|
I did a cursory search for this but didn't turn up anything useful (mea culpa if there's some thread that answers these questions that I missed).
A few weeks ago we had a situation where Rocs were engaging with knighted cavaliers. The Rocs have fly-by attack, as well as a grab attack. The player operating the rocs argued that they should be able to fly down, make the grab (and its damn near impossible to not get grappled by a roc), and then continue their movement returning to the air.
While I can see a Roc being designed to do this, I had trouble justifying this free movement with the monster now entering the grappled condition, that sort of put it in place.
I'm led to think the way this should play out is...
Roc swoops down, intendinga fly-by attack. Hits. Grabs. Grapples. Its movement ends.
On the following turn, assuming that the grapple is maintained, it moves away at half speed with its struggling quarry.
Anyone have better ideas on this then I? I'd really like some clarification. Thanks.
If a creature with this special attack hits with the indicated attack (usually a claw or bite attack), it deals normal damage and attempts to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. Unless otherwise noted, grab can only be used against targets of a size equal to or smaller than the creature with this ability. If the creature can use grab on creatures of other sizes, it is noted in the creature's Special Attacks line. The creature has the option to conduct the grapple normally, or simply use the part of its body it used in the grab to hold the opponent. If it chooses to do the latter, it takes a –20 penalty on its CMB check to make and maintain the grapple, but does not gain the grappled condition itself.
If the roc takes a -20, it can absolutely do this.
Edit: Ninjad! At least I provided a quote :P
Well, unless the roc takes the grappled condition themselves they are taking a -20 penalty to their grapple check, even with grab.
Regardless, you have the correct understanding of the rules. It's virtually impossible to grapple and fly away with a character in a single round, and it's a good thing because otherwise the tactic would be far too effective as the would simply swoop down, pickup, and fly up with their prey killing anyone who wasn't high enough level to survive max falling damage.
Now, with flyby attack feat and successfully grappling without gaining the grappled condition using grab (which is hard with a -20) then they can perform the swoop, grab, grapple, fly away in a single round. But they really have to be well build for it to work.