I've looked around a few times but I don't think I ever found a definitive answer for how the Grab monster ability works. I've seen pages of people discussing it but I haven't found an official ruling. So I just figured I'd ask to see if I simply missed it somewhere. I don't really want this to turn into another discussion, because I've seen a dozen different interpretations of the rules. I just would like to know if there's an official way it works, with and without constrict.
Grab alowes you to make a grapple combat manuver check on a successful hit with a attack that has the grab special quality. This check can trigger constrict wich lets you then squeeze the creature you just attacked, Effectively getting two hits in.
Typacly this is used on a monsters natural attacks (I'm relatively sure no weapons have the quality)
Yeah, that's the simple stuff, the annoying and confusing bit is what happens after the first turn.
Grab allows you to deal damage with the attack used to initiate the grab on a successful check to maintain the grapple. The question is does that apply if you don't have constrict (you get constrict damage as well), does that force you to use the damage grapple option or is this damage just inherent in you holding them?
The wording on that portion of the rule is absolutely terrible and I can easily see all the interpretations as being correct. So I'd really like to know what the INTENT was when writing it because RAW is not clear.
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.
Seems pretty obvious to me.
1) Attack hits, free grapple check.
2) Maintain grapple (without constrict ability), deal automatic natural weapon damage (of whatever grabbed them).
If you want to go with a strict RAW interpretation, then the creature is forced to do damage. But I think RAI would still allow them to grapple without damage if they chose to.
Typacly this is used on a monsters natural attacks (I'm relatively sure no weapons have the quality)
True, but some weapons can almost do this; there is the "grapple" quality found on several weapons (garrote, mancatcher, etc.) but it only works on a confirmed critical hit so it's not quite as good as the Grab universal monster rule.