Okay GMs, I'm stumped on this one.
1. dire rat successfully grapples keneticist
2. keneticist doesn't attempt to break or reverse grapple, instead tries to earth blast the dire rat
How is this resolved? AoO, Conc check, shooting into melee while yourself is in the one in melee?
http://paizo.com/campaigns/GMPathmakersFirstStepsPart1/gameplay&page=2# 62
Well, first, a kineticist's blast is an SLA. So, step one is that the kineticist regrets not having Kinetic Blade. Ok, no, the real step one:
1) First thing's first, you will provoke an AoO for using an SLA unless you cast defensively. The concentration DC for that is 15 + twice half your level. I know that sounds awkward, but because half your level rounds off (kinetic blasts and defenses have effective levels equal to half your class level), it won't actually always equal your level.
2) Now you have to make a concentration check for being grappled, which has a DC of 10 + the other guy's CMB + half your level (i.e. the spell's level).
3) Assuming you survived the initial AoO and/or passed the Concentration checks, then you would provoke another AoO for making a ranged attack roll.
4) Now, you make your attack roll. You have -4 Dex, but so do they, so that should be a wash. You then get an additional -2 for being grappled. You would only take a -4 for firing into melee if another one of your allies was within 5 feet of the other guy and if you are a nonhuman under level 3 or you somehow did not pay your taxes and take Precise Shot with your second feat.
As a standard action, you can attempt to grapple a foe, hindering his combat options. If you do not have Improved Grapple, grab, or a similar ability, attempting to grapple a foe provokes an attack of opportunity from the target of your maneuver. Humanoid creatures without two free hands attempting to grapple a foe take a –4 penalty on the combat maneuver roll. If successful, both you and the target gain the grappled condition (see the Appendices).
Grappled: 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.
Well you and the dire rat would have the grappled condition.
If you're adjacent to other non-grappling enemies, you basically gotta do everything mplindustries stated.
If you're only adjacent to the grappling dire rat, you can skip steps 1 and 3 as it can't make attacks of opportunities anyways since it's also grappled.
Yep, I missed the last line there that grappled creatures can't take AoOs.
As a standard action, you can attempt to grapple a foe, hindering his combat options. If you do not have Improved Grapple, grab, or a similar ability, attempting to grapple a foe provokes an attack of opportunity from the target of your maneuver. Humanoid creatures without two free hands attempting to grapple a foe take a –4 penalty on the combat maneuver roll. If successful, both you and the target gain the grappled condition (see the Appendices).
Grappled: 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.Well you and the dire rat would have the grappled condition.
If you're adjacent to other non-grappling enemies, you basically gotta do everything mplindustries stated.
If you're only adjacent to the grappling dire rat, you can skip steps 1 and 3 as it can't make attacks of opportunities anyways since it's also grappled.
Some critters do have the ability to grapple without getting the grappled condition themselves (or ignoring the penalties of it). It doesn't look the dire rat does, so in this case, you are correct.
With a different critter (or a Tetori monk or Strangler Brawler), you might have to go through steps 1 and 3 also.