Do conditions like Shaken or buffs like Divine Favor apply to grapple checks? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Do conditions like Shaken or buffs like Divine Favor apply to grapple checks? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
JulesCARV
08-07-06, 03:30 PM Simple question: for things which improve or degrade your attack roll (like being shaken, or casting Divine Favor), do they improve your grapple check at all, or is your grapple check somewhat weirdly immune to any modification?
BlackFiend
08-07-06, 04:01 PM Not weird at all.

A grapple check is:
Base attack bonus + Strength modifier + special size modifier

Anything which modifies these would fit.
Keep in mind, though it is like an attack roll, it isn't.

If you want to up your grapple check, you want the feat improved grapple (+4 bonus), and/or you want to increase your size modifier with a feat like, say, Jotunbrud, which treats a medium size human as if they were large.

Also, any feat or spell that grants a bonus to opposed checks, that would also fit to give you a bonus. For instance, I beleive there is an item that gives you a +1 bonus on opposed strength checks. Such an item would fit since a grapple check is in essence, an opposed strength check. But some may argue against this and rightly so. Talk to your DM and get her opinion.

And no...a +1 Admantine gauntlet will not enhance your grapple check. :)
Merestil Haye
08-07-06, 04:25 PM Grapple checks are not attack rolls.

If the modifier explicitly affects attack rolls, it does not affect a grapple check. Divine Favour, for example, has no effect at all once the grapple has started (although you would get the bonus to the initial touch attack roll).

I'm not sure about Shaken. It seems reasonabe to suggest that it should apply; however I'm not at all clear on whether it does or not. I'd probably rule that it does at the table (unless someone can come up with clear reasons why not).
Vegepygmy
08-07-06, 05:57 PM The rules are not clear on this point, because all they say is that a grapple check is "like a melee attack roll." How alike they are and in exactly what ways they are different remain a mystery. But it seems extremely strange (and wrong) to me that modifiers due to such things as divine favor or being shaken would not apply to grapple checks, as well.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
JulesCARV 08-07-06, 03:30 PM	Simple question: for things which improve or degrade your attack roll (like being shaken, or casting Divine Favor), do they improve your grapple check at all, or is your grapple check somewhat weirdly immune to any modification?
BlackFiend 08-07-06, 04:01 PM	Not weird at all. A grapple check is: Base attack bonus + Strength modifier + special size modifier Anything which modifies these would fit. Keep in mind, though it is like an attack roll, it isn't. If you want to up your grapple check, you want the feat improved grapple (+4 bonus), and/or you want to increase your size modifier with a feat like, say, Jotunbrud, which treats a medium size human as if they were large. Also, any feat or spell that grants a bonus to opposed checks, that would also fit to give you a bonus. For instance, I beleive there is an item that gives you a +1 bonus on opposed strength checks. Such an item would fit since a grapple check is in essence, an opposed strength check. But some may argue against this and rightly so. Talk to your DM and get her opinion. And no...a +1 Admantine gauntlet will not enhance your grapple check. :)
Merestil Haye 08-07-06, 04:25 PM	Grapple checks are not attack rolls. If the modifier explicitly affects attack rolls, it does not affect a grapple check. Divine Favour, for example, has no effect at all once the grapple has started (although you would get the bonus to the initial touch attack roll). I'm not sure about Shaken. It seems reasonabe to suggest that it should apply; however I'm not at all clear on whether it does or not. I'd probably rule that it does at the table (unless someone can come up with clear reasons why not).
Vegepygmy 08-07-06, 05:57 PM	The rules are not clear on this point, because all they say is that a grapple check is "like a melee attack roll." How alike they are and in exactly what ways they are different remain a mystery. But it seems extremely strange (and wrong) to me that modifiers due to such things as divine favor or being shaken would not apply to grapple checks, as well.