1) Can a creature grapple via an AoO?
For example, if someone provokes an AoO because of movement and the attacker has a special grab ability that enables it to grapple as a free action after a successful attack, can it use this grapple as a result of a successful AoO?
2) If a creature has multiple attacks and a special grab ability that enables it to grapple after a successful attack as a free action, can it make multiple grapples with each attack?
For example, could a kraken grapple multiple different targets with multiple successful tentacle attacks?
I think the answer to both questions is Yes but I'm looking for what other people think. The players in my campaign think it's overpowered and there should be a limit of one grapple per round (possibly multiple grapple attempts, but once successful you can only do it once).
Thoughts?
From the PF SRD:
Grab (Ex) 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.
Format: grab; Location: individual attacks.
This is come up before. RAW the only free action you can take outside of your turn is speaking.
Immediate actions are the ones than can be done when it is not your turn.
Immediate Action: An immediate action is very similar to a swift action, but can be performed at any time—even if it's not your turn.
This is come up before. RAW the only free action you can take outside of your turn is speaking.
Immediate actions are the ones than can be done when it is not your turn.
Immediate Action: An immediate action is very similar to a swift action, but can be performed at any time—even if it's not your turn.
Thanks! That's good to know and a nice easy answer!
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One can use an attack of opportunity to make a combat maneuver, such as trip, but not a grapple. Grappling is (usually) a standard action, and can not be made in place of an attack. The free action doesn't allow this for an AoO, like concerro said.
As a standard action, you can attempt to grapple a foe, hindering his combat options.
When performing a combat maneuver, you must use an action appropriate to the maneuver you are attempting to perform. While many combat maneuvers can be performed as part of an attack action, full-attack action, or attack of opportunity (in place of a melee attack), others require a specific action. Unless otherwise noted, performing a combat maneuver provokes an attack of opportunity from the target of the maneuver.
Any combination of a creature's attacks during a melee full attack can be replaced by a trip, disarm, or sunder maneuver (any maneuver that says "in place of a melee attack"). When doing this, the calculation for the creature's Combat Maneuver Bonus uses the base attack bonus of the attack that was exchanged for a combat maneuver. For example, a creature with a BAB of +6/+1 who performs a trip with her second attack uses +1 as her BAB for the CMB of the trip.
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Something to remember on things like the kracken.
Grappled: 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 must make a concentration check (DC 10 + grappler's CMB + spell level), or lose the spell. Grappled creatures cannot make attacks of opportunity.
A grappled creature cannot use Stealth to hide from the creature grappling it, even if a special ability, such as hide in plain sight, would normally allow it to do so. If a grappled creature becomes invisible, through a spell or other ability, it gains a +2 circumstance bonus on its CMD to avoid being grappled, but receives no other benefit.
A grappled creature does not threaten any squares. (thus cannot make AoO's) Once something like the kracken grabs ahold of someone, they must choose the -20 CMB check to maintain the grapple but not get the grappled condition themselves if they wish to grab someone else during their turn.
Also, there is nothing that states that a free action has to be on your turn. Otherwise things like Rock catching would be of no use, since the creature could only catch rocks thrown at it during it's turn.
With those things in mind, I think that a creature with the grab special ability, should be able to start a grapple if they hit with the right attack in an AoO. But only one at a time unless they take the -20 to the CMB to not be grappled themselves.
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Also, there is nothing that states that a free action has to be on your turn. Otherwise things like Rock catching would be of no use, since the creature could only catch rocks thrown at it during it's turn.
The rock catching allows a reflex to make the action. The only free action you can make outside your turn is talking- unless specified like that. The distinction in the case like rock catching is that it does not use an immediate action, which can be used outside your turn, but defining it as a free action allows the use of a swift action on the next turn (or an immediate action before then).
With that in mind, should a grab like the Kraken's be allowed in an AoO? I'd now say yes- as it says:
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. The creature has the option to conduct the grapple normally, or simply to 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.
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As mentioned, there is a issue with Free Actions and AoOs, disallowing Grab as AoO by RAW,
but that also affects a whole lot of other things: Rock Throwing, Trip (ala Wolves).
I have ALWAYS seen this played as allowing those attack-triggered Free Action Maneuvers on AoOs,
although that requires some faith as to the intention of the rules.
I think Kraken was a bad example for the -20 option to not become grappled yourself.
Normal Grab monsters indeed DO need to take the -20 option if they want to continue to threaten,
and thus be able to take further AoOs (possibly Grabbing them as well),
but the Kraken´s whole schtick is that it has a special ability saying that it ALWAYS is treated as if it took the -20 option, without actually suffering the penalty, i.e. it doesn´t gain the Grappled condition itself when it grabs you, so can continue to take AoO´s and Move around while keeping it´s target(s) Grappled.
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As mentioned, there is a issue with Free Actions and AoOs, disallowing Grab as AoO by RAW,
but that also affects a whole lot of other things: Rock Throwing, Trip (ala Wolves).
I have ALWAYS seen this played as allowing those attack-triggered Free Action Maneuvers on AoOs,
although that requires some faith as to the intention of the rules.I think Kraken was a bad example for the -20 option to not become grappled yourself.
Normal Grab monsters indeed DO need to take the -20 option if they want to continue to threaten,
and thus be able to take further AoOs (possibly Grabbing them as well),
but the Kraken´s whole schtick is that it has a special ability saying that it ALWAYS is treated as if it took the -20 option, without actually suffering the penalty, i.e. it doesn´t gain the Grappled condition itself when it grabs you, so can continue to take AoO´s and Move around while keeping it´s target(s) Grappled.
I admit, I did not take the time to look up the kraken, I just continued using it as am example from the OP. Now that I have looked it up, you are right, that Tenacious Grapple would stop that. Ouch! It could have up to 10 things of size G or less in grapple!
I ran into this myself with the giant flytrap. Which does not have any such ability.