[Rules as Written, the grappler has no more penalties than half movement, so other foes shouldn't attack with advantage. Same as being flanked in 5e.
But certainly, if the house rule is that other foes attack the grappler with advantage, even though he's standing, then grappling is more risky but more efficient too. It means the other PCs can attack the Grappled bugbear with advantage, without Chandan needing to shove/knock it prone first.
So if Chandan can grapple two or three bugbears, that's the whole front line that the PCs can attack with advantage.
We should probably clarify this, because if that's the case, everyone should focus fire on Bugbear1 right now, since they attack with advantage.]
Brutish outsize goblinoids, all pressed together in a confined space. Initially skirting the front line, Kriv uttered a guttural phrase in his native tongue, stepping forward with hand outstretched. bathing the hairy vermin in arcane fire.
Kriv Burning hands AJ rolled 3d6 and got 11
He did try to direct the flame away from the grappling monk, naturally.
OOC: Right, but I'm not applying the advantage. Note that flanking =is= an optional rule in 5e and am not applying it. We're good, but as I said it looks cool from a cinematic perspective, but there's no benefit to doing this. BTW, correct tactic with bugbears is to make sure that they are only able to attack from distance. They do almost double-damage when in close combat - an extra die.
Quote:
Brute: A melee weapon deals one extra die of its damage when the bugbear hits with it (included in the attack).
Morningstar: Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d8 + 2) piercing damage.
Javelin: Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 30/120 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (2d6 + 2) piercing damage in melee or 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage at range.
Bugbear 1 Save vs burning hands, then sacred flame Neptune rolled 1d20+2,1d20+2 and got 8, 14 OOC: Looks like it fails the burning hands save but makes the sacred flame save. I'll wait for Gypsy to post Jaliera's action before posting. You all can continue doing your thing.
Last edited by Neptune; Fri 26/01/1814:52 UTC. Reason: Resolved spells
[Aye, I think you're right about grappling being sub-optimal, Nep, in this situation anyway, and also bear in mind Chandan isn't built for grappling, so it would probably never be optimal for him to grapple. You really need a build with high Str and Athletics proficiency.
But it has given us a chance to demonstrate the grappling rules, which are a lot friendlier than 3rd Ed or 3.5 (I never played 4th, so can't comment) and I'm enjoying experimenting with them. Thank you and Zeim for your breakdown and feedback. Remember I'm still a 5e learner and don't own the PHB.]
OOC: Gypsy, Right damage, wrong target. Since Bugbear 2 was dead, I'll just move it over to bugbear 1, the one that Chandan is wrestling with.
Neil, That's why I discussed it here. This module is all about learning 5e. As a DM, 3.5 was atrocious - especially in FTF games where you needed a Cray computer to figure things out. 4e was not D&D.
Bugbear 3,4,5,6 save vs burning hands Neptune rolled 1d20+2,1d20+2,1d20+2,1d20+2 and got 14, 8, 16, 12 Bugbears 1, 4 and 6 take damage.
DM Kriv moves in to attack the bugbears and as he stands in front of the bugbear in Chandan's grasp, flames shoot forth from his hands. The flames extend to all of the bugbears but two of them are able to avoid the blast.
Then Jaliera fires an arrow at Chandan's prey and the arrow strikes true and the bugbear goes limp in the monk's hands.
Ryssa was aiming for that same bugbear but seeing it drop, she moves onto the next target with her sacred flame, but the bugbear is able to dodge it.
OOC: I adjusted damage above. Evasion is a feature that some classes have and some magic items bestow. The bugbears do not have that feature. Monks and rogues gain it at 7th level and a ranger hunter archetype can choose to add it at 15th as part of the superior hunters defense feature.
[ooc: Luminmorn's shield attack succeeds but I'm confused as to why you used it. It can only be used to shove the bugbear back 5 feet. But since there's another bugbear behind him, he won't go anywhere. Am I missing something?]
Staying where he is for the moment he does a poor attempt to lash the one bug bear in front of Kriv with his thorn whip cantrip. Davroar Thorn whip attack on Bugbear #4 Dugan rolled 1d20+4 and got 6
DM Luminmorn moves up to attack the bugbears but his inital blow missed badly but the bugbear does not escape his wrath and is knocked prone after getting smashed in the head with his shield. Davroar tries to whip a bugbear with a mystical thorn whip but his aim is poor. Bern steps into the fray and fires arrows into the bugbears in front of Chandan. Both strike true but the bugbears are tough and continue to fight.
A bit of housekeeping. I neglected to take a token off the board. Both bugbear 1 & 2 were killed. Lumi had to move up to attack so I moved him to where he could do so. If that doesn't work, we'll fix. Status:
His allies scythe through the bugbear front ranks and Luminmorn flattens another with his shield. So Chandan jumps in with an axe kick to the bugbear who now flounders, dangerously prone.
DM Chandan's kick squashes the prone bugbear like a bug and it'll never get up again as monk's heal cracks it's spike like a twig. This only angers the remaining bugbears who press their attacks. The two bugbears up front attach Luminmorn and Chandan but are unable to penetrate their defenses and the one in the back hurls a javelin at Bern but the ranger easily dodges the projectile. Bugbear-4 attacks Lumi Neptune rolled 1d20+4,1d6+2 and got 10, 7 Bugbear-5 attacks Chandan Neptune rolled 1d20+4,1d6+2 and got 9, 7 Bugbear-6 chose Bern,Davroar,Jaliera,Kriv,Ryssa Neptune rolled 1d5 and got 1 Bugbear-6 attacks Bern with Javelin Neptune rolled 1d20+4,1d6+2 and got 11, 5 Status:
She looked around and, sensing - seeing, too - that the old monk is still suffering from an extensive injury (and knowing that Chandan would ignore such wounds and continue to fight), Ryssa murmured a prayer to Lathander the Morning Lord to ease the old man's hurts.
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Remember I'm still a 5e learner and don't own the PHB.]
