Ranged Grapple (Monk Warrior of the Elements)

Quote from RobertSchaefer >>

Quote from TarodNet >>

[...] To me, that "within 5 feet of you" is general (the normal value), so the Level 3: Elemental Attunement feature overrides it to become "within 15 feet of you".

Reach. When you make an Unarmed Strike, your reach is 10 feet greater than normal, as elemental energy extends from you.

Also, Reach is defined in the Rules Glossary:

Reach

A creature has a reach of 5 feet unless a rule says otherwise.

That "unless a rule says otherwise" could be the Level 3: Elemental Attunement feature.

[...] Nowhere in the rules does it say that grappling has a 5 ft. limit.  

[...] No where in the grappler feat rules does it state you have to be 5 ft. away. 

There is a problem if there is a subclass feature of Monk that would render grappling utterly useless. The Elemental Monk makes UNARMED ATTACKS at 15 ft. away.  Showing me a ruleset for unarmed strikes minus the elementalism feature is pointless.  It is like pointing out to a Rogue that disengage requires an Action.   

(sorry in advance for snipping your text, I just want to keep the answer short)

Not sure why you replied to me. I think we agree on this and your other answers. It's relevant to add that the feature includes:

The energy lasts for 10 minutes or until you have the Incapacitated condition. You gain the following benefits while this feature is active.

So the "your reach is 10 feet greater than normal" effect lasts for 10 minutes, including for maintaining your Grapple.

Also, just let me add a recent thread about this topic: Grappling/Reach/Movement, along with some replies from it:

Quote from Plaguescarred >>

1A) I agree, the grapple ends immediately because the distance bwteen the Grappled target and the grappler exceeds the grapple's range.  Grapple is an effect of the Unarmed Strike. While Elemental Attunement is active, if the reach of your Unarmed Strike is 15 feet and you use the Grapple effect successfully, the target has the Grappled condition, and the grapple's range is therefore 15 feet while the energy lasts for 10 minutes. 

1B) I can't think of a scenario where a brief grapple would matter besides perhaps triggering Reactions.

1C) Your Elemental Strikes only work when you use Unarmed Strike to Damage which does not Grapple unless you have the Grappler feat.

2A) Yes, you don't have to drag a Grappled creature when you move.

2B) A creature's space must be in the Area of Effect to be affected by it, merely having appendage in it is not enougth.

 EDIT To Strikethrough

Quote from jl8e >>

Quote from OdinTGE>>

Reach. When you make an Unarmed Strike, your reach is 10 feet greater than normal , as elemental energy extends from you. - [From Elemental Attunement, Level 3 feature for Warrior of the Elements]

The condition also ends if the grappler has the Incapacitated condition or if the distance between the Grappled target and the grappler exceeds the grapple's range. - [From Grappling, PHP 2024 page 367]

My interpretation of this is that an elemental monk can grapple a target 15 feet from them, but the grapple then instantly ends.

• 1A) Do you agree?

No.

For two reasons:

1) The range of the grapple is the reach of your unarmed strikes. 

2) One of the fundamental principles of the 5e rules, is that, if a specific rule says you can do a thing, you can do the thing, even if there's a more general rule saying otherwise.

This ruling is a violation of that principle. Your unarmed strikes have extra range. Unarmed strikes include grappling. Therefore, your grapples have extra range. If you can spend your attack to grapple somebody, but it immediately ends, then you in no way have actually grappled somebody. There is no benefit to doing so. An ability that doesn't work is not an ability.