I think it is going to be an easy one but at this time if i read the Aarakocra, the Talon can be used as a weapon.
It doesn't say that Talon can carry (willingly) or grapple (unwillingly) participant like what you'd picture the claws of a Giant Eagle or Dragon that might even though not written that they do.
Although grapple is specific, it says that you need to use one free hand so this might clear that one out since a talon is not a hand
It is from the Humanoid type and thus by default hands have more options than feet using common sense...
On the other hand, Dragon or Giant Eagle does not say it can use its claws to carry a willing or unwilling participant...although common sense might tell you that it can...
Would the size of the creature/talon be the thing that stands out to allow or disallow such a thing? or maybe the fact that Humanoid and other Creature type would therefor have different ruling... Humanoid to keep the players falling under the specific rules and prevent unwritten advantage for selecting a race or another....while a creature can always be flavored by the GM
New GM here, 30 sessions in. The first time, i've allowed the Aarakocra to carry a shackle unwilling participant but reading the rule book to get a refresh, i might rule it differently from now on. Well first off all, even though shackled, it would require a grapple. The last question that needs an answer, carrying a willing participant using Talons.
They can still do everything else any other creature can do - including grappling. Grappling requires hands. Aaracokra have hands.
Talons can be on hands or serve as feet. In this case the talons are their feet. You cannot grapple with feet. So you cannot grapple with the talons.
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The easier way to think about this stuff is : "everything a human can do" - everything else in the traits like talons and stuff, are just extra and specific things that only do what they say. Talons doesn't say you can grapple with them and it just is a special attack - so that's all it is, a special attack called talons and nothing else.
I believe Cyb3rM1nd is correct regarding Grappling. However, you mentioned that the creature your Aaracockra was carrying was shackled. If you count that shackled creature as being Restrained, then I don’t think Grappling is necessary. Both conditions impose a speed of 0 ft on the creature. I haven’t found anything in the PHB to say that a creature must be grappled to be carried and there is nothing in the carrying rules that specifies having to use your hands. So, I would rule that the Aaracockra can use its talons to lift and carry a restrained creature, but, RAW, it can’t Grapple unless it has a hand free.
But with the mindset that unless specified otherwise, they would do what a Human would do. Human wouldn't be able to bend their toes to lift the chains in between the shackles with their feet. Wouldn't you use the same rule?
Turned out to be a great one, he survived with 1hp... and we still think about it today. But it is more of a future used because at some point i was thinking of flavoring that if he gets hit again by arrows, we would start rolling concentration to see if he drops the prisoner...
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Hi
I think it is going to be an easy one but at this time if i read the Aarakocra, the Talon can be used as a weapon.
It doesn't say that Talon can carry (willingly) or grapple (unwillingly) participant like what you'd picture the claws of a Giant Eagle or Dragon that might even though not written that they do.
Although grapple is specific, it says that you need to use one free hand so this might clear that one out since a talon is not a hand
It is from the Humanoid type and thus by default hands have more options than feet using common sense...
On the other hand, Dragon or Giant Eagle does not say it can use its claws to carry a willing or unwilling participant...although common sense might tell you that it can...
Would the size of the creature/talon be the thing that stands out to allow or disallow such a thing? or maybe the fact that Humanoid and other Creature type would therefor have different ruling... Humanoid to keep the players falling under the specific rules and prevent unwritten advantage for selecting a race or another....while a creature can always be flavored by the GM
New GM here, 30 sessions in. The first time, i've allowed the Aarakocra to carry a shackle unwilling participant but reading the rule book to get a refresh, i might rule it differently from now on. Well first off all, even though shackled, it would require a grapple. The last question that needs an answer, carrying a willing participant using Talons.
Thanks
You're overthinking this.
The "talon" feature is just an attack roll.
They can still do everything else any other creature can do - including grappling. Grappling requires hands. Aaracokra have hands.
Talons can be on hands or serve as feet. In this case the talons are their feet. You cannot grapple with feet. So you cannot grapple with the talons.
--
The easier way to think about this stuff is : "everything a human can do" - everything else in the traits like talons and stuff, are just extra and specific things that only do what they say. Talons doesn't say you can grapple with them and it just is a special attack - so that's all it is, a special attack called talons and nothing else.
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I believe Cyb3rM1nd is correct regarding Grappling. However, you mentioned that the creature your Aaracockra was carrying was shackled. If you count that shackled creature as being Restrained, then I don’t think Grappling is necessary. Both conditions impose a speed of 0 ft on the creature. I haven’t found anything in the PHB to say that a creature must be grappled to be carried and there is nothing in the carrying rules that specifies having to use your hands. So, I would rule that the Aaracockra can use its talons to lift and carry a restrained creature, but, RAW, it can’t Grapple unless it has a hand free.
But with the mindset that unless specified otherwise, they would do what a Human would do. Human wouldn't be able to bend their toes to lift the chains in between the shackles with their feet. Wouldn't you use the same rule?
Turned out to be a great one, he survived with 1hp... and we still think about it today. But it is more of a future used because at some point i was thinking of flavoring that if he gets hit again by arrows, we would start rolling concentration to see if he drops the prisoner...