Suppose a creature has grappled another. How do we define carrying/dragging?
Do the RAW allow the grappler to move the target in any direction within reach? If so, could a grappler "push" the target ahead of itself without using the shove rules so long as they remain within reach of the grappler (ie. the target and the grappler move in the direction of the target simultaneously)? Could the target be pulled through the grappler's space? How would we deal with moving/pushing a target into a space occupied by another creature (from any forced movement effect, really)? Would the grappler have to expend any movement to remain stationary and reposition its target?
My instinct would be to allow any such movement so long as the ultimate position of the target is in an unoccupied space, allowing a shove attack to move the target into a space occupied by a hazard or another creature, the latter resolving as a shove contest against two targets. I'm not sure about whether stationary repositioning should require expending movement.
I allow the movement, balanced by the weight of the grappled target & it's gear VS. the STR and carrying capacity of the grappler. They've got you, they can move you with them, etc. but only if they have the STR to bear the load.
Moving a Grappled Creature. When you move, you can drag or carry the grappled creature with you, but your speed is halved, unless the creature is two or more sizes smaller than you.
I would say RAW, you can't 'push' the creature in front of you. But I can't imagine most DMs not allowing it, as long as you're strong enough to. I'd consider it under 'carry'.
I allow the movement, balanced by the weight of the grappled target & it's gear VS. the STR and carrying capacity of the grappler. They've got you, they can move you with them, etc. but only if they have the STR to bear the load.
I agree with that. So you'd be in the camp of allowing a liberal interpretation of "carry".
Moving a Grappled Creature. When you move, you can drag or carry the grappled creature with you, but your speed is halved, unless the creature is two or more sizes smaller than you.
I would say RAW, you can't 'push' the creature in front of you. But I can't imagine most DMs not allowing it, as long as you're strong enough to. I'd consider it under 'carry'.
I agree with the carrying capacity argument. By push, I really just mean that the grappler can move the grappled creature in front of them with their movement, so a grappler can move in the direction as the grappled target, moving them both in the same direction. So if I read you correctly, you'd allow this? My concern is that in principle, that would allow a grappler to move a grappled target into a hazard with nor rolls.
For both of you, how about the last point? Would you interpret "carry" to allow a grappler to reposition the grappled target without moving (eg. moving the target from one space within their reach to another)? Or does a creature need to move in order to move a grappled target?
So you can spike growth and make infinite damage on a grappled enemy you don't need to move but you can just move the grappled enemy on the spikes
If you don't move, you can't drag or carry the grappled creature on the spikes, you have to actually move to bring them with you.
Moving a Grappled Creature. When you move, you can drag or carry the grappled creature with you, but your speed is halved, unless the creature is two or more sizes smaller than you.
Plaguescarred is correct, you can only move a target you have grappled if you move with it. When you do so you both move in the same direction and your movement speed is halved.
As for Jeremy's tweet it is referring to the grappler moving around the grappled target without moving the target. This still costs movement to do, it just doesn't interact with the "Moving A Grappled Creature" rule. As for moving the grappled creature without moving yourself this is not something that can be done via Grappling. This would fall under the optional Shove Aside rule in the DMG.
Finally to impose the Grappled condition you need to succeed in an opposed skill check.
Suppose a creature has grappled another. How do we define carrying/dragging?
Do the RAW allow the grappler to move the target in any direction within reach? If so, could a grappler "push" the target ahead of itself without using the shove rules so long as they remain within reach of the grappler (ie. the target and the grappler move in the direction of the target simultaneously)? Could the target be pulled through the grappler's space? How would we deal with moving/pushing a target into a space occupied by another creature (from any forced movement effect, really)? Would the grappler have to expend any movement to remain stationary and reposition its target?
My instinct would be to allow any such movement so long as the ultimate position of the target is in an unoccupied space, allowing a shove attack to move the target into a space occupied by a hazard or another creature, the latter resolving as a shove contest against two targets. I'm not sure about whether stationary repositioning should require expending movement.
For more discussion: https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/dungeons-dragons-discussion/homebrew-house-rules/14821-grappling-carrying-house-rule
I allow the movement, balanced by the weight of the grappled target & it's gear VS. the STR and carrying capacity of the grappler. They've got you, they can move you with them, etc. but only if they have the STR to bear the load.
This is covered in the rules:
I would say RAW, you can't 'push' the creature in front of you. But I can't imagine most DMs not allowing it, as long as you're strong enough to. I'd consider it under 'carry'.
For both of you, how about the last point? Would you interpret "carry" to allow a grappler to reposition the grappled target without moving (eg. moving the target from one space within their reach to another)? Or does a creature need to move in order to move a grappled target?
Thanks, both of you.
According to Crawford you can put the target wherever:
https://twitter.com/JeremyECrawford/status/852313432871256064?s=20&t=X1vAX3AVyHJo86Jr4kfUnw
When you drag or carry a grappled creature with you, there is no direction limitation within your reach.
So you can spike growth and make infinite damage on a grappled enemy you don't need to move but you can just move the grappled enemy on the spikes
If you don't move, you can't drag or carry the grappled creature on the spikes, you have to actually move to bring them with you.
Plaguescarred is correct, you can only move a target you have grappled if you move with it. When you do so you both move in the same direction and your movement speed is halved.
As for Jeremy's tweet it is referring to the grappler moving around the grappled target without moving the target. This still costs movement to do, it just doesn't interact with the "Moving A Grappled Creature" rule. As for moving the grappled creature without moving yourself this is not something that can be done via Grappling. This would fall under the optional Shove Aside rule in the DMG.
Finally to impose the Grappled condition you need to succeed in an opposed skill check.
The Devs seem to allude that a grappled target can be moved anywhere within reach when you move. At least that's how i understand it when you drag or carry one with you. https://twitter.com/JeremyECrawford/status/852314898218369024?s=20&t=Vs0kWD4odiH-6aDh8M1SMA
I may be just more liberal with it but i find it makes grappling more dynamic when allowing greater positioning control anyway.
This is something I have wondered about and hadn't seen this tweet before, thanks!
I have always played it that the Grappler and their target maintain their relative positioning when using the "Moving A Grappled Creature" rule.