Trip

[Bauglir]

Trip an opponent [Varies][AoO: No]

A combatant can try to trip an opponent as a melee attack. A combatant can only trip an opponent who is one size category larger than a combatant, the same size, or smaller.

Making a Trip Attack: Make a melee attack as a melee touch attack. If the attack succeeds, make a Strength check opposed by the defender's Dexterity or Strength check (whichever ability score has the higher modifier). A combatant gets a +4 bonus for every size category he is larger than Medium-size or a -4 penalty for every size category he is smaller. The defender gets a +4 stability bonus on his check if he has more than two legs or is otherwise more stable than a normal humanoid. If a combatant win, a combatant trip the defender. If a combatant lose, the defender may immediately react and make a Strength check opposed by a combatant's Dexterity or Strength check to try to trip a combatant.

The improved grapple thread started me thinking about this one.

I've always felt that by its heavy reliance on pure stat (strength), as well as by size and 'legs' bonuses this ability heavily favours monsters, making it a relatively under-useful ability to players.

Any thoughts/opinions?
If you don't like it this way how would you change it?
If you DO like it this way, why?

I wonder if it will be changed at all in 3.5e..

 

[IceBear]

Yes, this tactic (and several others - like grappling) favor big monsters over PCs.

I don't think this needs to be fixed - I find it hard to picture someone walking over and tripping a Storm Giant with a leg sweep, so any fix that makes this possible I wouldn't like.

In past editions big monsters just had more hp. Now big monsters are something to be feared (like they should be).

IceBear

 

[melkoriii]

From what I read on the EN World front page, they may be changing Trip (maybe more) to a "make a save or be triped"

TO me this would really make it more realisic.

 

[IceBear]

What's the save going to be, and the DC? Some of these big monsters have horrible Reflex saves. I don't have a problem with making it easier for the for the PCs to avoid being tripped as they go up in level, but it shouldn't be easier for them to trip a dragon with it.

Yes, it does bother me (a little) that tripping a 1st level character and a 20th level character is more or less equal (obviously the 20th level character would have some stat advantage), but I don't think the fix should be something that ends up making it too easy to trip big monsters.

A save does fit the "save to avoid something, an ability check to accomplish soemthing" mold, but it still should be very hard to trip a large opponent.

IceBear

 

[melkoriii]

All I got was from what is in the new Dungen mag.

You can read it on the ENWolrd front page.