Tackling grapple acrobatics DC (for those who love to tackle and fly like an angry eagle)

I am play testing a few home brew feats involving grappling
one of them is this:

1. Santo slam: if you make a successful acrobatics check prior to a grapple you can add half your acrobatics ranks rounded down to your proceeding grapple check, provided when the grapple takes place your feet are not on solid ground(i.e. flying through the air)
Prerequisites: improved grapple, skill focus (acrobatics)

a few RAW questions what are the rules for starting a grapple can i make a acrobatics check prior to grapple is this allowed by raw and how would i setup the dc?
a few scenarios

1. the pc jumps off a wagon onto a orc to grapple him
a. is this allowed by raw?
b. what would be the dc? is acrobatics the correct skill to use?

2. the pc throws himself into a horde of charging kobolds hoping to tackle the leader and subdue him
a. allowed by raw?
b. dc of the check

3. a pc wants to throw himself off a moving horse to tackle the badguy next to him
a. raw
b. Dc what skills involved

4. the pc is surrounded in a ring by his arch nemesis "el orco loco"
he wants to climb the ropes and soar like an eagle landing into the enemy tackling him. pinning him. winning the love of the ladies and the people.
a. raw
b. mechanics break down

for refrence my grappling feats are posted here

a few RAW questions what are the rules for starting a grapple can i make a acrobatics check prior to grapple is this allowed by raw and how would i setup the dc?

Absolutely, tumble then grapple is just one example. The DC would be the normal acrobatics check.

a few scenarios

1. the pc jumps off a wagon onto a orc to grapple him
a. is this allowed by raw?
b. what would be the dc? is acrobatics the correct skill to use?

Rules-as-written: Acrobatics (jump) to jump to a non-occupied adjacent square and grapple as normal.

2. the pc throws himself into a horde of charging kobolds hoping to tackle the leader and subdue him

a. allowed by raw?
b. dc of the check

Rules-as-written: Acrobatics (tumble) check to bypass front row to get to non-occupied adjacent square and grapple as normal. Simply flavor as flinging yourself over the kobolds. Normal DCs apply.

Optional: Acrobatics(jump) to go over the kobolds. DC at least 40 for a 10' high jump.

3. a pc wants to throw himself off a moving horse to tackle the badguy next to him

a. raw
b. Dc what skills involved

Rules as written, same as 1, except add acrobatics(balance) or ride check to stand and jump from horseback (if needed). Tackle could be taken as a trip attack if you meant knock opponent prone.

4. the pc is surrounded in a ring by his arch nemesis "el orco loco"

he wants to climb the ropes and soar like an eagle landing into the enemy tackling him. pinning him. winning the love of the ladies and the people.
a. raw
b. mechanics break down

Here's how I would run that:

Climb ropes DC 10 (ship's rigging) climb 5' (20 ft of movement)
Acrobatics (jump) DC 20 (standing jump 10') (10 ft of movement) landing next to opponent (flavored as 'soaring into el orco loco')
grapple opponent as normal (+2 circumstance bonus [I usually grant this if the PC does something cinematic or heroic])
--turn ends--
opponent fails to escape
grapple check as normal pining opponent

These answers follow the closest to the rules-as-written. You could substitute for jumping onto a mechanic similar to throwing an object to fall on target, i.e. ranged touch attack, damage per falling object but I don't think you would find that does much damage nor helps the grapple.

Lobolusk wrote:

a few RAW questions what are the rules for starting a grapple can i make a acrobatics check prior to grapple is this allowed by raw and how would i setup the dc?

Absolutely, tumble then grapple is just one example. The DC would be the normal acrobatics check.

Lobolusk wrote:

a few scenarios

1. the pc jumps off a wagon onto a orc to grapple him
a. is this allowed by raw?
b. what would be the dc? is acrobatics the correct skill to use?

Rules-as-written: Acrobatics (jump) to jump to a non-occupied adjacent square and grapple as normal.

Lobolusk wrote:

2. the pc throws himself into a horde of charging kobolds hoping to tackle the leader and subdue him

a. allowed by raw?
b. dc of the check

Rules-as-written: Acrobatics (tumble) check to bypass front row to get to non-occupied adjacent square and grapple as normal. Simply flavor as flinging yourself over the kobolds. Normal DCs apply.

Optional: Acrobatics(jump) to go over the kobolds. DC at least 40 for a 10' high jump.

Lobolusk wrote:

3. a pc wants to throw himself off a moving horse to tackle the badguy next to him

a. raw
b. Dc what skills involved

Rules as written, same as 1, except add acrobatics(balance) or ride check to stand and jump from horseback (if needed). Tackle could be taken as a trip attack if you meant knock opponent prone.

Lobolusk wrote:

4. the pc is surrounded in a ring by his arch nemesis "el orco loco"

he wants to climb the ropes and soar like an eagle landing into the enemy tackling him. pinning him. winning the love of the ladies and the people.
a. raw
b. mechanics break down

Here's how I would run that:

Climb ropes DC 10 (ship's rigging) climb 5' (20 ft of movement)
Acrobatics (jump) DC 20 (standing jump 10') (10 ft of movement) landing next to opponent (flavored as 'soaring into el orco loco')
grapple opponent as normal (+2 circumstance bonus [I usually grant this if the PC does something...

Tim, thanks very much so if i am reading rules correctly you CANT tumble into an occupied square correct? or past an opponent?

seems the dc is pretty good dc 20 for most acrobatics checks correct?

so the dc of acrobatics is basically per 10 feet dc 10? more or less?

you strike me as a very RAW kinda guy and i really like that, think you could look at my grappling feats and give me your opinion? i really value your opinion.

Tim, thanks very much so if i am reading rules correctly you CANT tumble into an occupied square correct? or past an opponent?

You can't end your turn in a occupied square. You can however, tumble past or through an enemy occupied square per the acrobatics rules.

seems the dc is pretty good dc 20 for most acrobatics checks correct?

There is a lot of variability. For example tumbling depends on your opponent's CMD. If you can consistently beat DC 20 you will pass most checks that are likely to come up.

so the dc of acrobatics is basically per 10 feet dc 10? more or less?

Yes, for jumping, it is you jump horizontally 1 foot per point of your acrobatics roll (if you have a running start) or half that without a running start. Vertical height is 1/4 what you normally jump.

you strike me as a very RAW kinda guy and i really like that, think you could look at my grappling feats and give me your opinion? i really value your opinion.

Thanks. I've played a lot in organized campaigns so it helps to know the rules-as-written when judging so players get a consistent game. If I get time latter I will take go through them. I took a brief look and it was more than I wanted to read at the moment. ;-)