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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Elder-Basilisk" data-source="post: 2665192" data-attributes="member: 3146">Sure, it's not a good option against a lot of foes that a high level party will have. But it is a good option against a lot of those foes as well. (And can be a good option against even more with a few spells from allies. A resist energy makes grappling the fire elemental very workable and, depending upon your interpretation of the polymorph spell, there are a lot of forms that expand the range of practically grappleable creatures--a stone or fire giant form monk can grapple a lot of things that he couldn't in his natural form and an athach form monk would do even better if your DM lets you get huge forms out of polymorph). There aren't many options that are good against every foe that a high level party will face--that's why one trick ponies do worse and worse the higher level they get.As others have pointed out, the rules are not as clear as you suggest. (I think the monster manual's rake entry makes it pretty clear the other way myself, but that's neither here nor there). In any event, the character isn't giving up a whole lot by spending the round establishing a grapple. A monk does just as much damage with a grapple as with an unarmed strike. And, again, depending upon rules interpretations, a monk might even be able to flurry of blows, get in the bonus unarmed strike and then attempt a grapple (without even taking the attack penalty on his grapple check if you follow the FAQ slavishly) on the second attack. If the monk is successful, even by your interpretation, the creature should take -4 to hit for attacking in a grapple. Since it was going to full attack with its natural weapons anyway, getting full attacked at -4 is a lot better than getting full attacked at full attack bonus. (Not to mention the possibility that the creature might have been more effective with a manufactured weapon that it can no longer use).From the sounds of things, the situation in your campaign was simply an example of a bad situation not an example of bad tactics.</blockquote>

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