Grapple Bonuses, and which apply to CMD against attempts to break

[Thrair]

Ok, I'm making a lockdown build Fighter with the Brawler archetype as a backup PC. Specialty is in grappling. I know it's sub-optimal, but the party's pretty diverse in skillsets, so I can afford to be a specialist limited in scope. And I think it'll be fun.

Anywho, there's a number of abilities/equipment to ratchet up CMB for grapple attempts:
Vambracers of the Brawler (+1 Competence)
Adhesive Armor Enchant (+2 Enhance)
Improved and Greater Grapple (+4 Untyped)
Gauntlets of the Skilled Maneuver (+2 Untyped)
Bred for War (+1 Trait)
Etc.

Question 1: Do these bonuses apply to CMD when the Grapplee attempts to break the grapple?

Question 2: And does the Human Fighter favoured class bonus (+1 to CMD vs two maneuvers of choice) apply to resisting attempts to break a grapple?

Question 3: Escape Artist attempts to escape a grapple? Are they off flat CMD, or Grapple CMD?

I ask because I'm reasonably confident I can get my CMB up on grapples high enough to establish and maintain a hold on most targets, but if those bonuses only apply on the offensive, then many things can simply break it on their turn.

Oh, and off-topic, but relevant to the build:
Does a Cestus or Gauntlet count as an Unarmed Strike? The wording's very confusing on both. I'm wondering if Dragon Style/Jawbreaker etc can be used with either, or if I'll have to fork out for an Amulet of Mighty Fists/Bodywrap to use either.

[Mojorat]

you would need to read each individual item they should explicitly say if they boost both cmb or cmd. if they only list one they do not help the other.

however any non shield or armour bonuses to ac boost cmd

[Thrair]

Ok, is the combat maneuver to break a grapple considered a grapple maneuver itself?

Quote:

If you are grappled, you can attempt to break the grapple as a standard action by making a combat maneuver check (DC equal to your opponent's CMD; this does not provoke an attack of opportunity) or Escape Artist check (with a DC equal to your opponent's CMD). If you succeed, you break the grapple and can act normally. Alternatively, if you succeed, you can become the grappler, grappling the other creature (meaning that the other creature cannot freely release the grapple without making a combat maneuver check, while you can)...

Since success allows you to become the controlling grappler, I *think* it's a grapple check. But it's type isn't explicitly listed.

[Keanan Garnet-Gold]

From what I've discovered as I grapple all the time with my druid, it's rather easy to get items that boost your CMB, it's extremely hard to find items that boost your CMD.

So, escaping a grapple or becoming the controlling grappler is still possible when you grapple someone, but that's a standard action. If your opponent becomes the controller, on your turn you can do the same thing and become the controller, since you have lot's of bonuses to your CMB it should be easy. It still locks down the enemy. I had a fight with a dragon in the water that just resulted in me going back and forth controlling the grapple while I was a giant squid. Each time I became the controller, I got the constrict damage, since that damage is applied as soon as grapple is applied. So eventually I killed the dragon.

[FrodoOf9Fingers]

As mojorat explained, improving your AC (besides armor, shields, and natural armor) improves your CMD.

So, here's a few items:

Ring of Deflection
Jingasa of the Fortunate Soilder

[Thrair]

Thanks for the information. But I still really need to know if the combat maneuver to break a grapple is a grapple check.

If it is, I can use the human favoured class bonus to ratchet up my CMD on grapples, to make it very hard to break.

Also would like more opinions on the Cestus. I asked about it on the Giant in the Playground forum, and people there agreeded that RAW seems to allow you to make unarmed strikes with it. But I figured it'd be good to get a second opinion on that.

[Moondragon Starshadow]

Thrair wrote:

Thanks for the information. But I still really need to know if the combat maneuver to break a grapple is a grapple check.

That part I can answer. One of your three options once you become grappled is of course to "break free so they may act normally as a Standard Action." The process is the defender makes CMB or Escape Artist check vs. the Attacker's CMD. You do NOT take the -2 penalty on this roll like you do for other attacks and combat maneuvers. If you are successful, the defender escapes and both parties lose the grappled condition.

Hope that clarifies.

[Thrair]

Ah, good eye.

Grappled Condition wrote:

A grappled creature takes a –2 penalty on all attack rolls and combat maneuver checks, except those made to grapple or escape a grapple.

So, if I'm understanding this right, it would be a grapple check:

-So the grapplee could apply CMB bonuses to grapple on the check to escape or take control...

-...But the grappler could also apply grapple-specific bonuses to his CMD, as well.