Yet another simple swallow whole question

[maggot]

[house rule alert]
Swallow whole just doesn't make sense in most of the cases where it is given, I find the best thing to do (which sounds bad but actually works out better for the PCs) is to treat it as "pick up and chew/shake". Once the improved grapple succeeds the character is grappled in the creatures mouth. Each round the creature gets to make a grapple check to apply its bite damage and the grappled character has his normal difficulties in doing anything when held in a big creatures grapple.

Unlike swallowing whole, this ties up the creatures mouth so it isn't doing any other bite attacks while it chews its first mouthful into bite sized chunks.
[/house rule alert]

Under this house rule, how is "swallow whole" any different than simply improved grab which allows for the same option? Or are you saying with "swallow whole" the creature does not count as grappled?

 

[Plane Sailing]

Under this house rule, how is "swallow whole" any different than simply improved grab which allows for the same option? Or are you saying with "swallow whole" the creature does not count as grappled?

Doesn't get -20 on its grapple check if it wants to be treated as if "ungrappled". Normally after improved grab a creature can grapple normally for damage (and be considered to be grappling) or it can take -20 on its check and not be considered grappling (useful for avoiding sneak attacks etc).

My version allows the creature to chew with its full grapple modifier in order to do damage but without being treated as grappled.