I know that you need a concentration check to cast a spell while grappled; however, do you also provoke and attack of opportunity from the grappler?
Thanks
Yes it does provoke. I don't know of anything that says differently.
However, he can declare that he is also attempting to cast defensively, which would require two caster level checks (one to cast defensively, and another to cast in a grapple). I can see a GM also saying to make a single check, which is then checked against two DCs.
Surely you would make just one check, with the DC increased from 15 + spell-level due to being in a grapple?
Surely you would make just one check, with the DC increased from 15 + spell-level due to being in a grapple?It's one check, but you need to make two calculations:
1. Cast Defensively is 15 + (Spell Level * 2).
2. Grapple is 10 + Grappler CMB + Spell Level.Whichever DC is higher, is your Concentration DC.
Failure means you lose the spell. Unless the creature has the Spellbreaker feat, he can't AoO against you.
Why wouldn't it be two checks?
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Creatures with the grappled condition can't make attacks of opportunity. See the grappled condition on page 567.
Thus, assuming no other enemies threaten the grappled spellcaster, he won't need to cast defensively, since the other grappler can't take an AoO against him. He'll still need to make the Concentration check to cast in a grapple (DC = 10 + Grapplers CMB + spell level).
If say another enemy is adjacent to the caster and is threatening him, then the caster may wish to cast defensively to prevent an AoO from this enemy. That would indeed be a second Concentration check (DC = 15 + twice spell level) to not provoke from this enemy, in addition to the first Concentration check to cast the spell in the grapple.
Generally, the other grappler can't ready an action to attack the caster if he casts a spell. Readying an action is a standard action, and the grappler would need to use his standard action on his turn to maintain the grapple. Two exceptions to this: 1) the other grappler didn't initiate the grapple, in which case the spellcaster did, or 2) the other grappler has the Greater Grapple feat allowing him to maintain the grapple as a move action, in which case he could ready an action with his remaining standard action. If thats the case, casting defensively wouldn't help anyways, since its a readied action and not in response to a provoking action.
If the other grappler has the Disruptive feat, this will have no effect, since he cannot take an attack of opportunity against the grappled spellcaster. Likewise, if the other grappler has the Spellbreaker feat it will not have any effect for the same reason.