I posted a question about special grappling actions in a different thread but there was no answer, so I'm reposting it as a separate thread.
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On a side note, I have a question about the special grappling actions (like the "Move" mentioned above). As I understand it, they work the following way:
In order to take a special grappling action, you must succeed at a grapple check AND be the "grappler" (ie the one that can stop grappling with a free action) before you take it.
Being the "grappler" means that you succeeded at a grapple check in the previous round AND that the foe did not manage to free himself or reverse the grapple (becoming the "grappler" himself) in between. If the foe manages either of the two, the grapple check you would make on your turn would count as a "new" attempt at grappling (ie you have to become the "grappler" first again).
This whole "two-round-grappling" is because making a grapple check costs a standard action and you can only take one per round, although you would need two: one to become the "grappler" and one to take the special action.
The second grapple check ALSO prolongs the grappling (although one could argue that prolonging it is the main goal and the special action is just an added bonus).
Is that the correct interpretation? The rules could be clearer about this (especially about the whole "grappler" thing).
I think you have it about right, except for 2 main exceptions
(there may be more, but these are the ones I can think of)
- Monster with Grab ability hits and Grapples as AoO (off their turn), on their very next turn they continue Grapple as Standard Action and can choose 2ndary effect (Move, Pin, etc)
- Humanoid with Greater Grapple can Maintain Grapple as Move Action, bypassing the 1 Standard Action/ Round limitation.