Person_Man
2007-07-18, 10:49 AM
The Grapple special attack (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/combat/specialAttacks.htm#grapple). Confusing and situational. But I smell potential.
Complete Champion Bear Totem Barbarian variant: Lose Fast Movement, gain the Improved Grab (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/specialAbilities.htm#improvedGrab) ability. Now whenever you make a successful attack, you get a free Grapple attempt, though it only works only against opponents at least one size category smaller than you.
Knifefighter: Feat from Player's Guide to Faerun: You can use a light weapon to attack your opponent in a grapple with no penalty on the attack roll. In addition, you need not win a grapple check to draw a light weapon while grappling, although you still must use a move action to do so. If your base attack bonus is +6 or higher, you can make a full attack with a light weapon while grappling, provided that you already have your weapon drawn.
Unarmed Strikes are light weapons, are always drawn, that also qualify for Power Attack.
The combo is simple. Make an Improved Unarmed Combat Barbarian build, like this one (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2891887). Be a Goliath (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/iw/20040711b&page=5) or Half-Giant (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/monsters/halfGiant.htm), for the Powerful Build ability, so that you count as a Large size and can use your Improved Grab ability against Medium enemies. A Barbarian/Psychic Warrior build with Expansion (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/expansion.htm) would be great as well. But if you do that, I'd suggest being a Half-Giant anyway.
Hit your enemy with Improved Unarmed Strike. Deal your unarmed damage. Get free Grapple check. If you win, you deal your unarmed damage again. You're now "Grappling," and so is your opponent. You can finish off your full attack against the enemy thanks to Knifefighter (which you could have done anyway with your Improved Grab ability if you were willing to accept a -20 penalty to your Grapple Check). And unless your enemy is also an unarmed grapple build, his actions are extremely limited, and he will probably soon be dead, assuming you didn't kill him with your first (essentially double damage) attack or iterative attacks already.
Plus, your enemy loses his Dex bonus while Grappling, making him a lot easier to hit, and subject to Sneak Attack, Sudden Strike, Mind (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20040723b) Cripple (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/iw/20040711b&page=5), Crippling Strike (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/classes/rogue.htm), etc.
And it works as early as ECL 2 (first level Goliath Barbarian with +1 LA, or a Barbarian 1/Psychic Warrior 1 with Expansion).
Fun, useful, playable at low levels, strong but not game breaking, and relatively simple once you learn the Grapple rules.
The only real downside is the Knifefighter is a campaign specific regional feat that obviously requires special DM approval. But that's really not a huge barrier unless your DM is a jerk or is running a very low powered game.
Suggestions? Build ideas?
Complete Champion Bear Totem Barbarian variant: Lose Fast Movement, gain the Improved Grab (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/specialAbilities.htm#improvedGrab) ability. Now whenever you make a successful attack, you get a free Grapple attempt, though it only works only against opponents at least one size category smaller than you.
Knifefighter: Feat from Player's Guide to Faerun: You can use a light weapon to attack your opponent in a grapple with no penalty on the attack roll. In addition, you need not win a grapple check to draw a light weapon while grappling, although you still must use a move action to do so. If your base attack bonus is +6 or higher, you can make a full attack with a light weapon while grappling, provided that you already have your weapon drawn.
Unarmed Strikes are light weapons, are always drawn, that also qualify for Power Attack.
The combo is simple. Make an Improved Unarmed Combat Barbarian build, like this one (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2891887). Be a Goliath (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/iw/20040711b&page=5) or Half-Giant (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/monsters/halfGiant.htm), for the Powerful Build ability, so that you count as a Large size and can use your Improved Grab ability against Medium enemies. A Barbarian/Psychic Warrior build with Expansion (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/expansion.htm) would be great as well. But if you do that, I'd suggest being a Half-Giant anyway.
Hit your enemy with Improved Unarmed Strike. Deal your unarmed damage. Get free Grapple check. If you win, you deal your unarmed damage again. You're now "Grappling," and so is your opponent. You can finish off your full attack against the enemy thanks to Knifefighter (which you could have done anyway with your Improved Grab ability if you were willing to accept a -20 penalty to your Grapple Check). And unless your enemy is also an unarmed grapple build, his actions are extremely limited, and he will probably soon be dead, assuming you didn't kill him with your first (essentially double damage) attack or iterative attacks already.
Plus, your enemy loses his Dex bonus while Grappling, making him a lot easier to hit, and subject to Sneak Attack, Sudden Strike, Mind (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20040723b) Cripple (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/iw/20040711b&page=5), Crippling Strike (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/classes/rogue.htm), etc.
And it works as early as ECL 2 (first level Goliath Barbarian with +1 LA, or a Barbarian 1/Psychic Warrior 1 with Expansion).
Fun, useful, playable at low levels, strong but not game breaking, and relatively simple once you learn the Grapple rules.
The only real downside is the Knifefighter is a campaign specific regional feat that obviously requires special DM approval. But that's really not a huge barrier unless your DM is a jerk or is running a very low powered game.
Suggestions? Build ideas?