Goliath monk/ reaping mauler.

[carrdrivesyou]

After seven levels of monk, the prerequisites for reaping auler are easily met. I'd like to go Goliath for bonus strength, but I'm not a fan of the Dex penalty.

Any handbooks for this build?

[eggynack]

Unlikely, as reaping mauler is quite bad. To put it simply, it's a class that actually makes you worse at grappling. You should likely avoid it as a result.

[QuickLyRaiNbow]

There's a generalized Grappler's Handbook. (http://www.minmaxboards.com/index.php?topic=585.0) And what it says about Reaping Mauler is: Don't.

[Diovid]

Only go for Reaping Mauler if you are allowed to switch Improved Grapple and Clever Wrestling. In other words, if Improved Grapple becomes a requirement and Clever Wrestling is given as a bonus feat (without having to meet it's requirements).

Of course even then Reaping Mauler's usefulness is probably debatable.

[Gwendol]

Goliaths are good grapplers, but more for the size bonus (powerful build) than just strength. Here's a build that might give you an idea on what to look for (this was a VoP challenge build, and VoP is by no means needed for this to work. Please reshuffle feats as you see fit):

Dragonborn Goliath bear totem barbarian 4/FotF 3/Bear warrior 1/Warshaper 4/Hulking hurler 3/Bear Warrior 4, Dragon Wing aspect


1. Imp Unarmed Strike, Sacred Vow (Flaw), Vow of Poverty (Flaw), Toughness (Bonus)
2. Imp Grapple (Bonus)
3. Power Attack, Great Fortitude (Bonus)
4.
5. FotF 1
6. PBS
7.
8. Bear Warrior 1
9. Warshaper 1, Weapon Focus (javelin)
10.
11.
12. Extra rage
13. Hulking Hurler 1
14. Area attack
15. Combat reflexes, Overburdened heave
16. Bear Warrior 2
17.
18. Multiattack


He can fly, and while raging qualify for the hulking hurler. Got a little hulk thing going with Goliath Mountain rage. Hurling rocks should be possible also in bear form, and offers both ranged and area attack options besides the extended range from Warshaper.

[eggynack]

Of course even then Reaping Mauler's usefulness is probably debatable.
Pretty much this. You get a tiny bonus to grappling which is less than what you'd gain from a single size increase (admittedly not as big of an issue with your proposed change), the ability to escape from a grapple easier, which is the exact opposite of what a grappler wants, and the ability to take out opponents who should already be pretty much dead, given that they've been in a pinned for at least a round. It's just a bunch of stuff that does nothing for someone who wants to grapple folks, and while it's less of a downgrade without clever wrestling, you'd do better with a lot of other classes.

[HammeredWharf]

To be clear, the reason why Reaping Mauler is bad is that Clever Wrestling requires you to be medium-sized, while you want to be as big as possible when you're grappling. Leviathan Hunter gives Clever Wrestling as a bonus feat and lets you ignore that restriction, but it still doesn't make Reaping Mauler a great PRC. Just tolerable.

Additionally, you've got to consider your course of action if your opponent has Freedom of Movement, also known as the cheap and easy to get "lolno" answer to grapple builds. For example, your teammate could Dispel it or you could get an antimagic field around yourself without getting hit by it. The latter can be accomplished by, among other things, Extraordinary Spell Aim + Runescarred Berserker, but is frowned upon by many.