Question about Snatch Feat

[Stormrunner]

Actually, what the Draconomicon says is "...works as the Snatch feat, except you can grab an opponent two or more sizes smaller than you...". It doesn't define "grab" - does it mean you can't grapple a "too large" creature at all, or just that you don't get the auto-damage? IMO it's the latter, since you could always choose to forgo the whole "snatch" bit and just grapple the target normally. It doesn't make sense that taking the feat would suddenly make you unable to grapple anyone unless they're really small. It seems pretty clear to me that what the designers were trying for was "you can grab-and-squeeze any foe small enough for you to pick up in one hand or in your mouth". I do think the prereq should be Improved Grapple rather than Huge size; it gives much of the utility of Improved Grapple, except the +4 bonus, and as written a Large orge, say, couldn't Snatch a Tiny rat.

 

[Gansk]

Actually, what the Draconomicon says is "...works as the Snatch feat, except you can grab an opponent two or more sizes smaller than you...". It doesn't define "grab" - does it mean you can't grapple a "too large" creature at all, or just that you don't get the auto-damage? IMO it's the latter, since you could always choose to forgo the whole "snatch" bit and just grapple the target normally. It doesn't make sense that taking the feat would suddenly make you unable to grapple anyone unless they're really small. It seems pretty clear to me that what the designers were trying for was "you can grab-and-squeeze any foe small enough for you to pick up in one hand or in your mouth".

Of course any large creature can grapple any creature smaller than it, but improved grab is much better than a normal grapple. A normal grapple can be prevented with a successful AoO - an improved grab cannot. A normal grapple only does damage equal to an unarmed strike - an improved grab does damage equal to the natural weapon performing the grab. A normal grapple doesn't allow you to threaten other opponents - an improved grab gives you the option.

So the question is again - does the Snatch feat give you improved grab for every creature up to one size smaller or only for creatures three sizes smaller? The Improved Snatch feat implies that the improved grab only works for creatures three sizes smaller (or two sizes smaller if you have Improved Snatch).