...while grappled, but not pinned?
One could argue that you might be required to feign losing a grapple check, in order to retrieve said item from said haversack.
"Ow, my arm is pinned behind my head!"
*out pops the wand of cajones crushing*
A grappled creature is restrained by a creature, trap, or effect. Grappled creatures cannot move and take a –4 penalty to Dexterity. A grappled creature takes a –2 penalty on all attack rolls and combat maneuver checks, except those made to grapple or escape a grapple. In addition, grappled creatures can take no action that requires two hands to perform. A grappled character who attempts to cast a spell or use a spell-like ability must make a concentration check (DC 10 + grappler's CMB + spell level), or lose the spell. Grappled creatures cannot make attacks of opportunity.
A grappled creature cannot use Stealth to hide from the creature grappling it, even if a special ability, such as hide in plain sight, would normally allow it to do so. If a grappled creature becomes invisible, through a spell or other ability, it gains a +2 circumstance bonus on its CMD to avoid being grappled, but receives no other benefit.
It's obvious that you can physically move your arms, with the "cannot move" pertaining to squares of movement.
Since it doesn't take two hands to retrieve an item from a handy haversack, I see no reason to disallow it. However, since the action of retrieving an items isn't a check to directly escape a grapple, and since it is an action, and since it would obviously be a challenge to accomplish, I'd call for a CMB check with a -2 penalty.
If it was one of those situations in which you're going to retrieve the item or die, I'd pull a GM fudge and let the player heroically accomplish the action, by making the roll in secret and just calling it a win.
I think both sides of this arguement are reasonable. "I am grappled so I might have a hand free enough to reach my pack." vs. "Your grappled so the person trying to restrain you has a hold of your arms you know like a bear hug."
There are several things that come to mind as to resolution though.
1- By how much did you lose the original grapple check. If it was close then you might be grappled but have a hand free.
2- Your grappled so the oppenent gets a perception check to see if he can figure out that you are reaching for your pack if he succeeds in percieving your action he can make another grapple check to pin your arm. If he fails you break the grapple.
Instead of attempting to break or reverse the grapple, you can take any action that doesn't require two hands to perform, such as cast a spell or make an attack or full attack with a light or one-handed weapon against any creature within your reach, including the creature that is grappling you
-Note that this isn't 3.5, you don't need to make a grapple check to do any of those things anymore. Grabbing an item out of your haversack can be done with one hand and is not on the list of prohibited actions so there's no reason that grappling prevents you from doing it.
Gnomzesrules- "Your grappled so the person trying to restrain you has a hold of your arms you know like a bear hug."
Is specifically not what a pathfinder grapple is. You can perform any action you can with one free hand, and that now includes bashing your grappler on the head with your longsword.
Hmm that seems to make grapple less effective than it alreay was. Though it definately clears up the confusion.
BNW, I'd rule the action of trying to reach into your pack as qualifying for an action that is "trying to escape the grapple."
If you and I are grappling, and I'm trying to reach for my boot (where you may suspect I have a knife hidden), you're going to try to restrain me.
Even for unintelligent creatures; let's say a giant snake is constricting you. You make a move for your knife. The snake instintively coils tighter, making it all the more difficult for you to attempt your action (hence, the -2 penalty).
Granted, we have to make a distiction between being simply grappled and being pinned. At some point, the snake example goes from grappled to pinned. Not sure at what point, though.
BNW, I'd rule the action of trying to reach into your pack as qualifying for an action that is "trying to escape the grapple."
That isn't a ruling, its directly and explicitly contradictory to both the raw and rai.
Instead of attempting to break or reverse the grapple , you can take any action that doesn't require two hands to perform, such as cast a spell or make an attack or full attack with a light or one-handed weapon against any creature within your reach, including the creature that is grappling you.
INSTEAD OF clearly indicates that anything else you do with one hand is not attempting to break or reverse the grapple, which are specific options listed above.
There would be no reason to make a grapple check to reach into your backpack, since you could instead break the hold and then reach into your backpack.
You make a move for your knife. The snake instintively coils tighter, making it all the more difficult for you to attempt your action (hence, the -2 penalty).
I would theoretically have a -2 if there were a required roll to retrieve the dagger, but there is not. Its an automatic action.
Also, you've contradicted yourself. There's no -2 penalty if retrieving an item is escaping the grapple, because you do not suffer a -2 penalty for actions that let you escape the grapple.
Q: Can a monk do a Flurry of Blows during a grapple as it requires a full attack action?
A: (Jason Bulmahn 12/11/09) The RAW do allow the grappled to make a full attack action, assuming they can do so with only one hand. Since flurry does not require two hands to perform, a monk could flurry. Grappling is not always the best idea. Grappling a monk is one such example. I think folks need to remember that the grappled condition is not as severe as it once was. You are no longer draped all over the target. It is more like you got a hold on them, typically an arm (hence the restriction). The pinned condition is more of your greco-roman wrestling hold. [Source]
BNW, heh, I wasn't reading my own quotation closely enough. That quote from Jason helps, too. I didn't realize the PF design for grapple was that much different. Thanks for that.
So as long as it only takes one hand to retrieve something out of a Haversack it can be done while Grappled, but not Pinned.