Opportunity attacks and grab

[Ven]

large scorpion-like construct with grab gets an opportunity attack on a charging fighter for moving through its threat range. does he get the free grapple check even though its not his turn? I typically say free actions can only be taken on your turn, and only immediate or interupt actions on on your off turn. but free actions in the core rulebook say they can be taken as PART of another action. so I ruled it could grab the fighter.

the fighter then asks to use his great sword in the grapple, I say no, light or one handed only. she asks if she can use her two handed weapon in one hand with the appropriate minuses... I say I don't know, I rule that she can't because its not the using two hands part getting in her way its the category of the weapon due to its size.

thoughts?

[Dukai]

I'd say no to the free grab on an AoO personally for the reasons you stated. Free actions seem to be only allowed on your turn based on RAW.

Regarding using a 2h-weap in one hand, you cannot imo. Using a medium 2h weap in one hand essentially makes the weapon oversized. Generally, you can make attacks with inappropriately sized weapons with a penalty. However, you cannot use a weapon beyond it's size limitations. For example, a medium character could not wield a large 2h greatsword because it is too big.

Following that argument a medium character could not wield a large 1h longsword in one hand because it is treated as an inappropriately sized medium 2h weapon. Since you cannot wield a large 1h weapon in one hand, I would assert that you cannot wield a medium 2h weapon in one hand as they are virtually the same weapon for the sake of argument. I would say that he could make an unarmed attack with his off-hand (which likely has a gauntlet as part of his armor anyway, so he could still deal lethal damage) while still holding onto his greatsword.

[Pugwampi]

That's how I handle grab. The grab is a free action with the attack so it counts. Even if the rules said otherwise, I'd house rule that in because it makes so much logical sense for creatures with the grab ability. Most creatures with grab are attacking with a tentacle, claw, hook, or what-have-you that is functioning as the attack itself. In your case the scorpion is using a claw to pinch at the fighter. How can it NOT make a grab attack if it's AoO is to pinch the fighter with it's claw?

[Ven]

if someone has a 22 strength, I think I'd let them make an attack with a greatsword with one hand. with penalties but it seems like they could do it., though the rules don't seem to mention trying to use two handed weapons this way at all.

[Caderyn]

If they were a titan mauler (barbarian archtype) level 2 they could make greatsword attacks 1 handed (at a -2 penalty) but there isnt any other rules legal methods to do so.

[Ven]

but they would be physically capable of doing so(if not being grappled, and there was enoung space for one wide all-or-nothing slash). so what do you tell a player? too bad?

[wraithstrike]

By the rules the grab is not possible. The only free action allowed outside of your turn by RAW is speaking.

[Frankthedm]

wraithstrike wrote:

By the rules the grab is not possible. The only free action allowed outside of your turn by RAW is speaking.

Correct and I agree.

But, it is worth noting that there are some specific exceptions suggested by the FAQ. One was due to Pathfinder wanting the "Take AoO with Missile Weapon" abilities to actually work with combat reflexes, since reloading is normally a free action.