My question is simply how many different targets could I feasibly grapple at the same time? Here is the scenario:
I have a level 10 Monk who has access to the Clinging Shadows Initiate, thus Shadow Grasp unarmed attack. Shadow Grasp has the Agile, Grapple, and Reach traits for the unarmed strike.
The Grapple trait states that: You can use this weapon to Grapple with the Athletics skill even if you don't have a free hand.
Since I don't have to have a free hand how many enemies could I target to potentially hold in place assuming they were within my range? And once grappled in this fashion can you perform grapple maneuvers as per normal like Suplex or Aerial Piledriver from the Wrestler Archetype?
Since I don't have to have a free hand how many enemies could I target to potentially hold in place assuming they were within my range?
I think 3. One for each of your two hands (assuming that they aren't holding anything else), and one more for the Shadow Grasp.
And once grappled in this fashion can you perform grapple maneuvers as per normal like Suplex or Aerial Piledriver from the Wrestler Archetype?
LOL. Possibly works RAW to target all of them at once. Not sure if that is intended or not, or if it would be allowed at any particular table. I'm suspecting that it is not intended. A more reasonable ruling would be that one use of Suplex etc would target one of the enemies you have grappled. Suplex, at least, does use singular wording for the target that it affects.
But that isn't nearly as much fun.
I don't think that anyone would argue that you can't use Suplex on one of your grappled enemies at a time though.
Lol, I never thought of using the grapple feats to effect multiple targets, although admittedly a wave of suplexes would be hilarious. Thank you for replying I really appreciate the input. Would you rule that I could only grapple one target using the shadow grasp strike?
Would you rule that I could only grapple one target using the shadow grasp strike?
I would, yes.
I'm not entirely sure that the rules allow using Shadow Grasp strikes while you don't have a free hand - but I am going with the flavor of it and rule of cool. I think a good case can be made that it does work by the rules too. You can make unarmed strikes with both hands full still by using kicks and headbutts.
But yes. Only one grappled target with the Shadow Grasp. Game mechanics, it is only giving you one instance of a new unarmed attack to use. I think that is the best way to balance it and not have things get completely out of hand.
Besides, you have to make a grapple check against each enemy on future rounds in order to maintain the grapple. And you only have 3 actions to do that with normally. So being able to grab more enemies than that is a very temporary thing even if it was somehow possible.
Lol, I never thought of using the grapple feats to effect multiple targets, although admittedly a wave of suplexes would be hilarious.
It would be. And I would allow that as long as you use Suplex on each of the enemies individually.
So round 1, grab 3 enemies.
Round 2, Suplex 3 times - once on each of them.
Result (assuming successes): In one smooth motion you throw all three of the enemies over your back and drive them into the ground.
So in this scenario of silliness, for clarification, Monk uses 1 action to position himself within 3 opponents. Flurry of Maneuvers for 1 action to grab 2 foes. 3rd action to use Assurance to shadow grasp a 3rd.
Next action all 3 actions for Suplex city! Lol this is both exciting and ridiculous.
Yes. Sounds about right.
Handling failures may take a bit of creative narration. But mechanically it should work fine and be completely within the rules.