Improved Unarm Strike and Grapple

[Legildur]

ForceUSer wrote:

Personally I think grappling monks are nasty, especially given the right combination of feats and magic items. They will shut you down.

That's always part of the problem - the magic items. Typical published modules lack the monk specific equipment that could really make a difference when you start from low levels.

Starting at higher levels makes it much easier to 'buy' what you need off the rack to build the right character.

Thanks for the thread on the grappling monk - I'll take a look.

 

[Martin Olarin]

I see a lot of tal about grappling, AOOs, the merits of the Improved Grapple feat [OA], but I don't see any comments from anyone who currently plays a grappling character.

Next time my party composition encourages it, I'm going to make a grappling monk and see what happens.

My interest in a grappling character is what got me thinking about this subject. I will be playing one soon and wanted to work out something I thought was fair.

 

[Brekki]

Oh, but you HAVE seen comments from someone who plays a grappling character

I play a Ran1/PsW9, who is specialized in claws/grappling, using his "Claws of the Vampire".

Feats: Ambidexterity, Two-Weapon Fighting, Tracking, Power Attack, Cleave, Improved Unarmed, Improved Grapple, Speed of Thought, Weapon Focus (Claw), Specialization (Claw), Flying Kick, Psionic Charge, Mental Leap.

The Flying Kick and Improved Grapple feats shouldn't work with the claws, but my DM was lenient, instead of Improved Grapple I could also have taken Snatch, but didn't know of the feat at that time.

In combat he attacks using the two-weapon fighting rules and his ranger feats, getting free grapple checks. While grappling, he usually keeps attacking with his claws, because the claws do more damage than unarmed strike. With a high AC character, I go for the pin and do damage as US.

Important Items:
- Amulet of Mighty Fists +1
- Sure Strike Impact (the psion version) Bracers of Striking

Next items on the wishlist are the Gloves of Fearsome Grip, which will become Straps of Fearsome Grip.

We don't have a "damage machine" in our group, so I'm the #1 fighter. Using "Expansion" to become 1.9 times as tall (Large) helps with the grapple checks and the damage dealt.

 

[reapersaurus]

I also play a grappling character (see sig)

He is not a monk.

What would you say if I suggested that to get good at grappling if you're NOT a monk is pretty hard?