Post/Author/DateTime	Post
redforty 01-22-05, 03:27 PM	Has anyone made a build based soley on the grappling aspect of combat? The search is down and I can't remember seeing a thread like that. I just got races of stone and I think the Goliaths freakin ROCK! Maybe a Goliath Monk that took the Reaping Mauler PrC and all the feats accordingly. What is the best min/max grappler out there? Btw, can someone please list all the feats that have to do with charging and grappling (and the sources they are from)? or if it has been done, link me to it?
lokkesmadr 01-22-05, 04:35 PM	Well, if you're going to take the Reaping Mauler PrC you almost certainly won't want to take it above 3rd level. The ability to force a save for unconsciousness allows you to perform a Coupe de Gras, which will force a far more difficult fort save that the Devastating Grapple class ability. Furthermore, you're probably not going to benefit much from taking a monk as your base class since the grapple mechanics favour a high BAB, a selection of complementary feats and larger size, this suggests you would be better off using a fighter for feats and BAB, possibly with a level of monk for early access to stunning fist and improved unarmed strike. (You'll want to take stunning fist as a monk since improved grapple is granted by Reaping Mauler and stunning fist is more 'expensive' to otherwise acquire through feats) My personal opinion is that the best grappler will probably be a psychic warrior since even a cursory glance through the powers allows me to put together a few powers granting colossal size (with a paltry 31 strength unfortunately) and a +12 enhancement bonus to grapple checks.
neilthrun 01-22-05, 05:08 PM	Barbarian can make nice grapplers as well. Check out the bear totem barbarian in unearthed arcana. The frostrager PRC in frostburn works well for grapplers as well. Druids with the ability to wild shape into large animals are good too. Im currently playing a fighter grappler and planning to take reaping mauler and gladiator. If you have oriental adventures the choke hold feat works just like the lvl 3 reaping mauler ability. Which means reaping mauler could be completey invalidated.
Ravos20 01-22-05, 05:13 PM	aye, barbarian/bear warrior is a nasty grappler.. if you go barb 5/fighter2/bear warrior 10/reaping mauler 3 you are going to be one nasty grappler.. if you are going goliath ditch a level of barb and you are set. ;o) two words for ya... dire bear
neilthrun 01-22-05, 05:28 PM	Barbarian can make nice grapplers as well. Check out the bear totem barbarian in unearthed arcana. The frostrager PRC in frostburn works well for grapplers as well. Druids with the ability to wild shape into large animals are good too. Im currently playing a fighter grappler and planning to take reaping mauler and gladiator. If you have oriental adventures the choke hold feat works just like the lvl 3 reaping mauler ability. Which means reaping mauler could be completey invalidated.
lokkesmadr 01-22-05, 06:02 PM	Since Powerful Build is an exceptional racial ability it wouldn't apply if you used a polymorph effect so there's no point to a bear warrior being a Goliath if you intend to shift form in most combats. Additionally, the Choke Hold feat is actually _better_ than the reaping mauler ability since it uses half your character level rather than your Reaping Mauler class level, meaning it will end up higher (and continue to increase through epic) than a Reaping Mauler's class ability. Another point in favour of the barbarian / fighter / psychic warrior approach. EDIT: A very, very strange build is percolating through my head at the moment, it involves being a Psychic Warrior and blowing a lot of feat slots on things you need to manifest powers to qualify for and use. It is weird, it is nasty, it might just work...