Level Up (A5E) Wrestler Tradition Brainstorm

[xiphumor]

One of my players has a (homebrewed) Goliath Fighter/Adept character, and he’s expressed some frustration that none of his maneuvers rely on throwing his weight around the way he wants to.

For example, in the last fight, he wanted to grab the hydra, hurl it over his head (away from the rest of the party) and smash it into the ground. (He has 20 STR, x4 carrying capacity, and is only mechanically Medium, so I let him grapple a Huge creature). In another fight he wanted to try to crush an enemy he had grappled. In these cases I’ve generally improvised the cost and effects of such moves, but I think it speaks to a missing combat tradition that even Adamant Mountain doesn’t quite capture.

I would love to whip up a tradition like this for him, but I need help brainstorming some moves. Any cool ideas?

 

[Steampunkette]

The Serpent's Coils combat tradition

Tier 1 maneuvers:
Improved Grab maneuver. Make an attack, deal damage, grapple your opponent if they fail their save.
Suplex: Deal damage to a grappled creature and apply the prone condition on a failed save.
Dragon's Hide Stance. Take half damage from nonmagical BSP from targets you are grappling.
Haul: Drag a grappled creature without a movement speed penalty.

Tier 2 maneuvers:
Crushing Grip. Extra damage while grappling
Wrenching Throw. Creatures of X size or smaller go head over heels through the air up to 15ft. They do get a save.
Disabling Grip. Choose one method of attacking the enemy has. They can't use it while grappled on a failed save (Holding an alligator's mouth shut, or arm-barring an ogre)
Unyielding Grip. When a grappled character would be pushed or pulled out of your threatened area you can make a strength save to keep them from getting moved. On a failure you get moved with them and the grapple continues.

Tier 3 maneuvers:
Pin. Impose disadvantage to your opponent's save against being grappled as a reaction.
Giant Swing. Use someone you have grappled as a weapon. Your victim and your target both take damage.
Flying Elbow. Move + Attack. Extra damage.
Skullcracker. Your grappled target becomes blinded or deafened for a number of turns equal to your proficiency bonus.

Tier 4 maneuvers:
Hammerlock: Neither you nor your victim can take actions, bonus actions, or reactions until they escape or you end the grapple.
Large Stance. You are treated as one size category larger for determining what you can grapple.

Tier 5 maneuvers:
Piledriver. You deal unarmed damage to a grappled creature and they make a save to avoid being paralyzed for a number of turns equal to your proficiency bonus.

Have I mentioned I like combat traditions?

 

[Steampunkette]

Oh... I forgot to have a Tier 5 maneuver for sitting on someone's chest and arms and beating them like you're an MMA fighter turned legbreaker and they owe your boss money.

 

[xiphumor]

Should’ve known @Steampunkette would have already done it XD

 

[Steampunkette]

Should’ve known @Steampunkette would have already done it XD

Errr...

I didn't. I didn't already have it done.

I spent about 20 minutes just writing out that post and tossed a name at the top. Nothing more.

S'why the maneuvers don't have real names (for the most part). Like "Large Stance" or "Improved Grab maneuver"

 

[xiphumor]

That’s even better and even more in character

 

[VenerableBede]

I started reading this tradition and John Cena broke through my wall and started hitting me with a folding chair...

 

[Shades of Eternity]

size categories limitations for grappling need to die in a fire.

if the creature is big, it will be stupidly strong and an uphill battle, but it should be possible to slap them in a sharpshooter once adequately softened up.

Afterall, everybody is the same size on the matt.

 

[Pedantic]

Well that's way more than I have, but you should definitely add a technique that allows you to grapple while both your hands are full. Maybe as the other first level stance?

 

[Xethreau]

I post this because it seems relevant to our interests. I wrote a free minigame for O5e for mud wrestling, and I thought y'all might enjoy it! I can only imagine fighters of the Serpent's Coil tradition absolutely smashing one another in the mud pit.

#G Rated Content Only

Mud Wrestling! (5e) - Josh Gentry | DriveThruRPG.com

Mud Wrestling! (5e) - It's time to romp in the mud! Help celebrate the Fifth Edition and OGL by grabbing this free PDF! If you enjoyed the art

www.drivethrurpg.com