How effective is grappling?

[Theroc]

As the OP. I've read mentioned of it, but it doesn't seem like it's a very good PC tactic for the most part, since you leave yourself extremely open. Am I mistaken? I realize this isn't much to go on, but I'm literally out the door.

 

[Dandu]

It is more useful when you're only facing a small number of enemies.

Who do not have Freedom of Movement or Teleportation.

And are not more than two size categories larger than you.

And who do not have nasty attacks that they can use on you in a grapple.

Oh, and you'll want to make sure they're not incorporeal.

 

[thewallshadow]

I find that it really depends on the build and People you play with. I will be starting a totemist grappler soon myself and the only real problem any one faced when doing a grappler in our group was that he went straight monk. His ability to grapple things diminished at roughly 7-8. I would say that if your going to be a grappler also have a backup plan built into the character.

 

[Victim]

It's more useful if you tend to fight leveled humanoid type opponents instead of huge monsters.

Fortunately, most of the traits that lend themselves to grappling - high base attack, size, and STR - improve conventional combat abilities, so most grapplers aren't bereft of back up options.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

My friend likes to say of grapple, "It has no settings between high and off." When it works, it works brutally effectively and getting someone into a grapple can many times turn the tide on an entire combat. Other times (see Dandu's list), grappling either doesn't work at all or is a very bad idea.

Generally, at low levels grapple borders on overpowered/broken because of how pathetically easy it is to completely and utterly shut down certain enemies with it. At higher levels, it's almost never useful, again see Dandu's list for why.

 

[krupintupple]

the totemist has some nice soulmelds that really blend well with being in a grapple, such as natural attacks and bonuses to grappling. otherwise, i can't really add much to what the seasoned vets have already suggested.

 

[Theroc]

Goliath Dragonborn Stony Devil Totemist. I had asked the DM whether he'd allow natural weapons to gain the powerful build benefit because I'm not sure whether it's too strong or not, and he seems iffy on it from reading the charop boards. I've looked myself, but I probably missed something important, but he mentioned Powerful build being really good for grappling, hence my question on it.

Basic level is 5, all 3.5 sources allowed(Savage Species is 3.0). It's an evil based game, so my dragonborn is a "Dragonborn of Tiamat" which... means... evil dragon-like guy... lol. Basically, the DM isn't holding the RP of it there.

Not sure what sorts of creatures we'll be fighting, but there's been mentions of elves... so I imagine it may work well for locking down Elven wizards or something, I'm just leery of charging in to pin someone and then getting maimed in the process.

If I DO focus on grappling, are feats like the one that adds 1d12 to grappling damage while on the ground and stuff like that a decent investment, or is that wasted?

 

[Dandu]

This powerful build?

Powerful Build: The physical stature of half-giants lets them function in many ways as if they were one size category larger.

Whenever a half-giant is subject to a size modifier or special size modifier for an opposed check (such as during grapple checks, bull rush attempts, and trip attempts), the half-giant is treated as one size larger if doing so is advantageous to him.

Not sure what sorts of creatures we'll be fighting, but there's been mentions of elves... so I imagine it may work well for locking down Elven wizards or something, I'm just leery of charging in to pin someone and then getting maimed in the process.

Only works if the elven wizard is incompetent.

If I DO focus on grappling, are feats like the one that adds 1d12 to grappling damage while on the ground and stuff like that a decent investment, or is that wasted?

Does it provide increasing benefits as you scale with level, or a decent constant benefit that helps you in a wide variety of situations?

 

[Theroc]

This powerful build?

Yes. It also allows one to use a weapon one size larger than normal for them, thus letting a medium character use a large weapon without penalty. I didn't quite get why the powerful build wouldn't translate to natural weapons... so I asked my DM.

Only works if the elven wizard is incompetent.

So I imagined(unless I use the blink dog soulmeld to blink after the wizard?). But then again, every wizard who isn't 'incompetent' would trump anything else on the battlefield, no?

Does it provide increasing benefits as you scale with level, or a decent constant benefit that helps you in a wide variety of situations?

I don't believe +1d12 damage while grappling on the ground scales or provides a constant benefit. So I'm assuming you feel it's a waste?

 

[Dandu]

So I imagined(unless I use the blink dog soulmeld to blink after the wizard?). But then again, every wizard who isn't 'incompetent' would trump anything else on the battlefield, no?

Only if they're about the same level as the other stuff.

I don't believe +1d12 damage while grappling on the ground scales or provides a constant benefit. So I'm assuming you feel it's a waste?

Pretty much.