Stirge Grappling Question

[Zoombaba]

I just need a couple different viewpoints on a grappling question I got.

We played the World Largest Dungeon this weekend, and one PC had a stirge attached to him, sucking his blood. As I understand it, by the rules, an attached stirge has effectively "grappled" the PC. I had another PC decide to attack the stirge.

After trying, hopelessly to find a rule on this in the 3.5 PHB & DMG, and 3.0 MM, I ruled that the attacker was at a -4, and would hit his friend if he missed within a margin of failure of 4. Oh, and the stirge's AC decreased to 12.

Now, after hashing this out at one forum (RPGNet), I'm told that in fact, by the rules, the attacker has no chance of hitting his friend if he misses the stirge. Can that be right? When two opponents are grappling, an outsider attacker will never hit one of them?

 

[Hypersmurf]

Can that be right? When two opponents are grappling, an outsider attacker will never hit one of them?

With a melee attack? Right.

With a ranged attack, the target you strike is 'determined randomly' in a grapple.

-Hyp.

 

[Li Shenron]

IIRC there is a chance to hit your ally only if you do a RANGED attack, but not a melee attack. There is not even a penalty I think... (only that the stirge loses Dex to AC).

You can also probably try to take the Stirge away, but I'm not sure what is the correct way. I guess a touch attack and a grapple attempt (which automatically succeed) is fine.

 

[Li Shenron]

After trying, hopelessly to find a rule on this in the 3.5 PHB & DMG, and 3.0 MM, I ruled that the attacker was at a -4, and would hit his friend if he missed within a margin of failure of 4.

I also think that if you give the -4, that may already take into account that you're trying not to hit your ally, so I'd give no chance for mistake.

 

[Ferox4]

After trying, hopelessly to find a rule on this in the 3.5 PHB & DMG, and 3.0 MM, I ruled that the attacker was at a -4, and would hit his friend if he missed within a margin of failure of 4.

This would be more correct if the attacker was simply trying to do subdual damage to the Stirge - which isn't a bad option.

Our group has always played with a 25% chance of missing the target and hitting the friendly. THIS IS NOT in the rules of the game <looks around to see if Hyp is still lurking around the thread > however, we like the flavor it gives to the action.

Cheers