Grapple Feats [Archive] - Wizards Community

Grapple Feats [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
cato
07-02-07, 06:29 AM Anyone have a list of all the feats that help with grappling?
Kouk
07-02-07, 07:25 AM No, but I can rattle a few off I suppose...

Improved Grapple, for obvious reasons.

Improved Unarmed Strike is required unless you are a Monk...

Weapon Focus (Grapple) but that probably only works for grapple checks to deal non-weapon damage...

Clever Wrestling (Complete Warrior) can help you escape a Grapple that isn't going your way...

Close Quarters Fighting (CW) can also help you avoid a Grapple you don't want

Earth's Embrace (CW) probably the best one after Improved Grapple, lets you do an extra 1d12 damage while you Pin an opponent

The Reaping Mauler prestige class is probably the ultimate Grappler, if you want to head that way.
Leilond
07-02-07, 07:26 AM No, but I can rattle a few off I suppose...

Improved Grapple, for obvious reasons.

Improved Unarmed Strike is required unless you are a Monk...

Weapon Focus (Grapple) but that probably only works for grapple checks to deal non-weapon damage...

Wrong. The rotg specify that "weapon focus" work only with "hit rolls" that means "Weapon focus (grapple)" can be applied only to the "touch attack" that you do to start a grapple
Kouk
07-02-07, 07:27 AM Wrong. The rotg specify that "weapon focus" work only with "hit rolls" that means "Weapon focus (grapple)" can be applied only to the "touch attack" that you do to start a grapple

OK, I've never actually heard of anyone taking that feat anyway *shrug*. Like you need help to make a touch attack, hehe.
Leilond
07-02-07, 07:35 AM OK, I've never actually heard of anyone taking that feat anyway *shrug*. Like you need help to make a touch attack, hehe.

There are tons of situation you can need that help. Simply think about a rougue with dexterity 20, a +2 ring of protection, a +2 gauntlet of dexterity, with soft cover
Touch AC 22...
Without considering dodge bonuses that can be applied
Think about a monk and his bonuses to AC

Too often I see the equation "touch attack = easy hit". That's not the reality
cato
07-02-07, 07:49 AM I saw this feat recently in the forums that caught my attention, something about you being considered one size larger in regard to grappling, anyone know which one it is?
Kouk
07-02-07, 07:50 AM If you are a really dedicated Grappler, then maybe WF(Grapple) would be worth it. I can't say I have ever fought opponents like that though.
Dalthbar
07-02-07, 07:53 AM I saw this feat recently in the forums that caught my attention, something about you being considered one size larger in regard to grappling, anyone know which one it is?
Sounds like you're thinking about Jotunbrud (http://realmshelps.dandello.net/cgi-bin/feats.pl?Jotunbrud,), which is rather useful for the right build (trippers, grapplers, etc.).
ibayboy
07-03-07, 03:26 AM IMO, dedicated grapplers are good at lower levels, say up to 8-10th. But at higher levels they struggle to match many equal CR monsters. For instance, we are currently playing through the Savage Tide adventure path from Dungeon magazine. My character is a Goliath warblade12/monk2, str28, Imp Grapple, and treated as large size for grappling. His base Grapple is +30, but most of the serious fights have been against things with Imp Grab and a Base Grapple of 35-50. Even if you can start a grapple with things like that, they seem to get away easily.

As a side note he has a ring of FoM, Close Quarters Fighting, and a stance that lets him use 1hd weapons with no -4. Plus a bonus to hit if they are larger.

He is a formiddible grappler, but against some of the stuff we've seen he would struggle, i didn't even try.
Dnarris
07-03-07, 03:40 AM IMO, dedicated grapplers are good at lower levels, say up to 8-10th. But at higher levels they struggle to match many equal CR monsters. For instance, we are currently playing through the Savage Tide adventure path from Dungeon magazine. My character is a Goliath warblade12/monk2, str28, Imp Grapple, and treated as large size for grappling. His base Grapple is +30, but most of the serious fights have been against things with Imp Grab and a Base Grapple of 35-50. Even if you can start a grapple with things like that, they seem to get away easily.

As a side note he has a ring of FoM, Close Quarters Fighting, and a stance that lets him use 1hd weapons with no -4. Plus a bonus to hit if they are larger.

He is a formiddible grappler, but against some of the stuff we've seen he would struggle, i didn't even try.

I currenlty play a level 15 Fighter/Hulking Hurler/War Hulk Half-orge and I dominate the field using grapple.

With my strength currently at 54 my grapple bonus is +40. Using feats like fling enemy I can easily keep enemies off balance and throw them around.

Make sure you can get a strength tome +5 and a good giant strength belt at some point.
ibayboy
07-03-07, 03:48 AM I currenlty play a level 15 Fighter/Hulking Hurler/War Hulk Half-orge and I dominate the field using grapple.

With my strength currently at 54 my grapple bonus is +40. Using feats like fling enemy I can easily keep enemies off balance and throw them around.

Make sure you can get a strength tome +5 and a good giant strength belt at some point.

I suppose its all to do with the type of stuff you're fighting. In our campaign, my cha has everything going for it, with regard to grappling. But for all of his levels he has been consistantly 10 behind on base grapple.
And its not like the DM is conspiring against me, it is a published adventure.
Dnarris
07-03-07, 03:54 AM I suppose its all to do with the type of stuff you're fighting. In our campaign, my cha has everything going for it, with regard to grappling. But for all of his levels he has been consistantly 10 behind on base grapple.
And its not like the DM is conspiring against me, it is a published adventure.

Yeah, it can be hard to keep up since the only real way to keep your grapple up is by increasing your strength.

I've given up BAB in exchange for the strength bonus from War Hulk. My attack progression stinks, and my grapple is based all on strength except for 8 points of it. However, dealing constricting damage +40 is a heck of a lot of fun ^_^.
ibayboy
07-03-07, 04:00 AM Yeah, it can be hard to keep up since the only real way to keep your grapple up is by increasing your strength.

We are finding it very difficult to get magic items. Partly because of the campaign setting, but mostly because i also play the main arcane caster and chose to go Warmage and forgot to organize Teleport. It has been....interesting. Blowing stuff up, yup, utility spells, nup.
Dnarris
07-03-07, 04:04 AM We are finding it very difficult to get magic items. Partly because of the campaign setting, but mostly because i also play the main arcane caster and chose to go Warmage and forgot to organize Teleport. It has been....interesting. Blowing stuff up, yup, utility spells, nup.

You might want to consider taking a couple levels of psychic warrior. At level 1 you can get the expansion ability that will increase your size by one. If you get enough pp you can augement it and increase your size by two. Needless to say two more sizes would provide another +8 bonus which would be very helpful.

Even getting enlarge person cast on you helps. Getting that permanent would be a great idea. Matter of fact....I need to do that for my character >_<
ibayboy
07-03-07, 04:07 AM You might want to consider taking a couple levels of psychic warrior. At level 1 you can get the expansion ability that will increase your size by one. If you get enough pp you can augement it and increase your size by two. Needless to say two more sizes would provide another +8 bonus which would be very helpful.

He is now concentrating on Warblade untill lvl20ish, i'm liking the powerful maneuvers alot.:D

Even getting enlarge person cast on you helps. Getting that permanent would be a great idea. Matter of fact....I need to do that for my character >_<

Goliaths are monstrous humanoids, it is very hard getting them Enlarged.:(
Dnarris
07-03-07, 04:09 AM He is now concentrating on Warblade untill lvl20ish, i'm liking the powerful maneuvers alot.:D

Goliaths are monstrous humanoids, it is very hard getting them Enlarged.:(

Hrm, didn't think about that...so is my half-ogre.
ibayboy
07-03-07, 04:10 AM sorry. :embarrass

on the plus side, look carefully at the enchantment/charm spells. Alot of them only work
on Humanoids.
Dnarris
07-03-07, 04:17 AM sorry. :embarrass

on the plus side, look carefully at the enchantment/charm spells. Alot of them only work
on Humanoids.

Heh, that's one thing I didn't forget. I've loved the fact that most of the time the enemy casters have hold person memorized...not hold monster. ^_^
Steely_Dan
07-03-07, 06:44 AM Scorpion's Grasp from Sandstorm is one of the best grapple feats. It essentially gives your character the improved grab special ability.
Dnarris
07-03-07, 07:18 AM Scorpion's Grasp from Sandstorm is one of the best grapple feats. It essentially gives your character the improved grab special ability.

I was trying to remember a feat I read earlier that did the samething, but wasn't scorpion's grasp.
Steely_Dan
07-03-07, 07:37 AM I was trying to remember a feat I read earlier that did the samething, but wasn't scorpion's grasp.

Was it WotC, Dragon or 3rd party?
Dnarris
07-03-07, 07:50 AM Was it WotC, Dragon or 3rd party?

Defintely WoTC, because I don't have any 3rd party books. It's possible it could have been a class ability...actually it was. I think if you took the bear totem for barbarian from complete champion you get improved grab as class ability rather than uncanny dodge.
Steely_Dan
07-03-07, 07:55 AM Defintely WoTC, because I don't have any 3rd party books. It's possible it could have been a class ability...actually it was. I think if you took the bear totem for barbarian from complete champion you get improved grab as class ability rather than uncanny dodge.

I don't have that book yet – sounds sweet.
_Chaz_
07-03-07, 07:52 PM Try shield specialisation and shield ward

that's +3 to your grapple check and touch ac with a heavy shield

use a light shield and you can still use it as a weapon, then enchant it.:D
tafkamhokie
07-04-07, 01:03 PM According to the FAQ, a prone opponent's -4 penalty to attacks also applies to grapple checks.

That makes Improved Trip a pretty solid feat for a grappler. You trip your opponent then with the free attack, initiate your grapple against the prone opponent. Since they are -4 to their AC and -4 on their grapple checks while prone, grappling them should be pretty easy.

If you can trip, grapple, and pin an opponent, you would drop their AC by 13 or more in most cases (-4 for prone, -4 for being pinned, dexterity of 0 and its resulting -5 Dex penalty to AC).
rkun
07-04-07, 06:09 PM Wrong. The rotg specify that "weapon focus" work only with "hit rolls" that means "Weapon focus (grapple)" can be applied only to the "touch attack" that you do to start a grapple

could you apply weapon focus (unarmed strike) for a more versatile version. i.e: not only the touch attack for a grapple but also a genaric unarmed strike.

this would probably be best for monks but still seems like a better choice then weapon focus (grapple).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
cato 07-02-07, 06:29 AM	Anyone have a list of all the feats that help with grappling?
Kouk 07-02-07, 07:25 AM	No, but I can rattle a few off I suppose... Improved Grapple, for obvious reasons. Improved Unarmed Strike is required unless you are a Monk... Weapon Focus (Grapple) but that probably only works for grapple checks to deal non-weapon damage... Clever Wrestling (Complete Warrior) can help you escape a Grapple that isn't going your way... Close Quarters Fighting (CW) can also help you avoid a Grapple you don't want Earth's Embrace (CW) probably the best one after Improved Grapple, lets you do an extra 1d12 damage while you Pin an opponent The Reaping Mauler prestige class is probably the ultimate Grappler, if you want to head that way.
Leilond 07-02-07, 07:26 AM	No, but I can rattle a few off I suppose... Improved Grapple, for obvious reasons. Improved Unarmed Strike is required unless you are a Monk... Weapon Focus (Grapple) but that probably only works for grapple checks to deal non-weapon damage... Wrong. The rotg specify that "weapon focus" work only with "hit rolls" that means "Weapon focus (grapple)" can be applied only to the "touch attack" that you do to start a grapple
Kouk 07-02-07, 07:27 AM	Wrong. The rotg specify that "weapon focus" work only with "hit rolls" that means "Weapon focus (grapple)" can be applied only to the "touch attack" that you do to start a grapple OK, I've never actually heard of anyone taking that feat anyway shrug. Like you need help to make a touch attack, hehe.
Leilond 07-02-07, 07:35 AM	OK, I've never actually heard of anyone taking that feat anyway shrug. Like you need help to make a touch attack, hehe. There are tons of situation you can need that help. Simply think about a rougue with dexterity 20, a +2 ring of protection, a +2 gauntlet of dexterity, with soft cover Touch AC 22... Without considering dodge bonuses that can be applied Think about a monk and his bonuses to AC Too often I see the equation "touch attack = easy hit". That's not the reality
cato 07-02-07, 07:49 AM	I saw this feat recently in the forums that caught my attention, something about you being considered one size larger in regard to grappling, anyone know which one it is?
Kouk 07-02-07, 07:50 AM	If you are a really dedicated Grappler, then maybe WF(Grapple) would be worth it. I can't say I have ever fought opponents like that though.
Dalthbar 07-02-07, 07:53 AM	I saw this feat recently in the forums that caught my attention, something about you being considered one size larger in regard to grappling, anyone know which one it is? Sounds like you're thinking about Jotunbrud (http://realmshelps.dandello.net/cgi-bin/feats.pl?Jotunbrud,), which is rather useful for the right build (trippers, grapplers, etc.).
ibayboy 07-03-07, 03:26 AM	IMO, dedicated grapplers are good at lower levels, say up to 8-10th. But at higher levels they struggle to match many equal CR monsters. For instance, we are currently playing through the Savage Tide adventure path from Dungeon magazine. My character is a Goliath warblade12/monk2, str28, Imp Grapple, and treated as large size for grappling. His base Grapple is +30, but most of the serious fights have been against things with Imp Grab and a Base Grapple of 35-50. Even if you can start a grapple with things like that, they seem to get away easily. As a side note he has a ring of FoM, Close Quarters Fighting, and a stance that lets him use 1hd weapons with no -4. Plus a bonus to hit if they are larger. He is a formiddible grappler, but against some of the stuff we've seen he would struggle, i didn't even try.
Dnarris 07-03-07, 03:40 AM	IMO, dedicated grapplers are good at lower levels, say up to 8-10th. But at higher levels they struggle to match many equal CR monsters. For instance, we are currently playing through the Savage Tide adventure path from Dungeon magazine. My character is a Goliath warblade12/monk2, str28, Imp Grapple, and treated as large size for grappling. His base Grapple is +30, but most of the serious fights have been against things with Imp Grab and a Base Grapple of 35-50. Even if you can start a grapple with things like that, they seem to get away easily. As a side note he has a ring of FoM, Close Quarters Fighting, and a stance that lets him use 1hd weapons with no -4. Plus a bonus to hit if they are larger. He is a formiddible grappler, but against some of the stuff we've seen he would struggle, i didn't even try. I currenlty play a level 15 Fighter/Hulking Hurler/War Hulk Half-orge and I dominate the field using grapple. With my strength currently at 54 my grapple bonus is +40. Using feats like fling enemy I can easily keep enemies off balance and throw them around. Make sure you can get a strength tome +5 and a good giant strength belt at some point.
ibayboy 07-03-07, 03:48 AM	I currenlty play a level 15 Fighter/Hulking Hurler/War Hulk Half-orge and I dominate the field using grapple. With my strength currently at 54 my grapple bonus is +40. Using feats like fling enemy I can easily keep enemies off balance and throw them around. Make sure you can get a strength tome +5 and a good giant strength belt at some point. I suppose its all to do with the type of stuff you're fighting. In our campaign, my cha has everything going for it, with regard to grappling. But for all of his levels he has been consistantly 10 behind on base grapple. And its not like the DM is conspiring against me, it is a published adventure.
Dnarris 07-03-07, 03:54 AM	I suppose its all to do with the type of stuff you're fighting. In our campaign, my cha has everything going for it, with regard to grappling. But for all of his levels he has been consistantly 10 behind on base grapple. And its not like the DM is conspiring against me, it is a published adventure. Yeah, it can be hard to keep up since the only real way to keep your grapple up is by increasing your strength. I've given up BAB in exchange for the strength bonus from War Hulk. My attack progression stinks, and my grapple is based all on strength except for 8 points of it. However, dealing constricting damage +40 is a heck of a lot of fun ^_^.
ibayboy 07-03-07, 04:00 AM	Yeah, it can be hard to keep up since the only real way to keep your grapple up is by increasing your strength. We are finding it very difficult to get magic items. Partly because of the campaign setting, but mostly because i also play the main arcane caster and chose to go Warmage and forgot to organize Teleport. It has been....interesting. Blowing stuff up, yup, utility spells, nup.
Dnarris 07-03-07, 04:04 AM	We are finding it very difficult to get magic items. Partly because of the campaign setting, but mostly because i also play the main arcane caster and chose to go Warmage and forgot to organize Teleport. It has been....interesting. Blowing stuff up, yup, utility spells, nup. You might want to consider taking a couple levels of psychic warrior. At level 1 you can get the expansion ability that will increase your size by one. If you get enough pp you can augement it and increase your size by two. Needless to say two more sizes would provide another +8 bonus which would be very helpful. Even getting enlarge person cast on you helps. Getting that permanent would be a great idea. Matter of fact....I need to do that for my character >_<
ibayboy 07-03-07, 04:07 AM	You might want to consider taking a couple levels of psychic warrior. At level 1 you can get the expansion ability that will increase your size by one. If you get enough pp you can augement it and increase your size by two. Needless to say two more sizes would provide another +8 bonus which would be very helpful. He is now concentrating on Warblade untill lvl20ish, i'm liking the powerful maneuvers alot.:D Even getting enlarge person cast on you helps. Getting that permanent would be a great idea. Matter of fact....I need to do that for my character >_< Goliaths are monstrous humanoids, it is very hard getting them Enlarged.:(
Dnarris 07-03-07, 04:09 AM	He is now concentrating on Warblade untill lvl20ish, i'm liking the powerful maneuvers alot.:D Goliaths are monstrous humanoids, it is very hard getting them Enlarged.:( Hrm, didn't think about that...so is my half-ogre.
ibayboy 07-03-07, 04:10 AM	sorry. :embarrass on the plus side, look carefully at the enchantment/charm spells. Alot of them only work on Humanoids.
Dnarris 07-03-07, 04:17 AM	sorry. :embarrass on the plus side, look carefully at the enchantment/charm spells. Alot of them only work on Humanoids. Heh, that's one thing I didn't forget. I've loved the fact that most of the time the enemy casters have hold person memorized...not hold monster. ^_^
Steely_Dan 07-03-07, 06:44 AM	Scorpion's Grasp from Sandstorm is one of the best grapple feats. It essentially gives your character the improved grab special ability.
Dnarris 07-03-07, 07:18 AM	Scorpion's Grasp from Sandstorm is one of the best grapple feats. It essentially gives your character the improved grab special ability. I was trying to remember a feat I read earlier that did the samething, but wasn't scorpion's grasp.
Steely_Dan 07-03-07, 07:37 AM	I was trying to remember a feat I read earlier that did the samething, but wasn't scorpion's grasp. Was it WotC, Dragon or 3rd party?
Dnarris 07-03-07, 07:50 AM	Was it WotC, Dragon or 3rd party? Defintely WoTC, because I don't have any 3rd party books. It's possible it could have been a class ability...actually it was. I think if you took the bear totem for barbarian from complete champion you get improved grab as class ability rather than uncanny dodge.
Steely_Dan 07-03-07, 07:55 AM	Defintely WoTC, because I don't have any 3rd party books. It's possible it could have been a class ability...actually it was. I think if you took the bear totem for barbarian from complete champion you get improved grab as class ability rather than uncanny dodge. I don't have that book yet – sounds sweet.
_Chaz_ 07-03-07, 07:52 PM	Try shield specialisation and shield ward that's +3 to your grapple check and touch ac with a heavy shield use a light shield and you can still use it as a weapon, then enchant it.:D
tafkamhokie 07-04-07, 01:03 PM	According to the FAQ, a prone opponent's -4 penalty to attacks also applies to grapple checks. That makes Improved Trip a pretty solid feat for a grappler. You trip your opponent then with the free attack, initiate your grapple against the prone opponent. Since they are -4 to their AC and -4 on their grapple checks while prone, grappling them should be pretty easy. If you can trip, grapple, and pin an opponent, you would drop their AC by 13 or more in most cases (-4 for prone, -4 for being pinned, dexterity of 0 and its resulting -5 Dex penalty to AC).
rkun 07-04-07, 06:09 PM	Wrong. The rotg specify that "weapon focus" work only with "hit rolls" that means "Weapon focus (grapple)" can be applied only to the "touch attack" that you do to start a grapple could you apply weapon focus (unarmed strike) for a more versatile version. i.e: not only the touch attack for a grapple but also a genaric unarmed strike. this would probably be best for monks but still seems like a better choice then weapon focus (grapple).