Question about the Mob (Pitchforks, not Tommy-guns)

[Three_Haligonians]

So I am building an encounter for my players that involves a large nest of Giant Wasps. I was loathing the idea of having to run a combat involving scores of low CR creatures, especially ones with poison.. Fort saves on top of attack rolls.. ick.

I figure the DMG II Mob template is the answer for sure, but as I look at it I have become slightly confused. One of the special attacks it gains is Expert Grappler, which states:

A mob can maintain a grapple without penalty and still make attacks against other targets (normally, attacking other targets while grappling imposes a -20 penalty on grapple checks). A mob is never considered flat-footed while grappling.

Which is great, I read this and immediately envisioned the party halfling being picked up by the wasps and literally get carried away. The problem here though, is what attack are we talking about? Mobs deal 5d6 damage per round to those in its space, like a swarm does. It doesn't make attack rolls and if it doesn't make attack rolls, how can it start the grapples it does so well at maintaining?

To start a grapple, you need to make a melee touch attack - something the mob can't do. Even if it could, nothing about the mob rules grant it Improved Grab or Grapple so technically this initiation would provoke an AoO. Mobs are also really easy to hit, and unlike swarms they do take damage from weapons and such so really, that AoO is almost guarantee to stop the grapple attempt.

Have I missed something? or have they? Do you think they meant that mobs should be able to easily start grapples and just forgot? Of course, another question is whether or not you think mobs should have this ability in the first place?

Just cruising' for thoughts

J from Three Haligonians

 

[Primitive Screwhead]

Cool idea

I don't have the DMG II, but my first thought is to use the base creatures attack and add +16 {8 creatures Aid Another action}

Ditto for the contested Strength checks, base creature +16...

So in this case, Grapple +27 and effective STR of 34!

Ouch...

 

[Ogrork the Mighty]

Doesn't one of the mob's special abilities have to do with grappling?

 

[Laman Stahros]

A mob of vermin, according to the chart on p. 60 of DMG II, has a BAB of +22. Under Grapple, it says a mob has a +12 from size, so +34 before Str. Grapples are not standard attacks, so no problem, grapple away.