5 Foot Step and Grapple

[tearnImale]

If a character is grappling another creature and wished to take a five foot step, could they use it to move away from the creature they are grappling, and/ or use it to make a better position next to their grappled opponent?

[Ferious Thune]

If you are grappling, then you have the grappled condition (unless you have an ability that says otherwise). You can’t move while you have the grappled condition. That includes 5-foot steps.

[RAWmonger]

Neither creature can take a 5-foot step during a grapple. Both gain the “grappled” condition, and “ Grappled creatures cannot move...”. Quote taken from the “grappled” conditions entry. The exception is the creature in control of a grapple can move both of the creatures up to half his speed after a successful grapple maintain check.

[blahpers]

If you grappled at -20 using the grab universal monster ability to avoid gaining the grappled condition, you could take a 5-foot step. Presumably, stepping outside of your reach would require breaking the grapple. This isn't exactly spelled out, but then it isn't spelled out that a creature loses the grappled condition if teleported away from its grappler.

[Ferious Thune]

You can also always release the grapple, 5-foot step, and start the grapple again. You just wouldn’t be able to maintain to damage/pin/whatever that round. You also wouldn’t get the +5 on your roll to start a new grapple that you would have gotten to maintain.

I would also rule moving out of your reach means that you would have to release the grapple.