Telekinesis Grapple CMD

Question

When using telekinesis to grapple, what is the CMD to escape? The spell doesn't specify the CMD, just the CMB.

Combat Maneuver: Alternatively, once per round, you can use telekinesis to perform a bull rush, disarm, grapple (including pin), or trip. Resolve these attempts as normal, except that they don’t provoke attacks of opportunity, you use your caster level in place of your Combat Maneuver Bonus, and you add your Intelligence modifier (if a wizard) or Charisma modifier (if a sorcerer) in place of your Strength or Dexterity modifier. No save is allowed against these attempts, but spell resistance applies normally. This version of the spell can last 1 round per caster level, but it ends if you cease concentration.

Should I assume it works the same as black tentacles?

The CMD of black tentacles, for the purposes of escaping the grapple, is equal to 10 + its CMB.

Answer 1

You use your CMD

Telekinesis:

Combat Maneuver: [...] Resolve these attempts as normal, except that they don’t provoke attacks of opportunity, you use your caster level in place of your Combat Maneuver Bonus, and you add your Intelligence modifier (if a wizard) or Charisma modifier (if a sorcerer) in place of your Strength or Dexterity modifier. ...

Since it doesn't specify anything for CMD, it uses your CMD, since that is what you'd normally use. Do note though, that you'd replace either your dex or str of the CMD check with your casting stat.

---

Some things to note.

Telekinesis:

Combat Maneuver: [...] you use your caster level in place of your Combat Maneuver Bonus ...

This means that, technically, the replacement of casting stat for str or dex does nothing as those contribute to your CMB, which your caster level replaces. As opposed to using your caster level as your BAB for the maneuver, which is probably RAI.

Grapple:

If you successfully grapple a creature that is not adjacent to you, move that creature to an adjacent open space (if no space is available, your grapple fails).

Technically, using telekinesis to grapple moves the creature adjacent to you.

Answer 2

The text is vague because its a holdover from past editions, where you compared check against check to win a grapple. As it stands now, you will have very conflicting results when trying to grapple using the spell and will see table variation, as each GM may rule it differently.

There is no clear solution here, other than a developer commentary on how it should work, which, unfortunately, is unavailable as Paizo's website is currently down for maintenance (for the entire week, apparently).

So here is what I would suggest you to do, make it work similar to Crushing Hand, which creates a big hand of force to grapple your enemies and crush them to death and is clear that you use your caster level for both CMB and CMD, but using the stats given by Telekinesis.

This means that your CMD would be 10 + your caster level + ability modifier (int for wizards, cha for sorcerers, etc), and it doesn't pull the target to you, as we have many spell effects that will grapple a target and not mention that they are moved at all.