Help me learn all things grapple

[Human Fighter]

I imagine I'll have tons of questions in the future, and sadly it seems that most people who frequent the boards are interested in grapple or know too much about it judging from lack of interest in related threads I've made. I'm hoping to find someone who is down to let me private message them time to time, but to also see what thoughts are and actual rules on things that I find difficult to understand exactly what is meant.

Here are some questions, and I'm pretty sure I'll be asking plenty more.

1. when I grapple a creature, there is a lost of options it may do, one being it may attack. Let's say we have a creature with natural attacks that include claw, claw, bite, tail, wing, wing, horns. Let's say this creature chooses to do the full attack that maybe used to attack anything it threatens, which is me who has it grappled, and anyone around it normally threatens. The rules state it may do this with 'A' light or one handed weapon. So, does it choose one attack, and swings based on earned iteratives, or is it absolutely everything, or everything but one claw?

2. The rules state that standard actions are used to maintain the grapple, or to escape etc. but what about move actions, swift, immediate, free, and no actions? Are you restricted to only the listed options on each end, or what can you do beyond what's listed?

3. Rules state you take a penalty for initiating a grapple with less than two hands. I don't see anywhere that you need hands to grapple. Can you grapple and maintain grapple with no hands?

4. Less than 2 hands penalty is only when you initiate the grapple, and never at any time else?

Would a creature that has absolutely no hands that can make a grapple somehow get that penalty for less than 2 hands to grapple, such as on a grab after a bite attack?

[Byakko]

Quote:

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.

Quote:

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.

1. So yes, a grappled creature can decide to full attack you with its normal attack routine, as long as it involves only light and one-handed weapons (including natural attacks). Note, that grappled creatures have a -4 penalty to Dex and a -2 penalty to attack rolls, except on grapple checks.

Thus, if you're strength based and are attacking the foe you're grappled with, your -2 to hit is generally cancelled by their -2 to AC from the dex penalty.

2. You can do anything you could normally do with those actions, within the restrictions imposed by being grappled. (see above quotes)

Quote:

Humanoid creatures without two free hands attempting to grapple a foe take a –4 penalty on the combat maneuver roll.

3&4: The grappling without 2 free hands is generally only for humanoids who have one or both of their hands otherwise occupied by, for example, wielding/holding something. RAI, this penalty should also apply to non-humanoids who similarly have one of their key limbs of manipulation otherwise engaged. However, a grab after a bite attack shouldn't be penalized as the mouth is actively involved in biting/grabbing the target, and nothing else.

[Human Fighter]

It says that it's 'A' light or one handed weapon, which is why I am concerned with the limitations of the full attack.

Grappled says you can't move while grappled. Standing up from prone would be impossible with this condition?

[Byakko]

It's just specifying what types of weapons you can use; no need to read anything more into the word "a".

Unfortunately the word "move" is a little bit overused. In this context, they mean moving as in changing the square you're in. Move actions, such as standing up or drawing a weapon, are still okay unless otherwise disallowed.