So I'm playing a grapple build in a friend's campaign, and I've only ever used the "tie up" portion of the grapple rules, as that just takes them out of the fight. What I want to ask is if this is the best use of my action or not- moreover, would dealing damage or some other action I could take instead be better? Please note that this isn't me asking what to do in situations where I can't grapple.
There are plenty of places you can go! Try some of these:
[Body Shield](http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/body-shield-combat) - Block attacks with your grappled foe.
[Jawbreaker](http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/jawbreaker-combat) / [Bonebreaker](http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/bonebreaker-combat) / [Neckbreaker](http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/neckbreaker-combat) - Do bad things to people you're grappling.
[Bushwhack](http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/bushwhack-combat) - Grapple and pin a surprised target in one go.
[Chokehold](http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/chokehold-combat) - Strangle a target out (or just keep them from yelling, if stealth is your thing).
[Grabbing Style](http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/grabbing-style-combat-style) / [Grabbing Drag](http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/grabbing-drag-combat) / [Grabbing Master](http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/grabbing-master-combat) - A fighting style focused around grappling.
[Kraken Style](http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/kraken-style-combat-style) / [Kraken Throttle](http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/kraken-throttle-combat-style) / [Kraken Wrack](http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/kraken-wrack-combat-style) - Another fighting style focused on grappling.
[Pinning Knockout](http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/pinning-knockout-combat) - Beat up pinned targets more quickly.
[Pinning Rend](http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/pinning-rend-combat) - Tear up pinned opponents, causing Bleed.
[Rapid Grappler](http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/rapid-grappler-combat) - Speed up your grappling.
[Sleeper Hold](http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/sleeper-hold-combat) - Knock out grapple target.
[Snapping Turtle Clutch](http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/snapping-turtle-clutch-combat) - Grapple foes who miss you in combat.
[Snoutgrip](http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/snoutgrip-combat) - Clamp down on a target's mouth when it fails to bite you.
[Stag Horns](http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/snoutgrip-combat) - Grapple at the end of a charge.
[Stunning Pin](http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/stunning-pin-combat) - Stunning Fist as a swift action against grapple target.
[Unfair Grip](http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/unfair-grip-combat) - Hold onto grapple targets more easily.
Copy and paste from a useful list of feats from another poster, you can do many things with grapple as long as you invest in feats, Bonebreaker for example allows you to deal STR or DEX damage to the grapple opponent.
Greater Grapple + Throat Slicer. Never need rope again.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Gah this post hurt my head. Links added.
There are plenty of places you can go! Try some of these:
BODY SHIELD - Block attacks with your grappled foe.
JAWBREAKER / BONEBREAKER / NECKBREAKER - Do bad things to people you're grappling.
BUSHWHACK - Grapple and pin a surprised target in one go.
CHOKEHOLD - Strangle a target out (or just keep them from yelling, if stealth is your thing).
GRABBING STYLE / GRABBING DRAG / GRABBING MASTER - A fighting style focused around grappling.
KRAKEN STYLE / KRAKEN THROTTLE / KRAKEN WRACK - Another fighting style focused on grappling.
PINNING KNOCKOUT - Beat up pinned targets more quickly.
PINNING REND - Tear up pinned opponents, causing Bleed.
RAPID GRAPPLER - Speed up your grappling.
SLEEPER HOLD - Knock out grapple target.
SNAPPING TURTLE CLUTCH - Grapple foes who miss you in combat.
SNOUTGRIP - Clamp down on a target's mouth when it fails to bite you.
STAG HORNS - Grapple at the end of a charge.
(wrong link, feat is HERE on archivesofnethys)STUNNING PIN - Stunning Fist as a swift action against grapple target.
UNFAIR GRIP - Hold onto grapple targets more easily.
Copy and paste from a useful list of feats from another poster, you can do many things with grapple as long as you invest in feats, Bonebreaker for example allows you to deal STR or DEX damage to the grapple opponent.
Thank you, that's a nice list of feats, even some in there that I was never aware of, but even so, my original question stands- is there any reason to do something other than grapple --> pin --> tie up? Doing this takes an enemy out of the fight, and while 1d4 + 8 damage plus that much in bleed isn't in any way ignorable (only one example), I'd rather the enemy be out of the question as soon as possible.
Honestly I can't really see of a reason to do damage instead of tie up. Unless you only have ropes that you expect the bad guy can break or get out of. But it's pretty unlikely. Anything that can bust out of bloodvines ropes is likely to break your grapple. But maybe you don't have rope on hand? Or you are dueling? Once he's pinned he won't be able to fight back.
Once pinned people can just coup de grace the enemy though. With throat slicer and greater grapple you can off a grappled dude much quicker this way than by doing damage.