How to stop a Grappling Monk?

[T-Bone]

How do you stop a monk with Improved Grapple from grappling and neutralizing every man-sized opponent. From spellcasters to platemail fighters. The touch attack always hits, and he has a huge advantage in grapple checks.

Even when the bad guy breaks free, he cannot even run away without drawing an AoO which the monk uses as another grapple attempt. If he stands still, he gets grappled again the next round. You cant damge the monk unless you win opposed grapple checks either.

On top of that, the monks friends come over and bash the grappled character as well. Isn't there a chance of hitting the monk?? Even arrows shot at the grappled victim, chance to hit monk???

What's the solution, other than to have every bad guy have improved grapple or the "anti-grapple" feat in Sword & Fist (forgot it's name, but gives an AoO even against Imp Grapple, and any damage dealt ends the grapple attempt.)

 

[Liquidsabre]

That would be Close-Quarters Fighting. Alright on to the helping part.

Step 1: Relax, think puppy dogs.

Step 2: Read Rules.

Before your players continue hood-winking you go back and read over some of the rules you'll find that these will help a little bit, but not too much. Grapplers are a tough lot but not that tough.

Ranged attacks are randomized between grapplers so it will hit one or the other. Also a grappled opponent may make attacks with a light weapon without making an opposed grapple check. Casters have dimension door and teleport as verbal components anyway to cast and making use of mirror image and invisibility is good. Silent Spell metamagic feat is another one, especially for Sorcerers. Having them fight more monsters that'll put the monk down, given that not much more to say. A barbarian grappler will eat the monk for lunch btw, so I wouldn't worry about it oom uch. If you're havign the party fight mostly NPCs expect them to get more powerful stuff as NPCs tend to have much mroe gear and money.

Lastly, if this one monk is such a problem why are your NPCs fighting alone??

 

[andargor]

What Liquidsabre said.

Even when the bad guy breaks free, he cannot even run away without drawing an AoO which the monk uses as another grapple attempt. If he stands still, he gets grappled again the next round. You cant damge the monk unless you win opposed grapple checks either.

Mobility, Spring Attack, or a high Tumble score will negate the AoO or make it more difficult.

Another suggestion: Escape Artist to counter the grapple.

Andargor

 

[jgsugden]

How do you stop a monk with Improved Grapple from grappling and neutralizing every man-sized opponent. From spellcasters to platemail fighters. The touch attack always hits, and he has a huge advantage in grapple checks.

What's the solution, other than to have every bad guy have improved grapple or the "anti-grapple" feat in Sword & Fist (forgot it's name, but gives an AoO even against Imp Grapple, and any damage dealt ends the grapple attempt.)

In general, grappling is too strong. As an attack technique, it is the equivalent of a save or die effect with a very hard saving throw. Unless you want to change the rules, there is little you can do about it other than have enemies plan to deal with it.

1.) Grappling characters are denied their dexterity. It is unclear whether they also lose their wisdom and extra bonuses to AC (Are they immobilized? They get no dexterity to AC and they can not move normally ...). Their ACs are lower than usual - far lower in some games.

Regardless of whether the DM rules that wisdom/extra AC is lost, the character is denied their dexterity and is thus subject to sneak attacks.

So, when the PC monk goes in for a grapple, hidden enemies can have a field day on him.

2.) Free action, via spell or ring, stops grappling.

3.) A DM might give a defender a circumstance bonus on grapple checks to avoid being grappled (or a penalty on attempts to start a grapple) if they are slicked up - perhaps via slick armor, a grease spell (actually in the grease spell description) or some other similar effect.

4.) Fighter types should be beating monks at grapple checks. They have a BAB of at least 1 higher (+2 at 5th, +3 at 9th, etc...) and should have a highger strength. Even with the +4 bonus from improved grapple, the monk should not be winning more than 1/2 the time.

 

[Epametheus]

Fighter-types should be able to win opposed grapple checks against monks -- or just rip the monk a new one, if he's going to try to stand his ground. A monk is going to think twice about trying to grapple someone with Shocking or Flaming armor spikes.

Grappling is strong, but that compensates for the utterly pathetic damage output. It takes about two or three times as long for a grappler kill something as it would take a more "normal" fighter.

High level arcane casters can teleport, and high level druids can turn into something that would totally own a grappler, but clerics and low level arcane casters are SOL unless they have buddies around to save them.

 

[Viktyr Gehrig]

Fighter-types should be able to win opposed grapple checks against monks -- or just rip the monk a new one, if he's going to try to stand his ground. A monk is going to think twice about trying to grapple someone with Shocking or Flaming armor spikes.

Wounding.

 

[James McMurray]

Always have a smalle weapon handy. You can use them in a grpple without opposed checks, albeit at a penalty to your attacks.

What level is the party? If the foe dimension doors (or the vastly more powerful dimension strike) then there is no AoO involved.

 

[Nifft]

The simple way to stop a grappling monk is to have him hit several times with a large sword (preferably held by a big, strong warrior-type).

A Necklace of Adaptation + a Pool of Water is a nice solution, too.

-- N

 

[Nifft]

[Armor Spikes of...]

Wounding.

Genius! My PCs will curse your name forever!

-- N, creating a were-rat hobgoblin blackguard named Korimyr

 

[Christian]

Ask him very politely.

Comparing the net game effects of Stunning Fist vs. Improved Grapple, who wants to take a guess what percentage of v.3.5 monks take the former?