Marking with grab?

[Greatgodom]

ok, so I looked around and can't seem to find any info on it. I'm probably over looking something.

As a fighter, combat challenge lets you mark any enemy you attack. what is this limited to? is it strictly a melee basic attack? or could a grab attack mark an enemy?

I'm trying to make a fighter build (no house rules) based around grabs, but 4e isn't giving much play room. if the rule is any time you attack, meaning rolling a d20 for an attack roll, it would be nice.

I am interested in the "official" standpoint, and what most of you DM's think about it as a house rule. (if it needs to be)

 

[RangerWickett]

I know fighter marking works when you make a ranged attack, or when you use area or burst or blast attacks (like dragonborn breath weapon). Heck, a multiclassed fighter-wizard who casts illusions at people will mark them.

I'm pretty sure if you make a roll targeting a defense, it's an 'attack.' It might not be precisely defined that way anywhere in the rules, but that certainly seems to be how it's intended. So I would say yes, officially a grab is an attack, so a fighter who grabs will mark his target.

I'm interested in your build, by the way.

 

[RyvenCedrylle]

Heck yeah, a grab should mark. The mark is the mechanical implementation of the Fighter getting up in someone's space, disrupting their attacks and generally being a nuisance. If I'm trying to grab you in combat, and just catch an arm or maybe part of a tunic or something, it's going to mess up your abilities. Rules-wise, a grab makes a d20 roll + Str against an opponent's Reflex - doesn't get more attack-like than that.

 

[willows]

I'm too lazy to look this up right now, but I'd imagine that any power that has an 'attack' line qualifies as an attack.

 

[Greatgodom]

Wow, thanks for the quick replies.

The build isn't that great, but it's not meant to be uber-ninja-pirate build either. the grab build would use the vampiric heritage feat as its base. The battlevigor fighter seems to do the trick, and I think it would be fun.

I'm pretty excited about the grab marking an enemy that means that if the enemy escapes (by definition a move action requiring a shift of one square), I get to make a free attack, and if it doesn't escape, I get to use the blood drain power. The blood drain power is kinda weak, but the healing surge is nice, eventually granting me temp HP at higher levels. I also want to make use of the 2 powers (one for bloodknight and one for fighters) that include a grab as part of the attack (using a feat I would add invigorating to one of these and one of the powers I believe deals damage to an enemy every time you sustain your grab).Then as bloodknight I would get to use bite as a free action when I grab something, I know this isn't until High Levels, but it will be something fun to work towards.

I want a build that's fun, unique and challenging to play. From what I can tell, hardly anyone accept a few rouges bother to even use the grab tactic. And I like the idea of playing a half-Vampire. Probably comes from my vast amounts of Alucard love.

Anyway, thanks again for the fast answers, I’m going to go play with the character builder for a bit.

 

[chitzk0i]

On PHB p290, under 'Grab' it says: "Strength Attack: Make a Strength attack vs. Reflex." Yeah, it's an attack.

ETA: Check out the Garrotte multiclass feats. The encounter power is another "and grabbed" effect and the utility is an immediate interrupt that lets you throw your grab target in front of an attack.

 

[Infiniti2000]

I'm pretty excited about the grab marking an enemy that means that if the enemy escapes (by definition a move action requiring a shift of one square), I get to make a free attack, and if it doesn't escape, I get to use the blood drain power.

I don't believe they have to shift. In fact, they probably won't if they simply plan on attacking you. Also, you'd be trading a regular attack (at-will, encounter, daily, etc.) for a basic attack, which is likely a very poor choice. Hopefully you can find something that makes it at least a little useful otherwise I fear you will despair and give it up after a while because it might just suck too much.

 

[DracoSuave]

I don't believe they have to shift. In fact, they probably won't if they simply plan on attacking you. Also, you'd be trading a regular attack (at-will, encounter, daily, etc.) for a basic attack, which is likely a very poor choice. Hopefully you can find something that makes it at least a little useful otherwise I fear you will despair and give it up after a while because it might just suck too much.

If you are a Fighter, you're a defender. If their best counter to your plan is to attack you, then you're doing your job.

 

[Infiniti2000]

Yes, but if your best plan is a measly basic attack each round against a single opponent, whoop-de-do. Besides, a fighter doesn't really need grab to lock down opponents.

 

[Turtlejay]

Maybe you missed it, but he has plans for what he wants to do once the opponent is grabbed.

I wholeheartedly support this! Cool/different ideas always get me excited to play, even though I won't be playing with *you*. For sure you'll have to post how this works out for you.

And mildly related, all the fighter marking clarifications are good, but for Hybrid fighters you would not mark on a grab. Kind of a bummer.

Jay