Grapple + Improved Unarmed Strike + Sneak Attack

[Wiggz]

So I'm finally getting my head around the way the grapple rules actually work and this question comes up: If you have someone Grappled and you succeed on your Grapple check and choose to deal damage equal to your (Improved) Unarmed Strike, can you add your Sneak Attack damage to it since your target has been denied his Dexterity bonus to AC? At first glance it would seem that it does.

Second question - if you do so are considered to no longer have one hand free (inflicting a -4 on your Grapple attempts)?

Thanks in advance.

[Fuzzy-Wuzzy]

Merely grappled creatures are not denied their dex to AC. Pinned ones are. If you were dealing with a pinned creature you would get your sneak attack damage.

I'm pretty sure your hand is still considered free; the attack is a momentary usage, not like holding a sword.

[Wiggz]

Fuzzy-Wuzzy wrote:

Merely grappled creatures are not denied their dex to AC. Pinned ones are. If you were dealing with a pinned creature you would get your sneak attack damage.

I'm pretty sure your hand is still considered free; the attack is a momentary usage, not like holding a sword.

Thank you for the correction.

I've got an interesting NPC for a low level campaign, a Brawler 1 / Rogue (Thug) 3, who looks like between the feats Enforcer and Improved Unarmed Strike and the class features Frightening and Brutal Beating, he'll be able to Grapple, Pin and then deal 1d6 (Unarmed Strike) +1d6 (Sneak Attack) +3 (STR) damage every round as well as inflict both the Shaken (or Frightened) condition and the Sickened condition every round. I just want to make certain I fully understand how all of the parts and pieces work together.

Interestingly, both the Sickened and Shakened conditions inflict a -2 penalty on attack rolls, but no penalty to CMB?

[Diachronos]

A grappled creature isn't denied its Dexterity bonus to its AC, it just takes a -4 penalty to its Dexterity. So no, you wouldn't be able to deal your sneak attack damage unless you are flanking the grappled creature or have some other way to render it flat-footed. If you can pin the opponent, though, you'd be able to sneak attack them since they're denied their Dexterity to their AC.

To answer your second question, no, you wouldn't take the -4 penalty to maintain your grapple if you choose to deal damage after maintaining. Dealing your unarmed strike damage doesn't necessarily mean you're pulling your arm back for a huge swing, it could be something like squeezing them hard enough to cause them harm or kneeing them in the side.

[Wiggz]

Just to clarify the proper order of things:

Attacker attempts to Grapple an adjacent creature as a standard action (possibly provoking an AoO).
- If unsuccessful then the Grapple attempt is over.
- If successful the target gains the Grappled condition.

On target's turn he attempts to escape or reverse the Grapple either through an Escape Artist attempt (while suffering -4 to DEX) or by making a Combat Maneuver check against the attacker's CMD (who is suffering -4 to DEX as well). Either would be considered a standard action (?).
- If successful the target escapes and the Grappled condition ends for both of them (or alternatively he can choose to reverse it).
- If unsuccessful then nothing happens and the Grapple continues.

On Attacker's next turn he makes another Grapple attempt against his target's CMD (who is suffering -4 to DEX).
- If unsuccessful then the Grappled condition ends for both of them.
- If successful then he can choose to 1) Pin the target, 2) Move the target half his movement or 3) Deal damage with a light weapon.

And, of course, things continue to progress from there. Look about right?

[turing85]

There are two flow charts over at d20pfsrd.com:
Chart 1
Chart 2

Keep in mind that if you get hit by an AoO while initiating the Grapple, you take the damage as penalty to your CMB-Roll. Also, both parties gain the "Grappled" Condition and thus all associated penalties.

The Grappler also gets a +5 Bonus on all Grapple-Checks he makes.