Why are the mechanics for grappling different?

[wolfpunk]

Is it really necessary for grappling to use different mechanics than the attack roll?

For grappling, why not declare a grapple and make an attack roll as normal. If you hit, you can deal damage, you can disarm, or you can trip your opponent. If you choose to deal damage you can do one point of damage per hit die (two points per hit die if you have the constrict ability). If you choose to disarm an opponent, you can force them to drop an object held in hand. If you choose to trip them, the opponent falls prone. After their action, the grapple is maintained.

Your opponent on their turn can choose to either escape the grapple or maintain the grapple. If they choose to escape, they make an attack roll and if they hit, they escape. If they choose to maintain the grapple, they have several options. They can deal damage, they can disarm, or they can trip the opponent. Regardless, they make an attack roll as normal. If they hit, they can deal one point of damage per hit die (two points per hit die if they have the constrict ability), they can force the opponent to drop something held in a hand, or they can cause the opponent to fall prone on the ground. After their action, the grapple is still maintained.

A couple of modifiers can be applied.

You gain a +1 to your roll for each size larger you are than your opponent while grappling.

You take a -1 penalty to any attack roll while grappling if you are holding something in one hand. You take a -2 penalty if you are holding something in both hands.

You take a -1 penalty to any attack roll while grappling if you are prone.

You take a -1 penalty to any attack roll while grappling if you have taken damage from your opponent while grappled. Or a -2 penalty to any attack roll while grappling if you have taken damage from an opponent with the constrict ability while grappled.

[Treebore]

You can definitely do it that way. The only reason I like it the way its written in C&C s this:

Your fighting 16 bugbears, your party numbers 4. Two of them grapple you while the others attack. One is successful. On each of your party members. Now the rest of those bugbears pummel the heck out of you, and the rest of your party. Your all dead.

So the reason I like the C&C version is that its a little harder to be successful, but death is still likely enough as it is.
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The Ruby Lord, Earl of the Society

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[serleran]

The designers felt that the mechanics should be slightly different. On the whole, it still uses the normal attack process, but, gives an effective modifier. Either way is the same... just the numbers are different. So, do it whatever sounds best to you.

[CharlieRock]

I'd try to make mine reflect pro wrestling. You know, like SmackDown or All-Japan Pro.

Everybody gets a finisher, and if you hit with ... three grapple attacks in a row you can throw the finisher on them. For my finisher I get the most electrifying manuever in sports entertainment history ... The People's Elbow!!!
Oh, yeah , if you smellllllllllllll what the Rock is cookin'!
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The Rock says ...

Know your roll!