Weapon Focus (grapple) [Archive] - Wizards Community

Weapon Focus (grapple) [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
urklore
06-13-07, 07:11 PM I been checking the website and the forums. Does weapon focus (grapple) add just to the attack roll to start the grapple, or does it add to the opposed grapple checks, or does it add to both?
Thiez
06-13-07, 07:19 PM Grapple is not a weapon, and as such one cannot take 'Weapon Focus (Grapple)'. You can take Improved Unarmed Strike and Improved Grapple. Improved Grapple grants a +4 bonus on all grapple checks and you dont' provoke an AoO when starting a grapple.

I don't know if this is by the rules or not, but I'd allow you to get +1 to your touch attack roll by taking 'Weapon Focus (Touch)'.
urklore
06-13-07, 07:41 PM Right in the player's handbook:

Choose one type of weapon, such as greataxe. You can also choose unarmed strike or grapple (or ray, if you are a spellcaster) as your weapon for purposes of this feat. You are especially good at using this weapon. (If you have chosen ray, you are especially good with rays, such as the one produced by the ray of frost spell.)
risner
06-13-07, 07:43 PM I been checking the website and the forums. Does weapon focus (grapple) add just to the attack roll to start the grapple, or does it add to the opposed grapple checks, or does it add to both?

You can take WF Grapple.
It will improve all grapple checks.

If you take Weapon Specialization, I don't believe it will help with the damage (since you are not dealing grapple damage, but rather unarmed, natural or light weapon damage instead of "grapple" damage.)
Kalarus
06-13-07, 09:22 PM You can take WF Grapple.
It will improve all grapple checks.

If you take Weapon Specialization, I don't believe it will help with the damage (since you are not dealing grapple damage, but rather unarmed, natural or light weapon damage instead of "grapple" damage.)

Huh, are you very sure about this?

I was under the impression that WF (Grapple) only gave you a +1 on the touch attack to start a grapple, not on Grapple checks.
jaelis
06-13-07, 10:06 PM The sage just addressed this in Dragon 356. He said WF(grapple) applies to the touch attack to start a grapple, while WS(grapple) gives a damage bonus when you use a grapple check to damage your opponent. Seems a little inconsistent, but at least its an answer.
Kalarus
06-14-07, 09:18 PM The sage just addressed this in Dragon 356. He said WF(grapple) applies to the touch attack to start a grapple, while WS(grapple) gives a damage bonus when you use a grapple check to damage your opponent. Seems a little inconsistent, but at least its an answer.

So reading this, neither gives in fact a bonus to the grapple check itself. The only feat that does *that* is Improved Grapple.
Millenia
06-14-07, 09:21 PM I think it's obvious that Weapon Focus (Grapple) only affects Grapple checks. Touch attacks are different.
Jeriaus
06-14-07, 09:24 PM I think its obvious it only applies to the touch attack as WF give +1 to hit. A grapple check isnt an attack, its a check.

Heres a better question: how would WF (grapple) work with Melee Weapon Mastery?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
urklore 06-13-07, 07:11 PM	I been checking the website and the forums. Does weapon focus (grapple) add just to the attack roll to start the grapple, or does it add to the opposed grapple checks, or does it add to both?
Thiez 06-13-07, 07:19 PM	Grapple is not a weapon, and as such one cannot take 'Weapon Focus (Grapple)'. You can take Improved Unarmed Strike and Improved Grapple. Improved Grapple grants a +4 bonus on all grapple checks and you dont' provoke an AoO when starting a grapple. I don't know if this is by the rules or not, but I'd allow you to get +1 to your touch attack roll by taking 'Weapon Focus (Touch)'.
urklore 06-13-07, 07:41 PM	Right in the player's handbook: Choose one type of weapon, such as greataxe. You can also choose unarmed strike or grapple (or ray, if you are a spellcaster) as your weapon for purposes of this feat. You are especially good at using this weapon. (If you have chosen ray, you are especially good with rays, such as the one produced by the ray of frost spell.)
risner 06-13-07, 07:43 PM	I been checking the website and the forums. Does weapon focus (grapple) add just to the attack roll to start the grapple, or does it add to the opposed grapple checks, or does it add to both? You can take WF Grapple. It will improve all grapple checks. If you take Weapon Specialization, I don't believe it will help with the damage (since you are not dealing grapple damage, but rather unarmed, natural or light weapon damage instead of "grapple" damage.)
Kalarus 06-13-07, 09:22 PM	You can take WF Grapple. It will improve all grapple checks. If you take Weapon Specialization, I don't believe it will help with the damage (since you are not dealing grapple damage, but rather unarmed, natural or light weapon damage instead of "grapple" damage.) Huh, are you very sure about this? I was under the impression that WF (Grapple) only gave you a +1 on the touch attack to start a grapple, not on Grapple checks.
jaelis 06-13-07, 10:06 PM	The sage just addressed this in Dragon 356. He said WF(grapple) applies to the touch attack to start a grapple, while WS(grapple) gives a damage bonus when you use a grapple check to damage your opponent. Seems a little inconsistent, but at least its an answer.
Kalarus 06-14-07, 09:18 PM	The sage just addressed this in Dragon 356. He said WF(grapple) applies to the touch attack to start a grapple, while WS(grapple) gives a damage bonus when you use a grapple check to damage your opponent. Seems a little inconsistent, but at least its an answer. So reading this, neither gives in fact a bonus to the grapple check itself. The only feat that does that is Improved Grapple.
Millenia 06-14-07, 09:21 PM	I think it's obvious that Weapon Focus (Grapple) only affects Grapple checks. Touch attacks are different.
Jeriaus 06-14-07, 09:24 PM	I think its obvious it only applies to the touch attack as WF give +1 to hit. A grapple check isnt an attack, its a check. Heres a better question: how would WF (grapple) work with Melee Weapon Mastery?