Bear shaman and grappling

[Groshuk]

We had a bit of conflict at the table last night on how things should work and what can and can't be done so I am hoping for some clarification please.

What happened was I (as a huge bear) attacked a caster, I have 2 bite attacks and 2 claws, I think I hit on one of each. I rolled my damage then rolled my grapple check, made it easily and that ended my turn. Next turn I rerolled first to maintain the grapple then rolled my attacks to see if I hit on 2 claw attacks, did that for a couple rounds then missed my roll and caster got free. Next turn I grappled him again and eventually killed him.

I am new to pathfinder and never used grapple in 3.5 either so I questioned the DM after the fight on why I had to keep rolling to maintain the grapple when I thought the caster just had to roll to try to escape? Our rules lawyer jumped in saying that's how it works and if I had pinned the caster I would not have had to roll to maintain and could do a full round attack. So after an hour or two of random reading tonight how I think it is supposed to work is that I roll to maintain the grapple then I automatically hit with all 4 of my natural attacks and just go ahead and roll the damage?

And to maintain the grapple after the first round I get +5 and I should also get +4 to all grapple rolls based on being at least 1 size category larger as well? Pinning my opponent is no help to me really unless I want to tie them up or to make it a little easier for other players to hit who/whatever I'm grappling right?

[grarrrg]

I try not to think about it, but here's a handy 2 (https://200e02f3-a-62cb3a1a-s-sites.googlegroups.com/site/pathfinderogc/images/grapple_flow_chart-01.png?attachauth=ANoY7cofGst44CnI_Taypmct5Ja3K5cZ hzQU6wU6KfoboVfVx1kNYsPBb9VpCHLbtBgaGAsZ7ur7nW1RiN VVxKT4y25UWPhqbHs1e0klJwROXkWzxEevQLkCr1HIWrdFOXpZ Kb_6fu4E_7KIDPu5aT9Ps5fTJio8r0L9MmmfiwJc-F4dr9-IrDf2I-hGKrSFFY7epTw1tPdgaz6PLWrBlY5CcqmW2USQP-Yier9HO2BVSTpRX7igMfA%3D&attredirects=0) part flowchart. (https://200e02f3-a-62cb3a1a-s-sites.googlegroups.com/site/pathfinderogc/images/grapple_flow_chart-02.png?attachauth=ANoY7cq3jQDd5EEAbHS8xI-x_1LX2u_lIHhQpwRIs44b37jO8unUPIOeAcR76w0JO8_FjLF7G _ZQdEm77nvquWxgAzBtfnPYSv8Eb_l5GYxZ83U5MQqlloRhC5t v71hMZUde31LWlMZD09VqSaX1TK7peSI9_lj1U3Mxqfy092DpB NP-shrfHMBsBCLic_6smoqvTSZl2j8YwDlMPBHxfDK12c6tkbBGT7 _AldZiD9Tgd-GT7AwZIos%3D&attredirects=0)


I'm more concerned about how you have TWO bite attacks (http://paizo.com/paizo/faq/v5748nruor1fn#v5748eaic9n88).

[Abd al-Azrad]

My initial guess would be that the OP is counting an extra attack from Haste.

[Firest Kathon]

I think you may have mixed up grappling rules from D&D 3.5 and Pathfinder. For Pathfinder, it would go as such:

Starting a grapple is a standard action, so you cannot do it with a full attack. Exception: If your attack has the Grab ability (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/rules-for-monsters/universal-monster-rules#TOC-Grab-Ex-), you get a free grapple attempt if you hit with this attack. You do no damage with this grapple attempt (but normal damage for the attack with the Grab ability, if you started the grapple this way).
On subsequent rounds, you may maintain the grapple as a standard action. This means you make a grapple check (Combat Maneuver check) with a +5 bonus. If you suceed, you have multiple options, including dealing the damage for the attack with which you are conducting the grapple (e.g. your bite). You cannot make a full attack (because you use your standard action to maintain the grapple). If you have the Greater Grapple (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/greater-grapple-combat---final) feat, you can maintain the grapple as a move action, and then one additional attack as a standard action.

For more information (but not necessarily more understanding...), here are the rules (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/gamemastering/combat#TOC-Grapple). The flowchart is also available from the site.

[avr]

Yeah, if he's using beast shape II or higher he gets grab as a bear. I'm not aware of any size huge bears (w/out templates, which you can't shapeshift into) which you could use though. The size bonus to CMB is much smaller than 3.5's grapple bonuses BTW, if you're huge to their large you have +4 CMB, they have +2 CMD, for a relative bonus of +2.

Firests explanation sounds right otherwise. Note that you not only don't have to go for a pin, when your action comes around you could release your target (assuming they haven't tried and succeeded to reverse control of the grapple), then take a full attack possibly including another grab.