Finessing touch attacks

[Astalanya]

A player of mine wants to know whether or not Weapon Finesse can apply to touch attacks. Her premise is that since the feat applies to all light weapons, and natural weapons are light weapons, the feat applies to touch attacks.

I can see it going either way, but I was hoping for some feedback because I can't find any official word. The melee touch attacks for her spellcaster would use her DEX, so she'd be treating them as the same attack bonus as her ranged touch attacks. Where it blurs: it's a touch, which is sort of unarmed, but is a touch a natural weapon?

Are there any problems likely to come out of allowing DEX vs STR?

Following this train of thought, then I wonder if they would apply to grapple attacks and other unarmed melee abilities (IE: disarm while unarmed)? Thoughts welcome.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Generally speaking, it applies to any *attack roll* with a light weapon - this includes touch attacks.

Therefore, it includes the touch attack required to start a grapple, a disarm with an unarmed strike, a sunder attempt with a light weapon or unarmed strike, etc.

It does not apply to grapple checks or trip attempts.

 

[Len]

For official rules, see the definition of touch attacks in the Combat chapter, and light weapons in the Equipment chapter of the PHB.

 

[Astalanya]

After reading Complete Arcane, I know my answer.