Help with Grapples and exotic weapons

[Arcanus]

In Sword & Fist it has the 2-ball Bolas that upon scoring a ranged touch attack your opponent is TRIPPED.

Okay that much I know how to deal with and how tripping works.

The 2nd thing is your opponent must succeed at a grapple check versus your original attack roll or be GRAPPLED.

This is where I am having some trouble.
What exactly happens to the opponent who is tripped & grappled at the same time?
What is his AC during all of this?
I know TRIPPED opponents are easier to hit.
Is the opponent PINNED at any time during this?
Would he be penalized for reflex saves during a TRIPPED&GRAPPLED round?
I know that GRAPPLED characters lose their Dex. Bonus while grappled or grappling.
Does the grappled character provoke AoO's from any nearby enemies, while he is prone & grappled?
If getting up from prone (from being tripped) is a move equivalent action and extricating yourself from the bolas (because your're grappled) is a Full round action, how would you rule how vulnerable this character would be if someone closed into melee while he is prone and grappled?

If he takes a full round action to do nothing else but extricate himself would he provoke AoO's from anyone?

Would his Dex bonus not only be considered lost to AC but shouldn't it be effectively zero if all he is trying to do is
escape?

I know that my next feat for my Sorcerer/Rogue/Fighter is going to be Exotic Weapon in Bolas.
I have Combat Reflexes/Expert Tactician/Improved Initiative/Point Blank shot/Quick Draw.
My sorcerer spells are True Strike/Mage Armor.
I think that I would have alot of fun using True Strike with the bolas.

 

[drnuncheon]

In Sword & Fist it has the 2-ball Bolas that upon scoring a ranged touch attack your opponent is TRIPPED.

Okay that much I know how to deal with and how tripping works.

The 2nd thing is your opponent must succeed at a grapple check versus your original attack roll or be GRAPPLED.

This is where I am having some trouble.
What exactly happens to the opponent who is tripped & grappled at the same time?

He is both grappled and tripped - he's prone and he can't move.

What is his AC during all of this?
I know TRIPPED opponents are easier to hit.

Defender Prone gives a +4 to hit.

Also, if a character is grappled, they lose their dex bonus vs. characters that are not grappling them.

So their AC is essentially their flat-footed AC, and attackers get +4 to hit them.

Is the opponent PINNED at any time during this?

I believe the grapple referred to in the bolas is a grapple & pin, yes.

Would he be penalized for reflex saves during a TRIPPED&GRAPPLED round?
I know that GRAPPLED characters lose their Dex. Bonus while grappled or grappling.

"No Dexterity Bonus: A character loses it's Dexterity bonus to AC (if a it has one) against opponents a it isn't grappling. (A character can still use the bonus against opponents the character is grappling.)"

Does the grappled character provoke AoO's from any nearby enemies, while he is prone & grappled?

Grapples provoke AoOs, but it is not clear that trying to escape from one does. However, since it's listed under Grapple, and you are making grapple checks, my inclination is to say that it would indeed provoke AoOs.

If getting up from prone (from being tripped) is a move equivalent action and extricating yourself from the bolas (because your're grappled) is a Full round action, how would you rule how vulnerable this character would be if someone closed into melee while he is prone and grappled?

See above for the effect on his AC.

If he takes a full round action to do nothing else but extricate himself would he provoke AoO's from anyone?

Trying to unwrap rope from your legs is probably harder than giving a potion to an unconscious person. I'd say it provokes AoOs.

Would his Dex bonus not only be considered lost to AC but shouldn't it be effectively zero if all he is trying to do is
escape?

No - while you are grappled by the bolas you can still roll around and otherwise dodge. The only way you would effectivelyhve a 0 dex is if you were completely motionless.

J

 

[elric lornhood]

I believe the grapple referred to in the bolas is a grapple & pin, yes
I disagree. You say later that the character can still roll around theoretically so that his dex is not 0. Pinned means immoble. I don't see how bolas around your legs immobilizes you if you can roll around. It also does not say in the bolas that he is 'grappled and pinned', just grappled.

Grapples provoke AoOs, but it is not clear that trying to escape from one does. However, since it's listed under Grapple, and you are making grapple checks, my inclination is to say that it would indeed provoke AoOs.

Grappling in of itself does not provoke attacks of opportunity. Starting one could do so from threatening enemies when you "move in", but once you are grappling or grappled, that does not provoke AoO. Otherwise every enemy in range would get an AoO on you every round you are grappling, and that is not how it works as far as I can see.

Trying to unwrap rope from your legs is probably harder than giving a potion to an unconscious person. I'd say it provokes AoOs.
Technically, it should say in the weapon description provokes one or not, but I think I agree with you on this one, regardless.

-Mark

 

[Arcanus]

How hard is it to keep trying to trip a grappled opponent?
Wouldn't he get penalties to avoid being tripped?
How about bull rushing this grappled person also?

This is an attack method I am thinking of doing.
I have a Sorcerer/Rogue/Fighter.
I have expert tactician, quickdraw also.

Throw bolas with True Strike cast beforehand.
Almost a guaranteed grapple and trip.
close in and then sneak attack/sneak attack
if need be trip opponent again or throw another bolas
I will be using a longspear to attack with so if he gets out of
the grapple I can always quickdraw another set of bolas hopefully getting another grapple, he then would be W/O Dex so expert tactician kicks in with me using longspear to sneak attack again. If I had improved trip or knockdown the fun could really start up.
What other reach weapons are there that give a bonus to trip people?

 

[Arcanus]

What I am trying to do is add some flavorfull combat to the boring d20 roll to hit combats we seem to fall into.

I thought that this would make a great gladiator style of combat.
Plus enemy spellcasters would be in for a real jam.
True Striking with bolas, then charging in with longspear to attack.

How much easier would it be to try and pin this grappled opponent if I ran up and grabbed him?