Grappling & Tripping

[Random NPC]

Hello, first post, blah, blah, blah... I need a little help on this one.

First, if you're grappling can you make a trip attempt? I'm thinking yes, since you can try and trip as an unarmed melee attack and you can make an unarmed attack while grappling at -4.

Second, would such an attack provoke an AoO? Actually, in general does an unarmed attack provoke while grappling? This one I'm clueless on.

Third, does Improved Unarmed negate the AoO provoked when trying to trip someone? This is the real meat of my question. Again I'm thinking yes, since the wording on trip implies it's not the trip that provokes but the unarmed attack.

I've got some crazy, savage barbarians who I'd like to use the tactic of grapple and smash against the PC's. At this point I'm just trying to find out if adding on 'throwing foe to ground' goes well with that. I think it would, but the RaW left me a little confused as to how the two interact.

 

[Hypersmurf]

First, if you're grappling can you make a trip attempt? I'm thinking yes, since you can try and trip as an unarmed melee attack and you can make an unarmed attack while grappling at -4.

Should be fine.

Second, would such an attack provoke an AoO? Actually, in general does an unarmed attack provoke while grappling? This one I'm clueless on.

An unarmed attack provokes an AoO from your target. However, if you're grappling (as your target is, in this case), you don't threaten an area and thus can't make an AoO.

Third, does Improved Unarmed negate the AoO provoked when trying to trip someone? This is the real meat of my question. Again I'm thinking yes, since the wording on trip implies it's not the trip that provokes but the unarmed attack.

An unarmed trip provokes an AoO as normal for an unarmed attack. With IUS, "as normal for an unarmed attack" is "not at all".

-Hyp.

 

[Einolf]

But, if you're grappling with someone and you trip them . . . where do you go? Can you be standing and grappling someone prone? You are effectively tossing someone to the ground and falling on top of them, I guess. One could argue that that is similar to pinning someone.

 

[Infiniti2000]

But, if you're grappling with someone and you trip them . . . where do you go? Can you be standing and grappling someone prone?

Sure, why not? You can be prone and grappling someone who is standing.

 

[TYPO5478]

But, if you're grappling with someone and you trip them . . . where do you go? Can you be standing and grappling someone prone?

I see it like a martial arts throw; you grab your opponent who then winds up lying on the ground while you stay standing. Some throws, if you do them properly, you don't even have to let go.

 

[Random NPC]

Should be fine.

Awesome! I figured it was all legit, but I wanted to make sure. Been trying to keep the fights fresh. This should catch them off guard.