]

Cool. I guess I'll wait 'til Wednesday and check out what's available. I will pick push and slide powers heavily, though hopefully the rest of the party will be able to take advantage of that.

Are there any small races other than halfling, gnome, kobold, and goblin?

 

[Piratecat]

If you're starting at 9th, there's an nice combo of a belt and gloves that help you grab larger creatures and throw them around; I forget the names, though.

 

[Gruns]

These...?

If you're starting at 9th, there's an nice combo of a belt and gloves that help you grab larger creatures and throw them around; I forget the names, though.

The Goliath's Belt from AV is a level 9 item that lets you grab creatures up to 2 sizes larger, among other benefits.
Giant Gloves let you throw grabbed opponent's around, but it's a level 14 item, and only works on targets your size or smaller.

Later!
Gruns