Grappling, attacks, and Weapons

[mvincent]

well i think a bears claw is even better.

Possibly, but since bears do not have opposable thumbs, the rational of needing an empty hand for actual grasping no longer seems like a truism. Also, I could certainly imagine someone grappling while holding a polearm.

 

[Belbarid]

All,

I have two questions:

1) Are there any restrictions as to what you have in your hands while you grapple someone? In this case the fighter normally uses a glaive, but often grapples. His position is the rules dont' say you can't so you can. He appears to be right unless I am missing something. If you have a light weapon, you can obviously attack with it... otherwise? The real question is whether if an attempt to initiate grapple fails, or if he stops grappling, is he armed with the glaive anymore?

2) When you use the "Damage opponent option" and do grappling damage to an opponent that you have grappled or pinned: If you have more than one attack per round, can you inflict damage more than once? Example: 6th level fighter has +6/+1 attacks... can he damage the person he is grappling twice? In the alternative can he use a light weapon twice?

I would go with common sense, and nerts to the RAW. Can you effectively grapple with a dagger in each hand. Not really, unless you're pretty well trained. I'd give a bit of a penalty unless you had Improved Grapple.
With a longsword and heavy shield? Not without major penalties- those will just get in the way.
With both hands on a glaive? No. Not at all.

 

[Legildur]

Possibly, but since bears do not have opposable thumbs, the rational of needing an empty hand for actual grasping no longer seems like a truism. Also, I could certainly imagine someone grappling while holding a polearm.

No, but bears have sharp claws that can be used to piece the object. They also have the Improved Grab special attack.

 

[mvincent]

I would go with common sense, and nerts to the RAW. Can you effectively grapple with a dagger in each hand. Not really, unless you're pretty well trained.

Adventurers are generally well-trained. I personally am not as well-trained in medieval style combat*, but I've grappled (effectively, and on multiple occasions) while holding a padded rapier and a tankard. Sometimes I'm the initiator, sometimes not. There was no attacking with the rapier while doing this though, of course. Different combat styles often have names for fighting with the weapon while grappling.

With both hands on a glaive? No. Not at all.

I've applied a choke hold with a (padded) two-handed staff. You probably wouldn't want to have both hands on the weapon when at the exact moment of initiating the grapple (but then, you need not have both hands on a weapon at all moments when wielding in with two hands).

* Most of my training is in modern combat, but I have a significant background in wrestling. You?