Which monsters are most fun to wrestle - and why?

[Jesper at Blood Brethren Games]

If you were to introduce players unfamiliar with the CMB/CMD-rules to some fun/interesting encounters featuring wrestling/grappling/unarmed combat, which monsters would you select and why?

If you can, please give examples at different CR intervals, such as:
CR 1-5
CR 6-10
CR 11-15
CR 16-20

Or whatever suits you.

I am looking for monsters that pose an interesting challenge specifically in unarmed combat! :-)

[Count Coltello]

Succubus always fun to "wrestle" ... I know someone else was thinking it I just said it lol

Or giant...(different reason than succubus)

[Dieben]

Count Coltello wrote:

Succubus always fun to "wrestle" ... I know someone else was thinking it I just said it lol

Or giant...(different reason than succubus)

There is a whole thread to get a hold of regarding this subject.

[Jesper at Blood Brethren Games]

Thanks. Any other suggestions? I want my players to experience the unarmed combat rules, not *just* get level drained and die...

[Cap. Darling]

Look up the monsters with special rules like grab or trip. Or make some NPCs with some of the grabbing classes like monk( tetori), brutal pugilist(barbarian), Brawler(figther) are all fun and fine maneuver guys an orc with some levels in brutal pugilist is not bad.
But with grabbeling action economy is even more important than normally. So remember to have at least one bad guy pr hero.

[I3igAl]

I'd go with monsters that are kinda creepy, but not natural grapplers. For example a ghoul who tries to take down the target, while trying to bite is quite flavourful.

[Noir le Lotus]

At low levels, wolf is great with its free Trip attack => it's not too dangerous but puts the PCs in a bad situation, so that's a great introduction. Lion with Grab and Rake can be very dangerous. Stirges are a bit of a nuisance if they are not too numerous (consider one per PC).

At higher levels, Succubus is fun if the "act of passion" doesn't last too long => with drained levels, escaping is harder and harder so this is more frustratous than anything else.

For unarmed combat, make them fight some good monster (bralani or hound archon) as a challenge to test their value.

[Psion-Psycho]

Tarrasque. All levels. If your gonna be a man and go fisty cuffs on some thing, then be a true man and go Tarrasque tipping.

[Jesper at Blood Brethren Games]

Thanks for the input - especially the serious ones ;-)

Please keep them coming, if you can!

[eakratz]

Importing the illithid from 3.5 might prove to be a fun wrestling encounter.

[Master of the Dark Triad]

Kappas.

Spill their water.

[Evilserran]

I always consider it a point of pride when i pin an ogre...

[rorek55]

4 armed trolls are fun. hell, my level 2 barbarian beat a low level one quite easily! lol.

[Lobolusk]

there was one encounter where a druid had a Albnio Alligator that was fun to wrestle it think it was a CR2

[Cap. Darling]

When making encounters like this remember that the unarmed power in a group most likely is not comparable to there normal power. A monk or a beast totem barbarian wont be to hurt by the unarmedness but a figther may ve totally shaftet. So if it is a encounter where the PCs fore some reason dont have there weapons ready some will suck an some will shine.

[AndIMustMask]

throw something with tentacles/expanded reach and the Grab power after them.