My character this weekend was getting slapped around by 3 owlbears. There seemed to be some confusion whether or not Grab was automatic successful upon a hit or if it required a separate combat maneuver roll.
When I read the description, grab states that it starts attempts a grapple as a free action when their attack hits. Does that mean that their grab automatically happens with a successful hit or is it they get a free combat maneuver roll?
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My character this weekend was getting slapped around by 3 owlbears. There seemed to be some confusion whether or not Grab was automatic successful upon a hit or if it required a separate combat maneuver roll.
When I read the description, grab states that it starts attempts a grapple as a free action when their attack hits. Does that mean that their grab automatically happens with a successful hit or is it they get a free combat maneuver roll?
Free combat maneuver roll. Note they get a +4 on that roll.
Free combat maneuver roll. Note they get a +4 on that roll.My character this weekend was getting slapped around by 3 owlbears. There seemed to be some confusion whether or not Grab was automatic successful upon a hit or if it required a separate combat maneuver roll.
When I read the description, grab states that it starts attempts a grapple as a free action when their attack hits. Does that mean that their grab automatically happens with a successful hit or is it they get a free combat maneuver roll?
Where does the +4 come from?
Where does the +4 come from?
From the Universal Monster rules for Grab:
Creatures with grab receive a +4 bonus on combat maneuver checks made to start and maintain a grapple.
Where does the +4 come from?From the Universal Monster rules for Grab:
Creatures with grab receive a +4 bonus on combat maneuver checks made to start and maintain a grapple.
Ah, I suspected it was something like that. Now I need to go check and see if that's factored into the CMB of the monsters I'm using or not. That +4 makes the "-20 to grab and hold in a limb" option more viable.
Related: Is there a good example somewhere of what a combat round looks like for a monster with grab and a bunch of attacks and/or related special abilities like constrict or the giant mantis' mandibles?
I'm not super clear on how the remaining attacks are resolved and how the special abilities are resolved if the monster, for exzample, grabs successfully on its first attack, or what its options are.
Ah, I suspected it was something like that. Now I need to go check and see if that's factored into the CMB of the monsters I'm using or not. That +4 makes the "-20 to grab and hold in a limb" option more viable.Where does the +4 come from?From the Universal Monster rules for Grab:
Creatures with grab receive a +4 bonus on combat maneuver checks made to start and maintain a grapple.
If it's in a Paizo stat block, it should be included (our stat block spreadsheet accounts for that sort of thing). Frex, owlbear in the PRD says:
Related: Is there a good example somewhere of what a combat round looks like for a monster with grab and a bunch of attacks and/or related special abilities like constrict or the giant mantis' mandibles?
I'm not super clear on how the remaining attacks are resolved and how the special abilities are resolved if the monster, for exzample, grabs successfully on its first attack, or what its options are.
Add to that, since I'm past my post edit window: I think a good example of a complicated grab/grapple scenario like the above would be an excellent FAQ addition.
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Related: Is there a good example somewhere of what a combat round looks like for a monster with grab and a bunch of attacks and/or related special abilities like constrict or the giant mantis' mandibles?
I'm not super clear on how the remaining attacks are resolved and how the special abilities are resolved if the monster, for exzample, grabs successfully on its first attack, or what its options are.
If the creatures takes the -20 on the CMB roll (-16 with the +4 factored in), it can then grapple without being grappled itself. An octopus is a good example. Say the creature succeeds at the grab on the first attack. It may now proceed to wail on the grappled PC with its remaining attacks, or direct some at other party members...whatever. Treat it *just* as if it were not grappled, taking the appendage doing the grappling into account on following rounds. Don't forget that it must make its grapple check at the start of each round and, if it wishes to maintain the hold without becoming grappled, continues to apply the penalty. Success means it gets to damage its grappled opponent (as well as constricting the PC, if it has the ability) and it *also* gets to make regular attacks with its remaining appendages.
Multi-armed Grabbers with constrict are nasty business for the party. This is intentional.