Multi-limbed creatures grappling multiple enemies

Hey folks. If a creature has, say, 6 tentacles each with the GRAB ability, can it grapple multiple enemies at a time? Players are going to face the following beasty:

https://sites.google.com/site/pathfinderogc/bestiary/monster-listings/aberr ations/abyssal-harvester-tohc

Does that mean it could grab three players at once and constrict them? Can it maintain a grapple with all of them or just one? My understanding is that basically this creature is just going to beat at them with its tentacles if it can only grapple one creature at a time and it is fighting multiple foes by itself. Thanks!

Once you grapple someone you don't threaten the other squares unless you take the -20 on the grapple check, no matter how many limbs you have, so yes it can be done, but only if you accept the -20. <--That is somewhat simplified, but at some point that -20 will have to be taken.

You get a -2 when grappling. But you can grapple and constrict multiple enemies. Maintaining a grapple is a standard action, so you can only maintain against 1 enemy.
But you can release a grapple as a free action, thus you could try to grapple the same character + deal constriction damage often in 1 round.

Once you grapple someone you don't threaten the other squares

I don't think this is true at all, can you quote the rules on this, I can't find it.

Bruno, being a handsome and beautiful tetori, feels sorry for any babymuscle weakling that gets grappled by dumdum Harvester.

@sehnder:

The Harvester can make 6 tentacle attacks with the attendant grab on 6 different targets. It would take the attendant -2 penalty on its attacks for having the Grappled condition.

The next round, it would take a standard action to maintain ONE of those 6 grapples, meaning the other 5 folks would go free as their grapples were not maintained. Once it has maintained its Grapple, the Harvester gets the Debilitating Constriction CON damage along with the its choice of grapple actions (pin, damage, etc).

NOTE: It has an ability called Debilitating Constrict, not the actual constrict ability. You do not do the CON damage until you've maintained the Grapple, which would happen the round following the grab.

@wraithstrike:
You can still attack other creatures when grappled. You cannot, however, make AOOs.

Grappled condition:
"A grappled creature is restrained by a creature, trap, or effect. Grappled creatures cannot move and take a –4 penalty to Dexterity. A grappled creature takes a –2 penalty on all attack rolls and combat maneuver checks, except those made to grapple or escape a grapple. In addition, grappled creatures can take no action that requires two hands to perform. A grappled character who attempts to cast a spell or use a spell-like ability must make a concentration check (DC 10 + grappler's CMB + spell level), or lose the spell. Grappled creatures cannot make attacks of opportunity."

Grapple combat maneuver:
"If you are grappled, you can attempt to break the grapple as a standard action by making a combat maneuver check (DC equal to your opponent's CMD; this does not provoke an attack of opportunity) or Escape Artist check (with a DC equal to your opponent's CMD). If you succeed, you break the grapple and can act normally. Alternatively, if you succeed, you can become the grappler, grappling the other creature (meaning that the other creature cannot freely release the grapple without making a combat maneuver check, while you can). Instead of attempting to break or reverse the grapple, you can take any action that doesn’t require two hands to perform, such as cast a spell or make an attack or full attack with a light or one-handed weapon against any creature within your reach, including the creature that is grappling you. See the grappled condition for additional details. If you are pinned, your actions are very limited. See the pinned condition in Conditions for additional details."

You get a -2 when grappling. But you can grapple and constrict multiple enemies. Maintaining a grapple is a standard action, so you can only maintain against 1 enemy.

But you can release a grapple as a free action, thus you could try to grapple the same character + deal constriction damage often in 1 round.

wraithstrike wrote:

Once you grapple someone you don't threaten the other squares

I don't think this is true at all, can you quote the rules on this, I can't find it.

Unless it's printed differently in the CRB (don't have that on hand) it is a misinterpretation (unless it's also printed somewhere else that I can't find, lol).

http://www.d20pfsrd.com/gamemastering/conditions#TOC-Grappled

Grappled creatures cannot make attacks of opportunity

I don't see that it says they don't threaten, though. Both grapplers are considered Grappled so neither gets AoOs.

I was incorrect. The rules specifically say you can attack other creatures, but no AoO.

...you can take any action that doesn't require two hands to perform, such as cast a spell or make an attack or full attack with a light or one-handed weapon against any creature within your reach,...

So my answer is this. You can grapple more than one creature, but you are still considered to be grappled which brings penalties of its own.

You would however need a separate grapple attempt to maintain the grapple against each one which would require feats such as greater grapple.

The Grab special ability doesn't inflict the grappled condition on the creature using Grab if they take a -20.

"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. A successful hold does not deal any extra damage unless the creature also has the constrict special attack. If the creature does not constrict, each successful grapple check it makes during successive rounds automatically deals the damage indicated for the attack that established the hold. Otherwise, it deals constriction damage as well (the amount is given in the creature’s descriptive text).

Creatures with the grab special attack receive a +4 bonus on combat maneuver checks made to start and maintain a grapple."

-taken from: http://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/rules-for-monsters/universal-monster-rules #TOC-Grab-Ex-