Grappling and casting spells / AoO

[heidhummer]

I am playing a weretiger half-orc bloodrager and going for the weretiger's natural attacks and free grapples that come with them. Now if I get the Greater Grapple feat I can perform a grapple check as a move action, still giving me a standard action to use. As I am a bloodrager, I have access to spells and would like to be able to use some (particularly Stone Shield) while grappling a creature. Since I can grapple with either my bite or either claw, I would have a free hand while grappling to cast said spell.

Initiating a grapple gives myself and the creature grappled the grappled condition, which states: 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.
Would I have to fight my own CMB to cast a spell since I am not grappling myself? Would I fight the creature I grappled's CMB instead or something else?

Also since I have natural claw attacks, would I be able to make an AoO with one claw while maintaining the grapple with my mouth (bite) and other claw? I know RAW says "Grappled creatures cannot make attacks of opportunity." but it seems like I would have one hand free to claw at someone.

Thanks for the input.

[Quixote]

The only way you can have a free hand in a grapple is if you have the grab ability and choose to use only the striking appendage to hold your opponent. This means you do not gain the grappled condition, but you also take a -20 to grappling.

Which makes sense. I mean, if you were trying to wrastle someone with one hand while they fought you with their whole body...you'd be at a pretty distinct disadvantage. It's pretty much only for super big/strong/skilled combatants (see: dragons, krakens, etc).

[Scott Wilhelm]

heidhummer wrote:

if I get the Greater Grapple feat I can perform a grapple check as a move action, still giving me a standard action to use.

That sounds okay, but remember that Greater Grapple only allows you to Maintain a Grapple as a Move Action, not to Initiate one.

heidhummer wrote:

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.

Would I have to fight my own CMB to cast a spell since I am not grappling myself? Would I fight the creature I grappled's CMB instead or something else?

I looks to me like you would have to make the concentration check of 10 + Spell level + opponents GMB.

heidhummer wrote:

Also since I have natural claw attacks, would I be able to make an AoO with one claw while maintaining the grapple with my mouth (bite) and other claw? I know RAW says "Grappled creatures cannot make attacks of opportunity." but it seems like I would have one hand free to claw at someone.

When you have the Grappled Condition, you can't make Attacks of Opportunity. I think not even against your Grappler. You can use your Claws normally while Grappling, and you still Threaten Squares.

Quixote wrote:

The only way you can have a free hand in a grapple is if you have the grab ability and choose to use only the striking appendage to hold your opponent. This means you do not gain the grappled condition, but you also take a -20 to grappling.

I know of 1 other way. White Haired Witches can do it, and they don't take that -20.

This might work for the OP, but when you are in control of the Grapple, releasing your victim is a Free Action, so the OP might find some use for being able to frequently catch-and-release his victim.

[avr]

Grabbing style also works for keeping a hand free, though you still get the grappled condition. Edit: well, actually anyone can use one hand to grapple that way if they take a -4, the style just negates the penalty.

Blood conduit bloodragers are the specialists at casting spells on grappled enemies.

[Stephen Ede]

I would note that Tetori Monks have the ability to make AOO while grappling, but don't know of any other builds that allow it.

[Scott Wilhelm]

Stephen Ede wrote:

I would note that Tetori Monks have the ability to make AOO while grappling, but don't know of any other builds that allow it.

White Haired Witches can.

White Haired Witch wrote:

When a white-haired witch grapples a foe in this way, she does not gain the grappled condition.

[AwesomenessDog]

Actually, you have a free hand if you take a -4 to grapple with one hand (or to grapple not with both hands). However, as you still have the grappled condition, the concentration check is still a nasty 10+opponent's CMB+spell level.