anyone want to explain to me how grappling works?
the guides are a bit confusing.
umm... SRD rocks, but if you've already checked that... There is a retired article in the archives at WoTC. I forgot what it was called, but it has the rules used as an example...
EDIT: Here's the link... http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/gs/20011019a
hope that helped...
i don't suppose someone can find a grappling flowchart?
cuz i mean, that would be nice. grappling is crazy complicated. everytime it's come up in our group we've just convinced the dm to try a different tactic ;)
Haha! I'll see what I can do. ;)
It's just initiation, and it's kinda hard on the eyes, but I'm tired.
(http://www.raelifin.com/picture_library/random/Grapple.jpg)
awesome, raelifin ;)
what kind of action is a successful grapple? is it an attack action? (so a 6th level fighter does it twice)
a failed grapple is an attack, right?
Grappling takes the place of an attack action, whether it succeeds or not. This means that a grapple can be made at the end of a charge, or that multiple grapple checks can be made if you have a BAB of 6 or more.
Now that we have the basics set up thanks to the efforts of Raelifin perhaps the confused people could ask more specific questions (assuming they are still confused of course)?
so could you succeed on a grapple, and with an iterative attack, put the squeeze on with another grapple check?
Yes. The PHB lists a number of options you have during the grapple. One of these is making an opposed grapple check as an attack action. If you succeed, you deal unarmed damage (which is why monks are so good at grappling).
Okay, maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think that if the attacker becomes damaged the grapple fails and that when the grapple succeeds they deal damage. I'm pretty sure this is how it works but give me some feedback.
For ease of reference I'll copy and paste the SRD on Grapple to this thread.
QuoteGRAPPLE
Grapple Checks
Repeatedly in a grapple, you need to make opposed grapple checks against an opponent. A grapple check is like a melee attack roll. Your attack bonus on a grapple check is: Base attack bonus + Strength modifier + special size modifier
Special Size Modifier: The special size modifier for a grapple check is as follows: Colossal +16, Gargantuan +12, Huge +8, Large +4, Medium +0, Small â,¬'4, Tiny â,¬'8, Diminutive â,¬'12, Fine â,¬'16. Use this number in place of the normal size modifier you use when making an attack roll.
Starting a Grapple
To start a grapple, you need to grab and hold your target. Starting a grapple requires a successful melee attack roll. If you get multiple attacks, you can attempt to start a grapple multiple times (at successively lower base attack bonuses).
Step 1: Attack of Opportunity. You provoke an attack of opportunity from the target you are trying to grapple. If the attack of opportunity deals damage, the grapple attempt fails. (Certain monsters do not provoke attacks of opportunity when they attempt to grapple, nor do characters with the Improved Grapple feat.) If the attack of opportunity misses or fails to deal damage, proceed to Step 2.
Step 2: Grab. You make a melee touch attack to grab the target. If you fail to hit the target, the grapple attempt fails. If you succeed, proceed to Step 3.
Step 3: Hold. Make an opposed grapple check as a free action.
If you succeed, you and your target are now grappling, and you deal damage to the target as if with an unarmed strike.
If you lose, you fail to start the grapple. You automatically lose an attempt to hold if the target is two or more size categories larger than you are.
In case of a tie, the combatant with the higher grapple check modifier wins. If this is a tie, roll again to break the tie.
Step 4: Maintain Grapple. To maintain the grapple for later rounds, you must move into the targetâ,¬,,¢s space. (This movement is free and doesnâ,¬,,¢t count as part of your movement in the round.)
Moving, as normal, provokes attacks of opportunity from threatening opponents, but not from your target.
If you canâ,¬,,¢t move into your targetâ,¬,,¢s space, you canâ,¬,,¢t maintain the grapple and must immediately let go of the target. To grapple again, you must begin at Step 1.
Grappling Consequences
While youâ,¬,,¢re grappling, your ability to attack others and defend yourself is limited.
No Threatened Squares: You donâ,¬,,¢t threaten any squares while grappling.
No Dexterity Bonus: You lose your Dexterity bonus to AC (if you have one) against opponents you arenâ,¬,,¢t grappling. (You can still use it against opponents you are grappling.)
No Movement: You canâ,¬,,¢t move normally while grappling. You may, however, make an opposed grapple check (see below) to move while grappling.
If Youâ,¬,,¢re Grappling
When you are grappling (regardless of who started the grapple), you can perform any of the following actions. Some of these actions take the place of an attack (rather than being a standard action or a move action). If your base attack bonus allows you multiple attacks, you can attempt one of these actions in place of each of your attacks, but at successively lower base attack bonuses.
Activate a Magic Item: You can activate a magic item, as long as the item doesnâ,¬,,¢t require a spell completion trigger. You donâ,¬,,¢t need to make a grapple check to activate the item.
Attack Your Opponent: You can make an attack with an unarmed strike, natural weapon, or light weapon against another character you are grappling. You take a â,¬'4 penalty on such attacks.
You canâ,¬,,¢t attack with two weapons while grappling, even if both are light weapons.
Cast a Spell: You can attempt to cast a spell while grappling or even while pinned (see below), provided its casting time is no more than 1 standard action, it has no somatic component, and you have in hand any material components or focuses you might need. Any spell that requires precise and careful action is impossible to cast while grappling or being pinned. If the spell is one that you can cast while grappling, you must make a Concentration check (DC 20 + spell level) or lose the spell. You donâ,¬,,¢t have to make a successful grapple check to cast the spell.
Damage Your Opponent: While grappling, you can deal damage to your opponent equivalent to an unarmed strike. Make an opposed grapple check in place of an attack. If you win, you deal nonlethal damage as normal for your unarmed strike (1d3 points for Medium attackers or 1d2 points for Small attackers, plus Strength modifiers). If you want to deal lethal damage, you take a â,¬'4 penalty on your grapple check.
Exception: Monks deal more damage on an unarmed strike than other characters, and the damage is lethal. However, they can choose to deal their damage as nonlethal damage when grappling without taking the usual â,¬'4 penalty for changing lethal damage to nonlethal damage.
Draw a Light Weapon: You can draw a light weapon as a move action with a successful grapple check.
Escape from Grapple: You can escape a grapple by winning an opposed grapple check in place of making an attack. You can make an Escape Artist check in place of your grapple check if you so desire, but this requires a standard action. If more than one opponent is grappling you, your grapple check result has to beat all their individual check results to escape. (Opponents donâ,¬,,¢t have to try to hold you if they donâ,¬,,¢t want to.) If you escape, you finish the action by moving into any space adjacent to your opponent(s).
Move: You can move half your speed (bringing all others engaged in the grapple with you) by winning an opposed grapple check. This requires a standard action, and you must beat all the other individual check results to move the grapple.
Note: You get a +4 bonus on your grapple check to move a pinned opponent, but only if no one else is involved in the grapple.
Retrieve a Spell Component: You can produce a spell component from your pouch while grappling by using a full-round action. Doing so does not require a successful grapple check.
Pin Your Opponent: You can hold your opponent immobile for 1 round by winning an opposed grapple check (made in place of an attack). Once you have an opponent pinned, you have a few options available to you (see below).
Break Anotherâ,¬,,¢s Pin: If you are grappling an opponent who has another character pinned, you can make an opposed grapple check in place of an attack. If you win, you break the hold that the opponent has over the other character. The character is still grappling, but is no longer pinned.
Use Opponentâ,¬,,¢s Weapon: If your opponent is holding a light weapon, you can use it to attack him. Make an opposed grapple check (in place of an attack). If you win, make an attack roll with the weapon with a â,¬'4 penalty (doing this doesnâ,¬,,¢t require another action).
You donâ,¬,,¢t gain possession of the weapon by performing this action.
If Youâ,¬,,¢re Pinning an Opponent
You can attempt to damage your opponent with an opposed grapple check, you can attempt to use your opponentâ,¬,,¢s weapon against him, or you can attempt to move the grapple (all described above). At your option, you can prevent a pinned opponent from speaking.
You can use a disarm action to remove or grab away a well secured object worn by a pinned opponent, but he gets a +4 bonus on his roll to resist your attempt (see Disarm).
You may voluntarily release a pinned character as a free action; if you do so, you are no longer considered to be grappling that character (and vice versa).
You canâ,¬,,¢t draw or use a weapon (against the pinned character or any other character), escape anotherâ,¬,,¢s grapple, retrieve a spell component, pin another character, or break anotherâ,¬,,¢s pin while you are pinning an opponent.
If Youâ,¬,,¢re Pinned by an Opponent
When an opponent has pinned you, you are held immobile (but not helpless) for 1 round. While youâ,¬,,¢re pinned, you take a â,¬'4 penalty to your AC against opponents other than the one pinning you. At your opponentâ,¬,,¢s option, you may also be unable to speak. On your turn, you can try to escape the pin by making an opposed grapple check in place of an attack. You can make an Escape Artist check in place of your grapple check if you want, but this requires a standard action. If you win, you escape the pin, but youâ,¬,,¢re still grappling.
Joining a Grapple
If your target is already grappling someone else, you can use an attack to start a grapple, as above, except that the target doesnâ,¬,,¢t get an attack of opportunity against you, and your grab automatically succeeds. You still have to make a successful opposed grapple check to become part of the grapple.
If there are multiple opponents involved in the grapple, you pick one to make the opposed grapple check against.
Multiple Grapplers
Several combatants can be in a single grapple. Up to four combatants can grapple a single opponent in a given round. Creatures that are one or more size categories smaller than you count for half, creatures that are one size category larger than you count double, and creatures two or more size categories larger count quadruple.
When you are grappling with multiple opponents, you choose one opponent to make an opposed check against. The exception is an attempt to escape from the grapple; to successfully escape, your grapple check must beat the check results of each opponent.
Step 1: Attack of Opportunity. You provoke an attack of opportunity from the target you are trying to grapple. If the attack of opportunity deals damage, the grapple attempt fails.[/quote]
Step 3: Hold. Make an opposed grapple check as a free action.
If you succeed, you and your target are now grappling, and you deal damage to the target as if with an unarmed strike.[/quote]
Ah, ic. That makes grappling may more fun.
Wixman: "I'll try to jump onto ogre's back."
GM: "Nope, you fail your grapple."
Wixman: "What the hell?"
GM: "As you jumping at the ogre, he swings his club and knocks you down a cliff."
Wixman: "Oh, that's okay then. Thanks SRD!"
On behalf of the SRD, I would like to say wholeheartedly "You're welcome!" :P
That's a pretty awesome flowchart for just throwing it up out of nowhere.
*shrug* Thanks. :)
Maybe you should make more of thos types of things, and Ish could put them up in downloads as resources... Just a thought..
EDIT: Oops, was downloads taken out in the theme changes?
No downloads... what the heck. We need STUFF!
Go SRD!
I have to do a project for my computer graphics class, so I intend to do a flowchart of the grappling rules. If anybody would care to help with this, please let me know. Mainly what I am looking for is how much detail is necessary, what was wrong with Raelifin's, etc. Thank you.
is there any way to improve, or simplify the process?
or is it worked out pretty well already? (i dont have much experience changing rules.)
I'm not looking to change the rules, I'm just looking to make a clear and concise diagram of the process and get a school-grade in fell swoop.
Alright, I have a grappling question.
I'm designing some ritualized arena games for my campaign setting. Is it possible to initiate a grapple when one has a tower shield in hand? It seems rather unlikely, but I can't see any reference in the rules to shields being excluded from grappling.