Some interesting tactics for strength based athletics proficient characters with the shove and grapple actions:
1) Since these actions can be used in place of any attack, they are of most use to the fighter with their multiple attacks. It makes sense that the fighter should be best at these things.
1b) You cannot shove or grapple AND get the bonus attack from TWF unless you can make multiple attacks and use one to attack with. This makes TWF rogues sad because otherwise the tactic of "shove prone then make off-hand attack with advantage" would have been very effective for a strength invested rogue. Although it may be a very appealing tactic for a multiclass fighter/rogue.
2) A Duelist style fighter wielding 1 weapon and nothing in other hand (no shield) could approach an enemy, grab them with one attack, then move to another enemy dragging the first with them, and then make his remaining attacks against either target. This is quite to help clump enemies for area attacks too.
2b) Exanding on this idea, any type of fighter could start out unarmed, move up to one enemy, grab them, move up to another, grab that one with other hand, and drag both up to a 3rd enemy, release the grab (no action), draw a weapon, and make remaining attacks on any of them, resulting in 3 enemies nicely groups for AoEs.
3) From 5th level on, any type of fighter can use shove as a sort of self-buff against higher AC enemies if the odds of a successful shove are better than the odds of hitting. Shove with first attack to prone, get advantage on all subsequent attacks.
3b) A STR invested cleric with athletics proficiency can use shove as an ally buff as long as he watches out for initiative order (don't want target to stand up before allies get to attack). This is situationally better than the "Help" action depending on how many allies act before the target can stand up, and how many attacks they can make. Help is guaranteed advantage for 1 attack, while shoving prone is a chance at advantage on all adjacent attacks until the target stands.
So it seems there are a fair amount of tactical options, although they are of most use to the fighter. Thoughts?
1b, yes, but not for the reason you stated.
Grapple is a "special type of attack" but still very much an "attack".
However, two weapon fighting requires a "light weapon" in each hand. Grapple requires a free hand.
Unarmed strike is not a light weapon. (monks maybe?).
Jay_Ibero_911 wrote:
mellored wrote:
I say: thief sneaks up behind, grapples, then warrior finishes him off.
Or
Thief sneaks up behind, makes a sign to warrior in front, shoves - and warrior holds his sword out straight and *blamo*, shishkabob
Strong athletic fighter grapples enemy spellcaster, fighter's cleric ally casts silence on enemy spellcaster's area, enemy spellcaster is shut down. Then rogue stabs enemy spellcaster just to rub it in. 
Particle_Man wrote:
Just how far can I chuck someone in a grapple?
The_Lone_Cleric wrote: