I checked the variant rule, I quote them here;<br/><br/><strong>Hostage Maneuver Variant:</strong>When a character is holding a creature hostage, it is able to react quickly and deal critical damage, which is primarily what makes hostage situations so tricky.<br/><br/>The hostage can serve as a shield against anyone who dares to direct their attack the character. To qualify as a hostage, the creature must be helpless, prone, grappled or pinned, and be up to two size category smaller than the character, or up to two size category larger and prone.<br/><br/>The hostage maneuver is a full-round action each round that may provoke an attack of opportunity. If the hostage is willing or simply not resisting, holding it is an attack action. Taken Hostage: When a creature is taken hostage, it may take an attack of opportunity<br/>against the character if it retains its Dexterity bonus to Defense. If the attack hits, the hostage attempt has 50% chance to fail.<br/><br/>While taken hostage, the creature can still take any action (see The Certain Death Rule, below.)<br/><br/><em>The Certain Death Rule:</em>The certain death rule dictates that the character is able to react with an attack of opportunity against the hostage against any action it takes, including speaking or dodging from an attack, before it is able to complete the action. In addition,<br/>the character is able to take an attack of opportunity against the hostage at any time he wishes to.<br/><br/>That attack is always considered a coup de grace. A creature immune to critical hits and sneak attacks is also immune to the effects of a coup de grace.<br/><br/><em>Staggered:</em>If the character takes more than 1 point of damage per level per round while maintaining the hostage maneuver, it will become staggered and unable to make attacks of opportunity against the hostage for 1 round. If the hostage was grappled or pinned, it<br/>may make an opposed Grapple check (as a free action) to break the hostage maneuver. Doing so will also break the grapple.<br/><br/><em>Hostage Shield:</em>Each attack directed at the character has a 75% chance of hitting the hostage instead during the hostage maneuver, unless the attack would miss by 10 or more (this penalty is reduced to 25% if the character is not aware of the attack.) The attack does<br/>not check against the hostage's defense unless it attempts to dodge (see The Certain Death Rule, above.)<br/><br/>Some conditions might lower or negate the chance of hitting the hostage entirely (at the<br/>GM's discretion).<br/><br/><em>At Sword Point:</em>Initiating the hostage maneuver against an unaware opponent requires a touch attack against the creature who is denied its Dexterity modifier to Defense and a successful level check (DC is the target's level +11). Performing the hostage maneuver in<br/>this manner does not result in the target being grappled or hindered and is a full-round action.<br/><br/><em>Grappled Hostage:</em>Initiating the hostage maneuver during a grapple requires a successful Grapple check against the creature, which provokes an attack of opportunity if the target is carrying a light weapon, has a natural attack or if its unarmed attacks are treated as armed. If the attack hits, the hostage maneuver has a 50% chance to fail.<br/><br/>The character gains a +4 bonus to his Grapple check if the creature is pinned.