Greater Grapple


Rules Questions


I assume that by taking this feat which allows you to maintain a grapple as a move action you could then take a standard action and attack another foe?

It seemed pretty straight forward at first but then I got to the part in the description that says this feat allows you to make two grapple checks if you so choose, which got me thinking that it only applies to multiple grapple checks.


eirip wrote:

I assume that by taking this feat which allows you to maintain a grapple as a move action you could then take a standard action and attack another foe?

It seemed pretty straight forward at first but then I got to the part in the description that says this feat allows you to make two grapple checks if you so choose, which got me thinking that it only applies to multiple grapple checks.

Normal charactrs cannot grapple multiple opponents.

Greater grapple lets you make two grapple checks against a creature you are already grappling. One to maintain the grapple and another to cause another wanted grapple effect.


The Grandfather wrote:
eirip wrote:

I assume that by taking this feat which allows you to maintain a grapple as a move action you could then take a standard action and attack another foe?

It seemed pretty straight forward at first but then I got to the part in the description that says this feat allows you to make two grapple checks if you so choose, which got me thinking that it only applies to multiple grapple checks.

Normal charactrs cannot grapple multiple opponents.

Greater grapple lets you make two grapple checks against a creature you are already grappling. One to maintain the grapple and another to cause another wanted grapple effect.

I was actually going to give this to the Barbed Devil. A move action to maintain the grapple and a standard action to attack another adjacent opponent, not grapple him.

Also, you already get those effects in a normal grapple. You get to use a standard action to maintain the grapple and as part of that action you get to cause another effect. I cannot see Greater Grapple being that advantageous in this case, unless of course you fail the first grapple check.


eirip wrote:
Also, you already get those effects in a normal grapple. You get to use a standard action to maintain the grapple and as part of that action you get to cause another effect. I cannot see Greater Grapple being that advantageous in this case, unless of course you fail the first grapple check.

In addition to maintaining the grapple (and the effect that entitles you to) you get to do one more grapple plus effect, whith Greater grapple.

That means that when you are already grappling a foe you can on the next round first pin and then tie the enemy up all in a single round, if you make both grapple checks. I think that makes the feat well worth it!

eirip wrote:

I was actually going to give this to the Barbed Devil. A move action to maintain the grapple and a standard action to attack another adjacent opponent, not grapple him.

The barbed devil cannot attack another opponent when grappling (that would require the Improved Grab ability or an attack mode other than claws (like a tail or bite!). The devil has to use both claws to maintain the grapple. However, the devil can make an extra grapple (3d8+9 impale damage twice in a single round!) or it can use a spell-like ability that does not require somatic components, like greater teleport - good for grapple and run attacks.

Since you are probably making an advanced hamatula, I would suggest you give it a tail slap attack or the grab ability, if you really want it to attack adjacent foes while it is grappling... you make the rules.

Grand Lodge

1 person marked this as a favorite.
PRD wrote:
Greater Grapple: This feat allows you to make two grapple checks each round (to move, harm, or pin your opponent), but you are not required to make two checks. You only need to succeed at one of these checks to maintain the grapple.

A creature with this feat would make a grapple check as a move action and could choose to pin damage or move the target of its grapple during that move action. it could then, as a standard action pin damage or move the target again...

the benefit of this feat is two fold, firstly you can get up to two results in a single round out of a grapple on one foe as grandfather mentions. Second, you get two chances to maintain the grapple in a round, if the move action one fails, the standard action may still succeed.

However, only ONE check is required; If the move action check succeeds you do not need to make a check during the standard action, success is automatic. This does not apply to the Tie Up maneuver if the target isn't pinned, this actually requires an additional grapple check at -10 to perform.


The Grandfather wrote:
eirip wrote:
Also, you already get those effects in a normal grapple. You get to use a standard action to maintain the grapple and as part of that action you get to cause another effect. I cannot see Greater Grapple being that advantageous in this case, unless of course you fail the first grapple check.

In addition to maintaining the grapple (and the effect that entitles you to) you get to do one more grapple plus effect, whith Greater grapple.

That means that when you are already grappling a foe you can on the next round first pin and then tie the enemy up all in a single round, if you make both grapple checks. I think that makes the feat well worth it!

eirip wrote:

I was actually going to give this to the Barbed Devil. A move action to maintain the grapple and a standard action to attack another adjacent opponent, not grapple him.

The barbed devil cannot attack another opponent when grappling (that would require the Improved Grab ability or an attack mode other than claws (like a tail or bite!). The devil has to use both claws to maintain the grapple. However, the devil can make an extra grapple (3d8+9 impale damage twice in a single round!) or it can use a spell-like ability that does not require somatic components, like greater teleport - good for grapple and run attacks.

Since you are probably making an advanced hamatula, I would suggest you give it a tail slap attack or the grab ability, if you really want it to attack adjacent foes while it is grappling... you make the rules.

Yes, I would say that you are right on both accounts. I wasn't look at it from that angle. I was looking at the move action and standard action angle. I certainly want to go with RAW, that is why I asked. Thank you much.


eirip wrote:
I certainly want to go with RAW, that is why I asked. Thank you much.

Even within RAW you are free to modify creatures to suit your campaign or a given encounter. You just have to keep CR in mind and make adjustments to CR and/or stats as necesary.


The Grandfather wrote:
eirip wrote:
I certainly want to go with RAW, that is why I asked. Thank you much.
Even within RAW you are free to modify creatures to suit your campaign or a given encounter. You just have to keep CR in mind and make adjustments to CR and/or stats as necesary.

Yeah but I wasn't taking into account that his claws would not be free because he would be grappling.It just wouldn't make sense, unless I did as you recommended and give him another attack, and I wasn't looking to change him that drastically. I was looking to use his impale ability really. They changed the way grab works now so he can only use the grab ability versus a creature one step smaller than himself. He can still use grapple for the impale damage hence I was looking for a way to get around it.

Now,just to verify this for future reference, what your saying is if he did have for example a tail attack and greater grapple he could use the move action for the grapple check and the standard to attack an adjacent foe?

Thanks for the assistance btw.


eirip wrote:

Now,just to verify this for future reference, what your saying is if he did have for example a tail attack and greater grapple he could use the move action for the grapple check and the standard to attack an adjacent foe?

Thanks for the assistance btw.

That is consistent withe the RAW. NP :)


You're supposed to have both hands free for grapple for you take a penalty. I guess that would have to be considered if you grapple two people at once.


Quijenoth wrote:
PRD wrote:
Greater Grapple: This feat allows you to make two grapple checks each round (to move, harm, or pin your opponent), but you are not required to make two checks. You only need to succeed at one of these checks to maintain the grapple.

(...)

However, only ONE check is required; If the move action check succeeds you do not need to make a check during the standard action, success is automatic.

If the character aims to keep the target grappled, it's true.

If the character aims to move, harm, and/or pin (and tie up) the opponent, they ought to try the two checks, giving them the equivalent of two standard actions in one round (when comparing to a character without the feat).

$0.02 <- this is not Van Gogh's Japanese-style smiley signature, just my two cents... :-)

Community / Forums / Pathfinder / Pathfinder First Edition / Rules Questions / Greater Grapple All Messageboards

Want to post a reply? Sign in.
Recent threads in Rules Questions