Alright, so last week, during a session, the PC's encountered a rather nasty evil cleric who gave them the what for. She was buffed prior to the encounter and was able to hold them off on her own for a while. She was a CR 7 encounter, the PC's were level 5.
Here's the problem though. The monk in the group, started to grapple her later in the encounter. She could break free, but it was a standard action to break free of the grapple, therefore she had was no longer able to cast spells. The monk moved faster then her, so the encounter turned into him grappling her, her breaking free and moving away, him moving, grappling again, etc...etc....
This whole encounter made me realize that if you have a character with improved grapple, you can no longer have spell-casters as single enemies, as the grappling manuever essentially nerfs their spell-casting ability.
I'm aware that you can cast spells while grappling, but as soon as she would have done that, the monk gets a +4 bonus to pin her (as she didn't try to break free), and the encounter is over.
I'm debating on not allowing the pinned condition in my game, in order to nerf grapple a bit, as it seems like it can nerf an entire encounter.
Any thoughts?
Did you make sure the cleric's CMD was calculated correctly? Many things that add to AC add to CMD as well; I've noticed people seem to forget that.
As a cleric, a villain of that CR (assuming she was not multi-classed) could have had cast freedom of movement, avoiding the problem entirely.
Defensive Combat Training and spells that add percentile miss chances can help avoid being grappled as well.
Not to mention enhanced mobility spells many casters prepare (dimension door, fly).
Spellcasters can cast while grappled (Combat Casting improves success), if they are casting V only spells. Still Spell is friendly here. Also, many cleric spells are V only (not even requiring a focus, believe it or not).
With a bit of preparation grappling becomes much less of a problem. And if the PC is enjoying their time in the sun; what's the harm in letting them have it every once in a while. Reward good tactics. :)
ANy time you have only one bad guy and a party of PC's something like this will happen. Monks are VERY good at slipping behind enemy lines and grabbing casters: its what they're supposed to do.
-Cast freedom of movement: this is a get out of grapple free card
-Still spell: lets you cast spells in a grapple
-Summon a monster to grapple the monk. "Oh, you have me. Mr squid has YOU"
-Rogue in the shadows: You are no longer in the same square as the person you're grappling. Put someone on the other side, flank sandwhich and backstab way.
also dotn forget you can also choose to just be grappled and attack with a light one handed weapon.......
though I am unsure id you can attack after begin pinned.
Any thoughts?
Don't nerf the monk for doing one of the few things a monk is good at doing.
It sounds more like you got upset your BBEG wasnt as almighty as you had planned. Which is what will ALWAYS happen, especially if its just them.
Yeah, channel energy works in a grapple. IF the monk wants to be that close, fine.