Wild Shape to escape Grapple?

[arbados]

Can a druid wildshape into say, a small animal, while grappled in order to attempt to escape the grapple? It says that wild shape is a spelllike ability in both the PH and the MotW. So does that mean they cannot, because you can only cast a verbal spell while grappled? I am not sure and could use some feedback. The druid in the party always uses this techniques when grappled and I am starting to wonder if it should be allowed.
Thanks.

 

[Mahali]

Yes but it's not a good idea to wildshape into a small animal.

1. You'll provoke an AoO for using a SP ability and have to make a concentration check.
2. Small creatures have a -4 grapple check.

So do it defensively and Wildshape into something big and strong.

 

[Hypersmurf]

1. You'll provoke an AoO for using a SP ability.

Not from the person you're grappling, though, only anyone who threatens you.

-Hyp.

 

[Mahali]

Why not?

You don't threaten an area while grappling but we've always taken that as "normal threatend area" and that you still "threaten" the one you're grappling.

 

[Hypersmurf]

You don't threaten an area while grappling but we've always taken that as "normal threatend area" and that you still "threaten" the one you're grappling.

[shrug] If you "don't threaten an area", you don't make AoOs.

From the description of AoOs : "An enemy that takes certain actions while in a threatened area provokes an attack of opportunity from you."

Since you don't threaten an area, any action the person you are grappling takes is, by definition, not taken in a threatened area.

-Hyp.

 

[med stud]

You should wildshape into an electric eel or a porcupine instead of escaping

 

[RandomNPC]

I'm not sure if this applies but casting while grappled has a concentrations dc of like 10+spell level+50. I wouldn't allow that ability to be used while being grappled unless that check was made, part of the advantage to grappling is that it really screws a spellcaster. Also, don't smaller creatures get a negative mod to grapple checks?

 

[shilsen]

I'm not sure if this applies but casting while grappled has a concentrations dc of like 10+spell level+50.

It's DC 20 + spell level.

10 + spell level + 50 would be a tad difficult

 

[RandomNPC]

Well I figured that there would be a somatic component, which according to the epic lavel book is 50+spell level.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Well I figured that there would be a somatic component, which according to the epic lavel book is 50+spell level.

Wildshape, as a Spell-Like Ability, has no components.

-Hyp.