Can a Golem Grapple? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Can a Golem Grapple? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
JonahBlack
11-27-05, 12:26 PM Not, "Is it capable of grappling?", but "Given that golems 'follow instructions explicitly and are incapable of any strategy or tactics', what would a golem do if it were grappled?'

The situation is that the PCs are holed up in a temple guarded by a Golem. The golem has been ordered to attack any concious living thing* that enters the temple, except for those specifically excluded. The PCs are excluded, but they do not have any control over the golem. The golem cannot leave the room

The enemy group consists of, among other things, an ogre mage, two trolls and a hill giant. They're objective is to capture one of the PCs. They know about the golem, and know they cannot hurt it (this is 3.0., and they don't have +2 weapons). One possible strategy for them I came up with is to Bull's stregth the Giant and have it just grapple the golem while the others attack the PCs, thereby keeping it occupied.

What would the golem do in this situation? Even bull's strengthed, the giant isn't as good a grappler as the golem (stat's wise), but I feel like the non-intelligent golem isn't capable of grappling**. My inclination was to just have the golem make checks to break the grapple, and then attack as normal. I'm worried that this short sells the golem, and robs the players of their defense.

Any thoughts?

*- The temple has various diviniations to detect living things. The golem only attacks concious, living things with an int higher than 2 that are in the room.
**-Having studied Wrestling and Jiu Jitsu for many years, I feel like there's much more to grappling than the golem is capable of, but I'm open to the idea that I'm a) over glorifying it, and/or b)applying too much realism to D&D's abstract rules.

edit: meant hill giant, not stone giant
Kozeljnik
11-27-05, 12:52 PM it would probably try to push the grappler off and smash him to bits, just like you said. it depends on the precise orders, but alternatively, it can follow a simple set of instructions when grappled: grab grappler, squish grappler. repeat squishing if necessary until grappler dies
dok
11-27-05, 12:58 PM One of the options when in a grapple is "Attack with Natural Weapons at -4 to hit".

An unintelligent golem ordered to attack will always attack with its natural weapons.

Ergo, in a grapple, a Golem will, unless otherwise ordered to, continue to attack with its natural weapons, (at -4) rather than using grapple checks to deal damage, escape, or pin.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
JonahBlack 11-27-05, 12:26 PM	Not, "Is it capable of grappling?", but "Given that golems 'follow instructions explicitly and are incapable of any strategy or tactics', what would a golem do if it were grappled?' The situation is that the PCs are holed up in a temple guarded by a Golem. The golem has been ordered to attack any concious living thing* that enters the temple, except for those specifically excluded. The PCs are excluded, but they do not have any control over the golem. The golem cannot leave the room The enemy group consists of, among other things, an ogre mage, two trolls and a hill giant. They're objective is to capture one of the PCs. They know about the golem, and know they cannot hurt it (this is 3.0., and they don't have +2 weapons). One possible strategy for them I came up with is to Bull's stregth the Giant and have it just grapple the golem while the others attack the PCs, thereby keeping it occupied. What would the golem do in this situation? Even bull's strengthed, the giant isn't as good a grappler as the golem (stat's wise), but I feel like the non-intelligent golem isn't capable of grappling*. My inclination was to just have the golem make checks to break the grapple, and then attack as normal. I'm worried that this short sells the golem, and robs the players of their defense. Any thoughts? - The temple has various diviniations to detect living things. The golem only attacks concious, living things with an int higher than 2 that are in the room. **-Having studied Wrestling and Jiu Jitsu for many years, I feel like there's much more to grappling than the golem is capable of, but I'm open to the idea that I'm a) over glorifying it, and/or b)applying too much realism to D&D's abstract rules. edit: meant hill giant, not stone giant
Kozeljnik 11-27-05, 12:52 PM	it would probably try to push the grappler off and smash him to bits, just like you said. it depends on the precise orders, but alternatively, it can follow a simple set of instructions when grappled: grab grappler, squish grappler. repeat squishing if necessary until grappler dies
dok 11-27-05, 12:58 PM	One of the options when in a grapple is "Attack with Natural Weapons at -4 to hit". An unintelligent golem ordered to attack will always attack with its natural weapons. Ergo, in a grapple, a Golem will, unless otherwise ordered to, continue to attack with its natural weapons, (at -4) rather than using grapple checks to deal damage, escape, or pin.