An Example of Wrestling

Anada, the elf warrior from the previous example, lures one of his bugbear guards into his cell in another bid to escape. The guard is wary of trouble, so the DM rules there is no chance for surprise, but also gives Anada the first attack as he lunges from behind the door and grapples with the bugbear.

The bugbear is armed, and turns toward Anada as he attacks. Because Anada is threatened, the bugbear gets an attack of opportunity before Anada makes his wrestling attack. Anada gets lucky and the bugbear misses. Anada makes an attack roll vs. Armor Class 10 and rolls a 7, good enough to hit.

Now Anada checks to see if he achieves a hold. Anada and the bugbear make opposed attack rolls. Anada is attacking Armor Class 10 because the bugbear has no magical or Dexterity bonuses; Anada suffers a –4 penalty for being a size class smaller than the bugbear but gains a +1 bonus from his Strength. The bugbear is attacking Armor Class 8 because of Anada’s chain mail +1 and 15 Dexterity. Anada rolls a 10, good enough to hit. The bugbear rolls an 18, also good enough to hit; however, Anada wins the opposed attack roll because he succeeded with a lower number. Anada has a hold on the bugbear and inflicts 1d2+1 points of damage (because of a successful hold and Anada’s 17 Strength). Anada inflicts 2 points of damage, both temporary.

During its attack phase, the bugbear drops its weapon, which is too big to use while grappled, and tries to break free. Anada and the bugbear conduct another opposed attack roll, this time with the bugbear gaining a +4 bonus to its roll for the size difference, since it is the attacker. The bugbear rolls a 20, normally good enough to score a critical hit against Anada’s effective Armor Class of 8. Anada, however, rolls an 11, good enough to hit the bugbear’s effective Armor Class of 10 and win the opposed roll (because it is successful and lower than the bugbear’s roll). Because the bugbear didn’t win the opposed roll, the critical roll is disregarded; the bugbear does not achieve a lock on Anada.

Now that both combatants have taken an attack phase, the combat proceeds to the next combat round. Anada wins initiative and tries to achieve a lock on the bugbear. There is another opposed roll, and Anada wins with a roll of 12 versus the bugbear’s 2 (the bugbear lost because its attack failed and Anada’s succeeded). Anada achieves a lock and decides to hold the bugbear’s mouth shut to keep it from calling for help. The DM decides this is a manipulation, and the bugbear suffers another 1d2+1 points of damage. Anada inflicts 3 points of damage, all temporary.

The bugbear tries to free itself once again during its attack phase, but loses the opposed roll. The combat round ends.

During the next round, the bugbear wins initiative, but loses the opposed roll again. Now that the bugbear’s mouth is clamped shut, Anada decides to twist the bugbear’s head a little, which qualifies as a press. The DM decides Anada can keep hold of the bugbear’s mouth while wrenching at its head, but Anada still must make another opposed roll to establish the press. Anada wins again and inflicts 1d6+2 points of damage (1d6+1 for the press, plus one for Anada’s Strength). Anada rolls a 4 and inflicts 6 points of damage, 1 normal and 5 temporary. The bugbear has now suffered 9 points of damage, 8 temporary and one normal. The bugbear started with 14 hit points, is now at 5, and struggles on.

Anada loses initiative the next round and the bugbear tries to free itself again. There is another opposed roll, which the bugbear loses. If the bugbear had won, both the press (head twist) and manipulation (mouth clamp) would have been broken and Anada would only have had a simple hold.

Anada decides to press again on his attack phase. There is another opposed roll, which Anada wins; because Anada was just holding on, the bugbear could not have achieved a lock by winning the roll with a critical hit. Anada has maintained his press through two attack phases, so he inflicts an extra point of damage, for a total of 1d6+3 points. Anada inflicts 7 more points of damage, 1 normal and 6 temporary. The bugbear’s hit point total is now below zero, and it falls unconscious for 2d6 full turns. Anada picks up the bugbear’s weapon and slips out of the cell.

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