Weapon Focus: Grappling

[atomn]

Does Weapon Focus: Grappling improve your grappling checks too or just your initial attack to initiate a grapple?

Besides Improved Grappling and Clever Wrestling, are there any other ways to boost your grappling check? (Asides from spells that increase Strength or Size modifiers, that is.)

Thanks!

 

[Artoomis]

Only the initial attack, not the later grapple checks - because Weapon Focus only improve your attack roll.

 

[ValhallaGH]

Does Weapon Focus: Grappling improve your grappling checks too or just your initial attack to initiate a grapple?

Besides Improved Grappling and Clever Wrestling, are there any other ways to boost your grappling check? (Asides from spells that increase Strength or Size modifiers, that is.)

Thanks!

The Attack roll only. Weapon Focus only grants a bonus to attack rolls.

That said, I don't think it would be in any way broken to houserule that Weapon Focus (grapple) grants a +1 bonus on all grapple checks.

 

[atomn]

That said, I don't think it would be in any way broken to houserule that Weapon Focus (grapple) grants a +1 bonus on all grapple checks.

I'd say the same thing. I was working on a grappler and took a look at the grapple checks of random monsters from the MM and they have pretty hefty grapple check bonuses. Since all of the nifty grapple options are based on the grapple check, it’d be nice to have that added bonus. When compared with typical fighter builds (like a two-handed Power Attacker), it doesn’t seem like it would unbalance anything. (Although I have never seen it in action, so I'm not too sure.)

Thanks for the input!

 

[Artoomis]

From Complete Warrior you could take:

Clever Wrestling (bonus to escape grapple)
Close-Quarters Fighting (to avoid being grappled)

Not what you are looking for, though.

You could also (maybe) take Weakening Touch to remove strength points form your opponent, which would improve your grappling.

 

[Moon-Lancer]

well, thier is a feat called improve grapple and it gives a +4, but it has pre reqs, so i think getting +1, then +2 for 2 feats is not game breaking at all. 3 feats for a +6 to grapple, kind of sucks or at least is sub par in my opinion, so that should tell you that i would let anyone do this if they asked. i might even make it more. Grapple focus +2 improved grapple focuse +4

 

[ValhallaGH]

I'd say the same thing. I was working on a grappler and took a look at the grapple checks of random monsters from the MM and they have pretty hefty grapple check bonuses.

The secret is in the size bonuses.

Also note that you cannot, are absolutely forbidden from and automatically fail at any attempt to offensively grapple a creature two or more size categories larger than you.

I think that's a dumb rule but it is part of the grappling rules. So any character focused on grappling will need another tactic when fighting foes size Huge or larger (or size Large or larger if the character is Small).

 

[Iku Rex]

Ways to improve grapple checks

An older post of mine saved by Google:

Feats:
Improved Grapple, of course, for +4 to grapple checks.
Jotunbrud (regional, RoF) lets you count as Large for the purpose of many combat maneuvers, including grapple (+4).
Aberrant Blood and Deepspawn (LoM) both add +2 to grapple checks.
Disentangler (wild dwarf only, RoF) adds +2 to grapple checks.

Knifefighter (regional, PGtF) helps you attack with a light weapon in a grapple.
Earth's Embrace (CW) lets you eal more damage when pinning an opponent.
Savage Grapple (CAdv) lets you do sneak attack damage when grappling in wild shape.
Scorpion's Grasp (Sandstorm) lets you start a grapple when striking normally.
Multigrab and Greater Multigrab (SS, requires Improved Grab) reduces (-10)/removes the penalty for grappling with only one limb.
Oriental Adventures (3.0) has some grapple feats I believe.

Prestige Classes:
Nature's Warrior (CW) can give you +4 to grapple checks in a form with the Improved Grapple ability.
The Reaping Mauler (CW) is based around grappling. (Though you only get a +2 bonus to the actual grapple check.)
Master of Many Forms (CAdv) lets you change into big, strong forms.

Items:
Scorpion's Claws (Sandstorm, nonmagical) grant a +4 bonus to grapple checks.
Gloves of Titan's Grip (ExpPsiH) grant a +8 enhancement bonus to grapple checks (7 rounds per use, up to three uses per day, 14000 gp).
Gloves of Fearsome Grip (S&F) grant a +5 enhancement bonus for 15000 gp.
A Ring of Growth (SS) lets you grow a size category and gives you a +4 Str bonus (18000 gp).

Shapechanging:
Polymorph (or draconic polymorph from Draconomicon) lets you change into a large monster yourself. The Annis hag (Str 25) or the Cave Troll (MM3, Str 29) make good grapplers with their Strength and rake ability. For plain ol' size and Str you have War Trolls (MM3, Str 31), Firbolgs (MM2, Str 36) and Fire Giants (Str 31). (If you can change into Huge creatures there's Treants [Str 29] or Mountain Trolls [MM3, Str 36]). For non-humanoids the Darktentacles' (MM2) +16 racial bonus to grapple checks is hard to match. The Leechwalker (MM2) isn't a great grappler, but it has an ugly blood drain attack in a grapple.

For wild shape (which I'm not so familiar with) it's mostly about finding the biggest, strongest animal you can change into. Preferably with Improved Grab and/or rake attacks.

Spells:
Enlarge person (Sor/Wiz 1) increases your size.
Fearsome grapple (Sor/Wiz 2, SC) grants a +4 or +8 (CL 9+) circumstance bonus to grapple checks.
Polymorph (Sor/Wiz 4), draconic polymorph (Sor/Wiz 5, D) and shapechange (Sor/Wiz 9) can change you into something bigger and stronger.

Balor nimbus (Clr Sor/Wiz 2, SC) deals a steady 6d6/round to any creature you grapple with.
(I know I've seen other "deal damage when grappling" spells.)

Psionics:
Expansion (PsyW 1) increases your size by one or two categories.
Grip of iron (PsyW 1) gives you a +4 or better enhancement bonus to grapple checks.
Metamorphisis (Ego 4) and greater metamorphisis (Ego 9) are the psionic polymorph and shapechange powers.

 

[Bryntryst]

Half-giant cleric with enlarge person and the Competition domain.

 

[boolean]

Half-giant cleric with enlarge person and the Competition domain.

In this case, Enlarge Person doesn't work. Half-giants (and goliaths) aren't people.

(Enlarge person is Target: One humanoid creature. Half-giants are type giant, not humanoid.)

Of course, if you want to make a half-giant grappler the best option is psychic warrior, with the powers of expansion (self-only enlarge that isn't limited by type) and grip of iron (which gives an enhancement bonus to grapple checks).

Looking at Monk 2(for Improved Grapple and evasion)/Psychic Warrior 2, gives a possible grapple check of:
Str 16: +3
Powerful Build: +4
Base Attack: +2
Improved Grapple: +4
Expansion: +5 (+4 for the increase in size and +1 for the +2 strength)
Grip of Iron: +4
----------------
Total: +22 at fourth level.