D&D 3E/3.5 Worst 3.5 rule from core books?

[Herzog]

@Jack Simth:

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.

That little piece of information has been eluding me for a long time. Since they mention almost everything else in the monster description of Improved Grab, you'd think they could include that as well....

 

[Jack Simth]

@Jack Simth:


That little piece of information has been eluding me for a long time. Since they mention almost everything else in the monster description of Improved Grab, you'd think they could include that as well....

The -20 is a bit of a killer, though. That CR 7 Huge scorpion, with a grapple modifier of +21, has a grapple modifier of +1 if he wants to walk away after grabbing his prey. That CR 10 Gargantuan Scorpion, though, has a Grapple modifier of +37 (+17, when walking away), and the CR 12 Colossal has +58 (+38 when walking away), so they're going to be rather devastating to the party that doesn't have Freedom of Movement.

Hmm... that CR 12 Colossal Monstrous Scorpion, who grabs two prey creatures and wanders off, will basically be doing 4d8+24 damage to two party members each round due to the Constrict and stacking, and still have that DC 33 tail Con poison each round to discourage people from following.

Okay, I'm going to have to throw one of those up against my party....

 

[Runestar]

That's when you realize that the monstrous scorpion can't fly...

 

[Griego]

The worst rule concerns sneak attack. Did you know that you may not sneak attack a creature who has any type of concealment?

This means that the shadowy rogues attacking in dark places cannot sneak attack because even shadowy illumination provides concealment.

Aluvial

I would rule that characters with low-light vision and especially darkvision ignore concealment due to shadowy illumination, but not due to fog, smoke, terrain (tall grass, thick jungle, etc). In addition, darkvision (but not low-light vision) ignores concealment due to total darkness.

 

[frankthedm]

That little piece of information has been eluding me for a long time. Since they mention almost everything else in the monster description of Improved Grab, you'd think they could include that as well....

Also most monsters with improved grab can move away with the victim. And that is not if it took the -20 either. Monster makes the grab and on its next turn, it runs. And if the DM bends the rules for grappling and lets the monster use improved grab on an AoO, that makes the situation even worse.

"It can even move (possibly carrying away the opponent), provided it can drag the opponent’s weight."

 

[Herzog]

I have a 5 PC party, 4 of which are lvl 5 and 1 is lvl 4.
One of the lvl 5 PC's has a LA+2 (half ogre) race, another a +1 LA race (homebuilt half-stonechild). The lvl 4 is taking the draconic racial class in combination with the Dragon Shaman class (interesting combination....)

All in all, the CR7 Huge Scorpion almost killed the half ogre barbarian, and probably would have done some additional damage to the other characters if I had known about the abovementioned -20 rule.
The point is not that you want to keep grappling.
The point is that you want to try to grapple while keeping your attack options open....

 

[Deset Gled]

I have always hated the Massive Damage rule. It basically means that, starting around level 18 or so, every hit has a 1 in 20 chance of instantly killing, regardless of HP.

 

[Jack Simth]

That's when you realize that the monstrous scorpion can't fly...

Eh, the Half-Dragon template takes care of that (100 foot Fly (average) isn't half-bad), is in flavor for what's going on with the party, and is only +2 CR.

 

[billd91]

Eh, the Half-Dragon template takes care of that (100 foot Fly (average) isn't half-bad), is in flavor for what's going on with the party, and is only +2 CR.

Yeah, but how often are you going to find a half-dragon gargantuan monstrous scorpion? I try to keep my rare crossbreeds rare.

 

[Runestar]

Yeah, but how often are you going to find a half-dragon gargantuan monstrous scorpion? I try to keep my rare crossbreeds rare.

Well, rare is one thing, exotic is another. The "mad wizard's experiment gone awry" excuse can be used to justify just about anything...

Considering that the half-dragon template can be applied to just about any living creature in the game, said combination seems to pale in comparison to more esoteric specimens like half-dragon treants or half-silver dragon fire elementals....

Fear my half red-dragon gelatinous ooze...