I just cannot agree that gear of any type should fall under the grappling rules, whether that gear be held or attached. The only type of gear which should at all be limited is arrows, bows, clothing, and armor. Everything else is fair game. People attach gear to themselves for an advantage of some type. This advantage is thought of prior to walking on the field. There needs to be a balancing disadvantage as well. This disadvantage is that this gear can be grabbed without falling into the realm of grappling. This should also be thought of prior to walking onto the field. If someone does not want to be spun around by the gear then they should let go of it or should not attach it to themselves.
A specific example will show my point. Bob fights Florentine, wears leather greaves, and straps a shield to his back. He sees Zio closing in and turns to run. Zio has a single sword and chain mail. When Bob turns away the only possible targets for Zio are the armored legs and the shield. The easiest way for Zio to kill Bob before Bob gets away is for Zio to reach out, grab the shield, spin Bob around, and then whack him in the chest. Now Bob knew when he walked onto the field that the shield would protect him. It is the reason he strapped it on his back. If grabbing the shield is grappling, then Zio breaks the rules if he does it (Zio has chain, Bob only leather). Zio is forced to swing 2 times at the leg of someone running away. There is no disadvantage to Bob strapping the shield like this. Zio is at a total disadvantage if grabbing strapped equipment is considered grappling. This is wrong!
Anytime a person attaches gear to themselves they need to be aware that there is a disadvantage. This disadvantage is that gear does not fall under the grappling rules.
I also cannot agree that physically restricting or controlling a person?s movement by holding their gear is grappling either. In Kyrax?s example, the little guy could have let go earlier. The fact the Kyrax is such a beast of a man should not be a disadvantage to him
. Restricting or controlling a person?s movement by grabbing them, and ONLY by grabbing them, is grappling. Nothing else is grappling. The person can drop gear, not strap it to themselves, not get into that situation, etc..
The problem with considering this type of stuff grappling is the application to everything else. If the definition is restricting or controlling movement, even if the word ?unwillingly? is added, then half of everything on the field is grappling. Use your shield to move their shield = grappling. Have your spearman open their shield = grappling. Trap blocking their weapon against something = grappling. Bashing someone = grappling. Moving your opponent up against a wall = grappling. In each case you would be controlling their movement and restricting them unwillingly. None of which is actually grappling.
Thorondor ? In you example, with your definition, it would be grappling. You spun someone around, or controlled their movement. I don?t think it would be grappling, but by the definition you put forward it would be.
In my opinion a ?person? is defined by their body, clothing, and armor. Everything else is gear. Strapped on gear is still gear, not person.
p.s. I have had the situation given by Kyrax happen many times, both to me and by me. It may be uncommon in some places, but not down south.