A grappler has always sounded like a fun character... in theory. But then all it takes it a flip through the Beastiary to realize you're fighting an uphill battle.
Even a Tetori is eventually going to get totally punked at his main strategy by some random encounter's base size bonuses and/or aura damage effects.
Am I just a negative-nancy or is a wrestler really just a waste of time and effort?
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A grappler has always sounded like a fun character... in theory. But then all it takes it a flip through the Beastiary to realize you're fighting an uphill battle.
Even a Tetori is eventually going to get totally punked at his main strategy by some random encounter's base size bonuses and/or aura damage effects.
Am I just a negative-nancy or is a wrestler really just a waste of time and effort?
Will it work well against big things, no.
Will it make you the bane of most casters, yes.
A grappler has always sounded like a fun character... in theory. But then all it takes it a flip through the Beastiary to realize you're fighting an uphill battle.
Even a Tetori is eventually going to get totally punked at his main strategy by some random encounter's base size bonuses and/or aura damage effects.
Am I just a negative-nancy or is a wrestler really just a waste of time and effort?
Well, if you specialize in a single way of fighting, you'll be fairly disappointed. That's why I wouldn't build completely around one combat maneuver. I once did that for a tripping fighter and was a bit disappointed when I'd go against quadrupeds and oozes. So, I'd say focus on grappling but have a secondary reliable plan to take on things that are difficult to grapple.
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I'm currently playing a tetori monk looking like this.
I grappled and pinned a froghemoth back last session. My medium-sized monk was too awesome to handle for the poor Huge tentacle creature, and Snapping Turtle + AoO on grapple attempts sealed the monster's fate.
I also did & 2vs1 against a perfectly optimized THF sunderer ; and a TW ranger with his snake (which we homebrewed to provide him with Trip as he wanted an effective snake and the wolf is so ridiculously better at the job) fighting with Broken Wing gambit, teamwork feats, a menacing weapon, ridiculous amounts of AoO, and the THF-TWFing trick thanks to a glove of storing (THF with main weapon, switch to off-hand)... both weapons with a 15-20 crit range.
After much suffering and -170 HP later, I had the THF pinned and tied into a rope, and I tied the ranger with his own snake before doing an inescapable knot. Being able to do three grapple checks by round helped.
So, yeah, this is f@!$ing worth it, though your mileage may vary depending on your GM's style. Mine loves big monsters ; and even then, I don't feel like I can't contribute !
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I'm currently playing a tetori monk looking like this.
I grappled and pinned a froghemoth back last session. My medium-sized monk was too awesome to handle for the poor Huge tentacle creature, and Snapping Turtle + AoO on grapple attempts sealed the monster's fate.I also did & 2vs1 against a perfectly optimized THF sunderer ; and a TW ranger with his snake (which we homebrewed to provide him with Trip as he wanted an effective snake and the wolf is so ridiculously better at the job) fighting with Broken Wing gambit, teamwork feats, a menacing weapon, ridiculous amounts of AoO, and the THF-TWFing trick thanks to a glove of storing (THF with main weapon, switch to off-hand)... both weapons with a 15-20 crit range.
After much suffering and -170 HP later, I had the THF pinned and tied into a rope, and I tied the ranger with his own snake before doing an inescapable knot. Being able to do three grapple checks by round helped.
So, yeah, this is f$++ing worth it, though your mileage may vary depending on your GM's style. Mine loves big monsters ; and even then, I don't feel like I can't contribute !
Those faces will haunt my nightmares for the rest of my life...
Those faces will haunt my nightmares for the rest of my life...I'm currently playing a tetori monk looking like this.
I grappled and pinned a froghemoth back last session. My medium-sized monk was too awesome to handle for the poor Huge tentacle creature, and Snapping Turtle + AoO on grapple attempts sealed the monster's fate.I also did & 2vs1 against a perfectly optimized THF sunderer ; and a TW ranger with his snake (which we homebrewed to provide him with Trip as he wanted an effective snake and the wolf is so ridiculously better at the job) fighting with Broken Wing gambit, teamwork feats, a menacing weapon, ridiculous amounts of AoO, and the THF-TWFing trick thanks to a glove of storing (THF with main weapon, switch to off-hand)... both weapons with a 15-20 crit range.
After much suffering and -170 HP later, I had the THF pinned and tied into a rope, and I tied the ranger with his own snake before doing an inescapable knot. Being able to do three grapple checks by round helped.
So, yeah, this is f$++ing worth it, though your mileage may vary depending on your GM's style. Mine loves big monsters ; and even then, I don't feel like I can't contribute !
Agreed... O_O;
Makes me sad that Tetori has to give up Abundant Step... Seems like it would be so great to just, "Surprise! *grab*"
I now want to play a Tetori Monk named Zangeif...
I once made a grappling Saurian Shaman Druid, the ability to go up to larger sizes means you're not ruined so much by larger creatures, and I made my AC into a little version of myself. It takes a little while to get started, but by level 10 you're running around with Greater Grapple in Allosaurus form, with Grab, Pounce and Rake. And with full spell-casting you're far from a one trick pony.