Improved Grab feat?

[Lord Pendragon]

Is Improved Grab printed anywhere as a monstrous feat, or is it only available to creatures as a Special Attack?

 

[Darklone]

I think it's only in the Abilities and Conditions of the SRD.

 

[FreeTheSlaves]

I haven't seen it printed as a feat anywhere. I'd think it was just a special attack that strikes a bit of fear into fighter-type players.

We've got this running theme about the huge constrictor snake. One fight almost the entire party got done over by its improved grab & that was after we had knocked out the bbeg & co. It was supposedly the pet but it had a +21 or so grapple vs our +3 or something.

I had my revenge the next session that I ran... No I didn't, Dave's character blew it to bits with sonics!

Methinks it is an attack of monsters that just want to grab & eat you. Characters would need some beefy prerequisites.

 

[Shin Okada]

AFAIK Improved Grab is only listed as a special attack.

But Huge or larger monster with claw or bite attack can take "Snatch" feat which works somewhat like improved grab ability.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

Methinks it is an attack of monsters that just want to grab & eat you. Characters would need some beefy prerequisites.

Well, my question was more about monsters/monstrous PCs than humanoid PCs. i.e. could a 9HD (Large) Hell Hound pick up Improved Grab as one of its extra feats. Having Improved Grab as a feat would allow one to advance certain critters and add in Improved Grab at an appropriate size/strength.

But I guess it isn't set up that way.

 

[Methos of Aundair]

Quoted from the SRD (TypesSubtypesAbilities)

Improved Grab (Ex): If a creature with this special attack hits with a melee weapon (usually a claw or bite attack), it deals normal damage and attempts to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. No initial touch attack is required. Unless otherwise noted, improved grab works only against opponents at least one size category smaller than the creature. The creature has the option to conduct the grapple normally, or simply use the part of its body it used in the improved grab to hold the opponent. If it chooses to do the latter, it takes a –20 penalty on grapple checks, but is not considered grappled itself; the creature does not lose its Dexterity bonus to AC, still threatens an area, and can use its remaining attacks against other opponents. A successful hold does not deal any extra damage unless the creature also has the constrict special attack. If the creature does not constrict, each successful grapple check it makes during successive rounds automatically deals the damage indicated for the attack that established the hold. Otherwise, it deals constriction damage as well (the amount is given in the creature’s descriptive text). When a creature gets a hold after an improved grab attack, it pulls the opponent into its space. This act does not provoke attacks of opportunity. It can even move (possibly carrying away the opponent), provided it can drag the opponent’s weight.

This might help.

EDIT: I realize you probably were not asking for the description but thought I would add it anyway.

 

[Shin Okada]

Well, my question was more about monsters/monstrous PCs than humanoid PCs. i.e. could a 9HD (Large) Hell Hound pick up Improved Grab as one of its extra feats. Having Improved Grab as a feat would allow one to advance certain critters and add in Improved Grab at an appropriate size/strength.

But I guess it isn't set up that way.

Nessian Warhound (bigger cousin of Hell Hound) can be advanced up to huge. Thus, can take Snatch feat.

 

[the Jester]

The closest thing I've seen is Improved Grapple.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

The closest thing I've seen is Improved Grapple.

Which requires Improved Unarmed Strike.

 

[Shadowdweller]

Well, if you're designing the monster as a DM to challenge players, you're always free to use the DM's prerogative and just add it. The MM (dunno about SRD) gives a fairly decent formula for estimating the CR of creatures you've augmented...probably about +1 or +2 depending on how much such a thing improves the monster's effectiveness.

If you're the player....well good luck with your DM.