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Is grappling someone a melee attack?
Is grappling someone not an attack at all but rather a combat maneuver that only requires a attack roll for the purpose of determining success?
Since CMB excludes any miscellaneous bonuses.
Combat Maneuver Bonus
Each character and creature has a Combat Maneuver Bonus (or CMB) that represents its skill at performing combat maneuvers. A creature's CMB is determined using the following formula:
CMB = Base attack bonus + Strength modifier + special size modifier
Special Size Modifier
Creatures that are size Tiny or smaller use their Dexterity modifier in place of their Strength modifier to determine their CMB. The special size modifier for a creature's Combat Maneuver Bonus is as follows:
Fine –8, Diminutive –4, Tiny –2, Small –1, Medium +0, Large +1, Huge +2, Gargantuan +4, Colossal +8.
Some feats and abilities grant a bonus to your CMB when performing specific maneuvers.
While CMD allows for miscellaneous bonuses.
Combat Maneuver Defense
Each character and creature has a Combat Maneuver Defense (or CMD) that represents its ability to resist combat maneuvers. A creature's CMD is determined using the following formula:
CMD = 10 + Base attack bonus + Strength modifier + Dexterity modifier + special size modifier + miscellaneous modifiers
Special Size Modifier
The special size modifier for a creature's Combat Maneuver Defense is as follows:
Fine –8, Diminutive –4, Tiny –2, Small –1, Medium +0, Large +1, Huge +2, Gargantuan +4, Colossal +8.
Some feats and abilities grant a bonus to your CMD when resisting specific maneuvers.
Miscellaneous Modifiers
A creature can also add any circumstance, deflection, dodge, insight, luck, morale, profane, and sacred bonuses to AC to its CMD. Any penalties to a creature's AC also apply to its CMD. A flat-footed creature does not add its Dexterity bonus to its CMD.
Does that mean spells that add bonuses to attack rolls don't affect CMB (specifically for grapple).
I ask this as Sean Reynolds specifically clarified this only for disarm, trip, and sunder.
http://paizo.com/paizo/blog/v5748dyo5lcom&page=2?Combat-Maneuvers-and-W eapon-Special-Features#discuss
I have a brawler at level 5 with a CMB of 19, this could get up to 24 if spells are allowed into CMB as well. Pretty out there I think as the highest CMD is 26 for CR5 monsters.