Does Weapon Finesse (unarmed) affect melee touch attacks?

[Creamsteak]

Question is in the title. I'm not certain if this was clearly stated in the players handbook.

 

[krunchyfrogg]

I don't see why not.

 

[Ranger REG]

If it's a touch attack using unarmed, then yes, especially when you are also delivering a spell by touch.

 

[Hypersmurf]

I seem to recall Tome and Blood distinguishes between "touch attack" and "unarmed strike" as valid choices for either Finesse or Focus.

IDHTBIFOM - maybe someone can look it up?

Unarmed Strike would definitely apply if you were delivering a touch spell as part of an unarmed strike, but I'm not certain it applies to a touch attack.

-Hyp.

 

[guido1999]

Unarmed attacks are not touch attacks, requiring you to hit the target's unmodified AC. You have to take armor into account. Touch attacks ignore armor. You don't really make an unarmed strike when you make a touch attack, technically. However, I don't really see a problem for allowing you to use weapon finesse (unarmed) to make a touch attack, unless a reference really does make the distinction between touch attacks and unarmed attacks, which I do not know about off hand.

 

[LokiDR]

Yes, Tome covers this. You can finess touch spells as a catagory. You can take weapon focus in ray, energy missle, or touch spells.

Improved Unarmed Strike: You can use an unarmed strike to deliver a touch spell and are considered armed. You make a normal melee attack (the defender gets the full benefit of armor and shield). If the attack hits, the unarmed strike deals its normal damage and the spell is discharged against the defender. Only the unarmed strike can inflict a critical hit.

Without the feat, you can still do an unarmed strike, but at the normal penalties.

 

[Andion Isurand]

Why would someone need strength to simply touch someone?

Could touch attacks be considered automatically finessable by nature?

 

[Hypersmurf]

Could touch attacks be considered automatically finessable by nature?

No.

-Hyp.

 

[Korin Tempest]

from what i've been reading, this argument will be moot in about two months... finesse is supposed to be a blanket feat in the revision... basically when you take finesse, it affects any weapon/attack form that is finessable.. you don't have to specify when you take the feat... honestly it makes alot more sense than current version of the feat..

 

[Ranger REG]

Why would someone need strength to simply touch someone?

When making an aggressive action, speed is govern by your Strength, even if you mean to touch someone. Dexterity is reflex-based, you react to someone making an aggresive action toward you.

Besides, Dexterity plays a huge part in the Initiative check to determine who can act first before others in a round.