Can Stunned Characters resist a trip?

[Shadeus]

I'm contemplating a monk character with both Stunning Fist and Improved Trip. It wasn't clear to me if a stunned opponent would be allowed to resist a trip attack or not. The condition of "stunned" states:

Stunned
The character loses her Dexterity bonus to AC (if any) and can take no actions. Foes gain a +2 bonus to hit stunned characters.

Is resisting a trip considered an action?

Thanks for the help.

 

[Cybern]

I don't think so, IRC he can defend normaly.

But I'd house rule differently, since it's silly that since you loose your Dex bonus you push back/sidestep/evade a hit.

Just my 2 CAN copper

 

[Shadeus]

Hmm, at any rate, you do lose your Dex bonus. I guess the opposed trip roll is either Dex or Str. But I guess you can make saves while stunned too though.

 

[Nail]

But I'd house rule differently, since it's silly that since you loose your Dex bonus you push back/sidestep/evade a hit.

Be careful here, Tex. Watch where you point that thing.......

Although a stunned creature looses it's Dex bonus, it's not treated as if it's helpless. That is, it's not treated as if it has no Dexerity (effective Dex bonus -5).

In other words, the creature may still react, but may take not action of its own accord.

That big Rule Zero stick you've got ain't necessary here, bub.

 

[RigaMortus]

Can you combine a Trip Attack with a Stunning Fist as one attack? That is, hit with the Trip, then they save vs. Stun? How about Improved Trip. If they fall, can you make your free attack a stunning fist? I'd think at least that is allowed, right?

 

[Shadeus]

Can you combine a Trip Attack with a Stunning Fist as one attack? That is, hit with the Trip, then they save vs. Stun? How about Improved Trip. If they fall, can you make your free attack a stunning fist? I'd think at least that is allowed, right?

Hmm, I hadn't thought of that. I don't think that's possible. Here's the text of the stunning fist feat:

Stunning Fist [General]
Prerequisites: Dex 13+, Improved Unarmed Strike, Wis 13+, base attack bonus +8 or higher.
Benefit: Declare that the character is using the feat before making an attack roll (thus, a missed attack roll ruins the attempt). It forces a foe damaged by the character's unarmed attack to make a Fortitude saving throw (DC 10 + one-half the character's level + Wis modifier), in addition to dealing damage normally. If the defender fails his saving throw, he is stunned for 1 round (until just before the character's next action). A stunned character can’t act and loses any Dexterity bonus to Armor Class. Attackers get a +2 bonus on attack rolls against a stunned opponent.

It looks like the stunning fist is only associated with an unarmed strike. But for the second part of your question, I don't see a reason you couldn't do it as your follow-up free attack from Improved Trip.

What I'm concerned about with playing a monk is their poor chance to hit (aka, flurry of misses). I figured if the foe lost his/her Dex bonus, gave me a +2 AND was prone, I might have a shot to hit with that second attack. That's why I wanted to know if you could do it the other way around and avoid giving the foe a chance to even resist the trip attack.