Some confusion about Improved Grab.

[Lord Pendragon]

Okay, say an ankheg attacks a fighter.

It hits the fighter with its bite attack. Now, Improved Grab kicks in, and it attempts to automatically start a grapple as a free action.

Usually, grappling's first step Grab, requires a melee touch attack, but the ankheg has Improved Grab, so it bypasses this step and moves to step two: Hold.

So the ankheg and the fighter make opposed grapple checks. If the fighter wins, no grapple is initiated, and combat carries on as usual. If the ankheg wins, it means that he's got a hold on the fighter.

On the fighter's turn, he can attempt to break free of the grapple by making another opposed grapple check. If he succeeds, he's free of the ankheg's pincers. If he fails, he's stuck in the maw.

Round 2. Now, the ankheg already has a hold of the poor fighter, so it automatically deals it's bite damage, plus 1d4 points of acid damage.

Question: can the ankheg make any other attacks while it's holding the fighter in its mouth?

Question: have I gotten the rest of it right? I've never run a monster with improved grab before, so I'm still trying to get my head around the procedures and mechanics, and I've never been good with grappling.

Thanks for any help.

 

[Wippit Guud]

Lets see... subtypes and abilities...

The creature has the option to conduct the grapple normally, or simply use the part of its body it used in the improved grab to hold the opponent. If it chooses to do the latter, it takes a –20 penalty on grapple checks, but is not considered grappled itself; the creature does not lose its Dexterity bonus to AC, still threatens an area, and can use its remaining attacks against other opponents. A successful hold does not deal any extra damage unless the creature also has the constrict special attack. If the creature does not constrict, each successful grapple check it makes during successive rounds automatically deals the damage indicated for the attack that established the hold. Otherwise, it deals constriction damage as well (the amount is given in the creature's descriptive text).

If it just holds the opponent, the creature can still attack with it's other attacks. Doesn't work with the ankheg, he only has the bite attack, and it's holding the opponent.

If he had constrict, he automatically hits and does damage based on his attack. Ankhegs don't have constrict. However, a creature with improved grab can make grapple checks against a held opponent, and if they succeed it deals damage based on his attack.

Dunno if that clears things up or makes things worse.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

Well, the ankheg entry says that for each round the ankheg holds someone, he automatically does his bite damage plus 1d4 acid damage. So he doesn't need to constrict or grapple or anything to do damage. Just hold the guy.

The part that I'm hoping to get confirmation on are the steps involved in the grapple, and making sure I didn't mess anything up about applying Improved Grab to it...

Edit to add: But it does look like you're right about him attacking as well. He doesn't have other attacks, so pretty much the fighter is screwed, while other party members are in the clear!

 

[Wippit Guud]

Well, the ankheg entry says that for each round the ankheg holds someone, he automatically does his bite damage plus 1d4 acid damage. So he doesn't need to constrict or grapple or anything to do damage. Just hold the guy.

For the record, it doesn't say that in the SRD entry for 3.5

 

[Tellerve]

It also doesn't mention that in the 3.5 monster manual for Ankheg. Just says that after it gets a hold if it is attacked it'll retreat into its hole with the victim in its pincers...ohh nasty, "momma its dark down here!"

Tellerve

P.S. I really think it is silly that some monsters have Toughness feat, mainly 'cause I think it is a silly feat, but just wanted to rant real quickly here as the Ankheg has toughness

 

[Wippit Guud]

I think the continuous grapple checks make more sense anyways, it would be him chewing on the guy.

 

[Tellerve]

As it says it retreats into the tunnel and uses his normal movement, is that so that you'd take half of that speed for moving as per grappling rules in the phb? Or is the ankheg something special and can move automatically with something in its mouth? I would go for the former, as its grapple check is pretty beefy it shouldn't do too bad about pulling a 200lb guy back down a hole.

Tellerve

 

[Wippit Guud]

When a creature gets a hold after an improved grab attack, it pulls the opponent into its space. This act does not provoke attacks of opportunity. It can even move (possibly carrying away the opponent), provided it can drag the opponent's weight.


Seems like that as long as it can lift it, a creature with Improved Grab isn't reduced in movement when grappling.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

My apologies for the confusion, guys. This is a 3.0 ankheg. Though the games I'm currently playing in are 3.5 (and hence my recent 3.5 questions here on ENworld) the campaign I DM will remain 3.0. This question is in regards to an encounter I'm trying to set up.

From the 3.0 SRD, Ankheg entry:

Acid (Ex): Acidic enzymes drip from an ankheg’s mouth each round it maintains a hold. It automatically deals 1d4 points of acid damage each round in addition to bite damage.

But does the rest look good? Am I doing the right steps regarding resolving the grab/grapple?

 

[Wippit Guud]

Oh wait... this could get nasty nasty nasty.... Check this line:

If the creature does not constrict, each successful grapple check it makes during successive rounds automatically deals the damage indicated for the attack that established the hold.

So, if I read this right, it goes like this.

Ankheg turn:
1. Ankheg hits, initiates grapple.
2. Opposed strength check, opponent fails, is put in hold.
Opponent turn:
1. Opponent tries to break free. Opposed strength, opponent loses.
2. each successful grapple check it makes during successive rounds automatically deals the damage - opponent takes bite damage on opponent round
Ankheg turn:
1. Opposed grapple, ankheg wins, inflicts damage

If that's the way it goes, Improved grapple is sick. If someone tries to break free, and fails, he takes damage for it.