Trip Finesse?

[Witness]

I'm playing a Monk chararacter about to go up to sixth level and acquire Improved Trip. I also have Weapon Finesse: Unarmed. Does Finesse allow me to use my Dex mod instead of my Str mod for the Trip attack?

 

[Mr.Binx]

Technically, by the rules, no. You cannot swap out to dexterity for the opposed strength roll unless you are the defender. As a DM I would allow it though since you are specializing in a technicue which uses leverage and speed rather than brute force. Bug your DM and see if he'll house rule it for ya'. If not, ask him if you can create a feat that has Improved Unarmed Combat and Improved Trip that allows you to use your dexterity bonus in lieu of your strength bonus specifically for trip attacks.

 

[Darklone]

Or ask him about some feats like in the Quintessential Fighter ... example: Expert grappler: lets you use dex AND strength mod added together for grapple checks.

 

[Witness]

I'll try and get him to house rule it. My Str is 14 and Dex is 18 so the diffenerce isn't so signifigant that I'd waste a feat just to get a plus two.

Tactically, it does not seem like it would be worth it to make a trip attempt against a fighter-type or most monsters. How and against who is it most useful?

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

Trip is quite useful against the bad guy's henchmen and other underlings who have a merely adequate strength and dexterity (if you're a high (16+) strength fighter that is). It is also a good bet against rogues (their dex is probably as good as your strength but they can't use it to countertrip so you'r probably safe from that) because it will keep them from tumbling in to a flanking position for a sneak attack. Trip is also good to keep wizards or clerics from retreating behind a line of fighters. Finally, trip is great for AoOs with a guisarm since a success will prevent the enemy from attacking you.

*All of these assume that you're good at tripping--have a 16+ (really should be 18+, 16 is marginal) strength and a weapon that gives bonusses to the trip attack.

I'll try and get him to house rule it. My Str is 14 and Dex is 18 so the diffenerce isn't so signifigant that I'd waste a feat just to get a plus two.

Tactically, it does not seem like it would be worth it to make a trip attempt against a fighter-type or most monsters. How and against who is it most useful?

 

[Revencher]

what weapon gives u a bonus to trip? i know a few u can use to trip with but none that give a + to trip?
also is there a feat that will let u use your dex insted of st for a trip?

 

[Dandu]

Necromancy...

 

[frankthedm]

Necromancy...

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what weapon gives u a bonus to trip? i know a few u can use to trip with but none that give a + to trip?

In 3.5 Trip was strong enough that the tripping weapons just said...

You can also use this weapon to make trip attacks. If you are tripped during your own trip attempt, you can drop 'this weapon' to avoid being tripped.
d20srd.org/srd/equipment/weapons.htm#weaponDescriptions
Weapons :: d20srd.org

 

[Dandu]

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