How many grapples do monsters get?

[Otterscrubber]

If a Huge dragon has grappled a human (grabbed in its mouth let us say) using the snatch feat and decides to do nothing other than apply damage, does it get 6 (Bite, 2 claws, 2 wings and a tail slap) grapple attempts to inflict damage or is it based off of there BAB or what? Is that fair to convert its wing and tail slaps into bite damage? Also, if it tries to fly away does it get to do so while still grappling at its regular grapple check or does the -20 apply?

 

[Gwarok]

I would say one bite attack. Crazy to assume that all their attacks convert to bite damage which is their best usually.

And if their moving they should eat the penalty on the grapple. If you are moving, your not devoting all you could to grappling someone. Try it sometime.

 

[Urbannen]

A creature with natural attacks would use its BAB to determine the number of grapple checks it gets, not its natural attack suite. If the Dragon had a BAB of 14, it would get 3 chances per round to deal damage. I think that since the dragon doesn't do subdual damage with its natural attacks, as does a human, that it would automatically deal normal damage to its victim on a successful grapple check. Also, I think that it could choose to use any of its natural attacks on a grappled victim, since these attacks are considered light weapons to the dragon, and one thing you can do while grappled is attack with a light weapon. (The dragon could claw at the creature it has in its mouth, for instance.)

I think that if the dragon pins the victim on a successful grapple check, it could then move its movement without penalty. Otherwise it takes a -20 penalty to its grapple checks.

 

[Gwarok]

Why would pinning make a difference? I know it seems that a dragon should be able to fly with a human in its mouth, and it can usually because of the vast difference in grapple checks. But what if it was grappling another creature near its own power? Would it be able to fly/full move with another dragon pinned? For that matter would a human be able to pin a human and walk normally? I think not.

Also I would say if the dragon wants to use more than its bite the during a grapple the -20 should come in. Unless those claws are being used to hold, not tear, its not grappling to the full extent.

 

[Otterscrubber]

Anyone else care to weigh in?

 

[the Jester]

The -20 applies if you're just using one limb to maintain the grapple. I'd say that using its claws and stuff is fine- it can make natural attacks at -4 while grappling, or it can take the -20 to its grapple check and make the rest of its natural attacks normally.

You can move at half your normal rate while grappling (dragging everyone else with you) if you succeed at a grapple check.

The 3.5 PH has much more detailed and much clearer grappling rules than previously existed for 3e. Check pages 155-157. There's a whole list of actions you can take while grappling.

 

[the Jester]

Looking at the original post, I realize I totally failed to answer the question.

Pg. 156 of the 3.5 PH states, "...If your base attack bonus allows you multiple attacks, you can attempt one of these actions [the list of things you can do while grappling] in place of each of your attacks, but at successively lower attack bonuses." This seems to mean, actually, that your dragon can't get more than four natural attacks while grappling unless he takes the -20 to his grapple checks. Interesting.

 

[Tilla the Hun (work)]

It's a 'huge' dragon, you're a 'medium' character. That's two size categories up. Isn't there rules about how big you have to be in order to carry an object without penalty? I mean, who seriously thinks a colossal dragon would have trouble moving while holding onto a small halfling??? But even if you accept that, wherein does the lack of size differential cancel out the -20 grapple check penalty for moving?

 

[the Jester]

It's a 'huge' dragon, you're a 'medium' character. That's two size categories up. Isn't there rules about how big you have to be in order to carry an object without penalty? I mean, who seriously thinks a colossal dragon would have trouble moving while holding onto a small halfling??? But even if you accept that, wherein does the lack of size differential cancel out the -20 grapple check penalty for moving?

There's no -20 penalty for moving. To move, all you have to do is beat all your opponents' grapple checks.

Unfortunately, there are no rules about size differences affecting your movement in a grapple. Seems like a logical area for a house rule, though.