Grapple: solo or teamwork style?

[Gray Warden]

Theoretical question about grappling: is it a solo style or can it be successfully integrated with other builds?

For example, let's say one of your team mates is playing a grappler character: is there a build you could play which is particularly synergistic with grappling? Or, conversely, is there a particular party configuration in which a grappler would be more effective than usual?

Of course I'm assuming full cooperation and strategic harmony between party members.

[Scott Wilhelm]

You seem to be talking about 2 different synergies at once: synergy within a single character build and synergy between characters in a party.

You can make a grappling character where grappling is a fairly inexpensive and devastating feature. I've worked out just such a powerful and inexpensive combo. I'm currently playing a PFS character that is working this in.

There are certain situations where almost any grappling ability pays off. A situation where you outnumber your opponents, for instance. You Grapple them. Everybody else beats on your debuffed opponent.

[Gray Warden]

Actually I'm talking about synergy between two or more party members. Grappling is quite good by itself, if the character is well built, however I'm asking whether it could be particularly successful in combo with other builds and, if so, which ones.

[Chess Pwn]

well if you pin the target it's denied dex so sneak attack is good.
Other than that aspect nothing seems to say it's specifically synergistic with anything over another.

[Sah]

You could go for a big crit weapon build and take throat slicer, so when they pin the enemy you can move up and standard action coup de grace, but it needs to be a light, one handed, or natural weapon. Besides that I don't know how you could really synergize with grappling outside of just hitting the opponent.

[Scott Wilhelm]

Gray Warden wrote:

Theoretical question about grappling: is it a solo style or can it be successfully integrated with other builds?

For example, let's say one of your team mates is playing a grappler character: is there a build you could play which is particularly synergistic with grappling? Or, conversely, is there a particular party configuration in which a grappler would be more effective than usual?

Of course I'm assuming full cooperation and strategic harmony between party members.

Alchemist with Infusion can buff the Grappler or spam Dispelling Bomb on the evil Wizard until his Freedom of Movement spell is debuffed away.

The Ranger Freebooter Archetype grants bonuses to the whole party. So do Bards.

There are Teamwork Feats, Coordinated Maneuvers comes to mind, so say a level in Cavalier with Coordinated Maneuvers will let you give a +2 to your Grappling Ally. There is also Brutal Grappler, which lets another opponent join the Grapple to Inflict Damage.

Take the Bodyguard Feat or maybe something like Archon Style. Most of the time, when you are Grappling, you have the Grappled Condition yourself, so if your Ally has your back in a real way, that might be well-appreciated.

Playing a Grappling character, what happened a lot was my allies would take advantage of the Grappled Condition of my opponents and beat them to death in my arms, usually and acceptable outcome.

[Redblade8]

Scott Wilhelm wrote:

Playing a Grappling character, what happened a lot was my allies would take advantage of the Grappled Condition of my opponents and beat them to death in my arms, usually and acceptable outcome.

I'm playing in a RotRL game with a Mutagenic Mauler that I plan to make into a grappler. That is exactly the kind of outcome I'm hoping for, too. :)

[Grandlounge]

Characters that help.

- All characters that buff attacks.
- Characters that get the grappler in position for grapple, greater grapple, rapid grappler. (Jester's jaunt)
- good debuffers, rime frostbite, evil eye, shaken, sicken can stack a lot of penalties to Dex and attack.
- Rerolls like misfortune the hex, misfortune the relevalation, and divine interference help deal with nat20s.
- Anyone one with a menacing weapon.
- Alchemist entangle, blind, confuse, and can give you resinous skin which is amazing for grapplers

Things that don't work well:

- Blasting does not help a grapplee because you will be in the blast every time.
- Lot of battle field control limits getting to enemies quickly.