Djinn_in_Tonic
2010-05-05, 03:51 PM
Grappling is always fun, but it's complicated in 3.5 and almost useless in 4e. This is my attempt to change that.
A brief explanation of the keywords I'm using:
Unarmed: The attack is an unarmed attack. The class that will be getting these powers gains an implement-like bonus to attack rolls with unarmed attacks.
Grab: The power can allow you to grab your opponent.
Hold: The power sustains a grapple (without the minor action normally required), but can only be used on an already grappled opponent.
Break: Each time you use a Hold power, you "roll for Break." You roll a d6. On a 5 or a 6, you gain Break, which you can then expend to use a Break power. Breaks are more powerful than normal at-wills, but can't be used as frequently...consider them this classes equivalent of encounter powers. You have to choose whether to try to go for a Break, or attack multiple foes with your other powers.
The proposed classes chooses 2 Grabs, 2 Holds, and 2 Breaks at 1st level, to give it some variety. It's role is a mix of controller and defender.
Thoughts?
Grabs
Shoulder Tackle
You charge forwards, slamming into your foe and wrapping your arms around him.
At-Will * Grab, Martial, Unarmed
Standard Action | Melee touch
Requirement You must have a hand free.
Target One creature
Attack Constitution vs. Reflex
Hit 1d8 + Constitution modifier damage, and you push the target 2. You then shift 2 to a square adjacent to the target, and you may grab the target.
Increase damage to 2d8 + Constitution modifier at 21st level.
Special You may use this ability in place of a basic attack during a charge.
Bear Hug
You reach out and embrace your foe with an unbreakable grip.
At-Will * Grab, Martial, Unarmed
Standard Action | Melee touch
Requirement You must have a hand free.
Target One creature
Attack Constitution vs. Fortitude
Hit 1d8 + Constitution modifier damage, and you may grab the target. The target takes damage equal to your Constitution modifier if it attempts to escape the grab before the beginning of your next turn.
Increase damage to 2d8 + Constitution modifier at 21st level.
Special You may use this ability in place of an opportunity attack.
Hip Throw
You shift your weight, grabbing one enemy and flinging him to the ground.
At-Will * Grab, Martial, Unarmed
Standard Action | Melee touch
Requirement You must have a hand free.
Target One creature
Attack Constitution vs. Fortitude
Hit 1d8 + Constitution modifier damage, and you either grab the target or knock it prone. If you grab the target, make a secondary attack against another adjacent foe.
*Attack Constitution vs. Fortitude
*Hit You knock the target prone.
Increase damage to 2d8 + Constitution modifier at 21st level.
Spinning Heave
You grab your foe and drag him around you, knocking him into his allies.
At-Will * Grab, Martial, Unarmed
Standard Action | Melee touch
Requirement You must have a hand free.
Target One creature
Attack Constitution vs. Reflex
Hit 1d8 + Constitution modifier, and each enemy other than your target within burst 1 takes damage equal to your Constitution modifier. You grab the target.
Increase damage to 2d8 + Constitution modifier at 21st level.
Holds
Crushing Embrace
Your grip tightens as you hold your opponent fast.
At-Will * Hold, Martial, Unarmed
Standard Action | Melee touch
Requirement You must be grabbing an opponent.
Target The grabbed opponent
Attack Constitution vs. Fortitude
Hit 1d8 + Constitution modifier damage, and the target is restrained until the end of your next turn.
Effect You sustain your grab. Roll for Break.
Increase damage to 2d10 + Constitution modifier at 21st level.
Human Flail
You swing your opponent around you as an impromptu weapon.
At-Will * Hold, Martial, Unarmed
Standard Action | Close burst 2
Requirement You must be grabbing an opponent.
Target Each enemy within burst other than your grabbed opponent
Attack Constitution vs. Reflex
Hit 1d8 + Constitution modifier damage, and you push the target 1 square. The grabbed opponent takes damage equal to half your Constitution modifier.
Effect You sustain your grab. Roll for Break.
Increase damage to 2d8 at 21st level.
Meat Shield
You place your opponent in front of you to draw enemy fire, while taunting those around you.
At-Will * Hold, Martial, Unarmed
Standard Action | Close burst 2
Requirement You must be grabbing an opponent.
Target Each enemy within burst other than your grabbed opponent
Attack Constitution +2 vs. Will
Hit You mark the target until the beginning of your next turn.
Effect Until the end of your next turn, you gain resist 4. Whenever you resist damage, your grabbed opponent takes damage equal to the amount resisted. You sustain your grab. Roll for Break.
Increase resist to 7 at 11th level, and 10 at 21st level.
Battering Charge
You charge forward, slamming your opponent into his friends.
At-Will * Hold, Martial, Unarmed
Standard Action | Melee touch
Requirement You must be grabbing an opponent.
Target One creature other than your grabbed opponent
Attack Constitution vs. Reflex
Move You may shift 3 prior to the attack.
Hit 1d8 + Constitution modifier damage, and you knock the target prone. Your grabbed opponent takes damage equal to your Constitution modifier.
Effect You sustain your grab. Roll for Break.
Breaks
Mighty Heave
You fling your opponent from you with brutal force.
At-Will * Break, Martial, Unarmed
Standard Action | Melee touch
Requirement You must be grabbing an opponent and have Break.
Target The grabbed opponent
Attack Constitution vs. Reflex
Hit 2d8 + Constitution modifier damage, and you slide the target to any square within burst 5 and knock it prone. Make the following attack in burst 1 around the target's new location.
*Target Each creature in burst.
*Attack Constitution vs. Reflex
*Hit 1d8 + Constitution modifier damage, and you push the target 1 square.
Increase primary damage to 3d8 at 21st level. Increase secondary damage to 2d8 at 21st level.
Piledriver
You slam your opponent into the ground at your feet.
At-Will * Break, Martial, Unarmed
Standard Action | Melee touch
Requirement You must be grabbing an opponent and have Break.
Target The grabbed opponent
Attack Constitution vs. Fortitude
Hit 3d8 + Constitution modifier damage and the target takes a -2 penalty to all defenses and is dazed until the end of your next turn.
Increase damage to 4d8 at 21st level.
Crippling Squeeze
You give one last great squeeze before letting your crippled opponent go.
At-Will * Break, Martial, Unarmed
Standard Action | Melee touch
Requirement You must be grabbing an opponent and have Break.
Target The grabbed opponent
Attack Constitution vs. Fortitude
Hit 2d8 + Constitution modifier damage and the target is slowed and weakened (save ends both).
Increase damage to 3d8 at 21st level.
Brutal Slam
You fling your opponent into an adjacent enemy, knocking both to the ground.
At-Will * Break, Martial, Unarmed
Standard Action | Melee touch
Requirement You must be grabbing an opponent and have Break.
Target One creature other than the grabbed opponent
Attack Constitution vs. Reflex
Hit 2d8 + Constitution modifier damage, and the target is knocked prone. Your grabbed opponent takes damage equal to your Constitution modifier, and is knocked prone.
Effect Shift the grabbed opponent to any square adjacent to both you and the target.
A brief explanation of the keywords I'm using:
Unarmed: The attack is an unarmed attack. The class that will be getting these powers gains an implement-like bonus to attack rolls with unarmed attacks.
Grab: The power can allow you to grab your opponent.
Hold: The power sustains a grapple (without the minor action normally required), but can only be used on an already grappled opponent.
Break: Each time you use a Hold power, you "roll for Break." You roll a d6. On a 5 or a 6, you gain Break, which you can then expend to use a Break power. Breaks are more powerful than normal at-wills, but can't be used as frequently...consider them this classes equivalent of encounter powers. You have to choose whether to try to go for a Break, or attack multiple foes with your other powers.
The proposed classes chooses 2 Grabs, 2 Holds, and 2 Breaks at 1st level, to give it some variety. It's role is a mix of controller and defender.
Thoughts?
Grabs
Shoulder Tackle
You charge forwards, slamming into your foe and wrapping your arms around him.
At-Will * Grab, Martial, Unarmed
Standard Action | Melee touch
Requirement You must have a hand free.
Target One creature
Attack Constitution vs. Reflex
Hit 1d8 + Constitution modifier damage, and you push the target 2. You then shift 2 to a square adjacent to the target, and you may grab the target.
Increase damage to 2d8 + Constitution modifier at 21st level.
Special You may use this ability in place of a basic attack during a charge.
Bear Hug
You reach out and embrace your foe with an unbreakable grip.
At-Will * Grab, Martial, Unarmed
Standard Action | Melee touch
Requirement You must have a hand free.
Target One creature
Attack Constitution vs. Fortitude
Hit 1d8 + Constitution modifier damage, and you may grab the target. The target takes damage equal to your Constitution modifier if it attempts to escape the grab before the beginning of your next turn.
Increase damage to 2d8 + Constitution modifier at 21st level.
Special You may use this ability in place of an opportunity attack.
Hip Throw
You shift your weight, grabbing one enemy and flinging him to the ground.
At-Will * Grab, Martial, Unarmed
Standard Action | Melee touch
Requirement You must have a hand free.
Target One creature
Attack Constitution vs. Fortitude
Hit 1d8 + Constitution modifier damage, and you either grab the target or knock it prone. If you grab the target, make a secondary attack against another adjacent foe.
*Attack Constitution vs. Fortitude
*Hit You knock the target prone.
Increase damage to 2d8 + Constitution modifier at 21st level.
Spinning Heave
You grab your foe and drag him around you, knocking him into his allies.
At-Will * Grab, Martial, Unarmed
Standard Action | Melee touch
Requirement You must have a hand free.
Target One creature
Attack Constitution vs. Reflex
Hit 1d8 + Constitution modifier, and each enemy other than your target within burst 1 takes damage equal to your Constitution modifier. You grab the target.
Increase damage to 2d8 + Constitution modifier at 21st level.
Holds
Crushing Embrace
Your grip tightens as you hold your opponent fast.
At-Will * Hold, Martial, Unarmed
Standard Action | Melee touch
Requirement You must be grabbing an opponent.
Target The grabbed opponent
Attack Constitution vs. Fortitude
Hit 1d8 + Constitution modifier damage, and the target is restrained until the end of your next turn.
Effect You sustain your grab. Roll for Break.
Increase damage to 2d10 + Constitution modifier at 21st level.
Human Flail
You swing your opponent around you as an impromptu weapon.
At-Will * Hold, Martial, Unarmed
Standard Action | Close burst 2
Requirement You must be grabbing an opponent.
Target Each enemy within burst other than your grabbed opponent
Attack Constitution vs. Reflex
Hit 1d8 + Constitution modifier damage, and you push the target 1 square. The grabbed opponent takes damage equal to half your Constitution modifier.
Effect You sustain your grab. Roll for Break.
Increase damage to 2d8 at 21st level.
Meat Shield
You place your opponent in front of you to draw enemy fire, while taunting those around you.
At-Will * Hold, Martial, Unarmed
Standard Action | Close burst 2
Requirement You must be grabbing an opponent.
Target Each enemy within burst other than your grabbed opponent
Attack Constitution +2 vs. Will
Hit You mark the target until the beginning of your next turn.
Effect Until the end of your next turn, you gain resist 4. Whenever you resist damage, your grabbed opponent takes damage equal to the amount resisted. You sustain your grab. Roll for Break.
Increase resist to 7 at 11th level, and 10 at 21st level.
Battering Charge
You charge forward, slamming your opponent into his friends.
At-Will * Hold, Martial, Unarmed
Standard Action | Melee touch
Requirement You must be grabbing an opponent.
Target One creature other than your grabbed opponent
Attack Constitution vs. Reflex
Move You may shift 3 prior to the attack.
Hit 1d8 + Constitution modifier damage, and you knock the target prone. Your grabbed opponent takes damage equal to your Constitution modifier.
Effect You sustain your grab. Roll for Break.
Breaks
Mighty Heave
You fling your opponent from you with brutal force.
At-Will * Break, Martial, Unarmed
Standard Action | Melee touch
Requirement You must be grabbing an opponent and have Break.
Target The grabbed opponent
Attack Constitution vs. Reflex
Hit 2d8 + Constitution modifier damage, and you slide the target to any square within burst 5 and knock it prone. Make the following attack in burst 1 around the target's new location.
*Target Each creature in burst.
*Attack Constitution vs. Reflex
*Hit 1d8 + Constitution modifier damage, and you push the target 1 square.
Increase primary damage to 3d8 at 21st level. Increase secondary damage to 2d8 at 21st level.
Piledriver
You slam your opponent into the ground at your feet.
At-Will * Break, Martial, Unarmed
Standard Action | Melee touch
Requirement You must be grabbing an opponent and have Break.
Target The grabbed opponent
Attack Constitution vs. Fortitude
Hit 3d8 + Constitution modifier damage and the target takes a -2 penalty to all defenses and is dazed until the end of your next turn.
Increase damage to 4d8 at 21st level.
Crippling Squeeze
You give one last great squeeze before letting your crippled opponent go.
At-Will * Break, Martial, Unarmed
Standard Action | Melee touch
Requirement You must be grabbing an opponent and have Break.
Target The grabbed opponent
Attack Constitution vs. Fortitude
Hit 2d8 + Constitution modifier damage and the target is slowed and weakened (save ends both).
Increase damage to 3d8 at 21st level.
Brutal Slam
You fling your opponent into an adjacent enemy, knocking both to the ground.
At-Will * Break, Martial, Unarmed
Standard Action | Melee touch
Requirement You must be grabbing an opponent and have Break.
Target One creature other than the grabbed opponent
Attack Constitution vs. Reflex
Hit 2d8 + Constitution modifier damage, and the target is knocked prone. Your grabbed opponent takes damage equal to your Constitution modifier, and is knocked prone.
Effect Shift the grabbed opponent to any square adjacent to both you and the target.