UPDATED: True Strike + Impr. Trip [Confused about Tripping]

[two]

1) What is a weapon that's capable of tripping?

SRD:
"Tripping with a Weapon: Some weapons can be used to make trip attacks. In this case, you make a melee touch attack with
the weapon instead of an unarmed melee touch attack, and you don’t provoke an attack of opportunity.
If you are tripped during your own trip attempt, you can drop the weapon to avoid being tripped."

Can you not trip with just any old weapon?

2) If you have true strike going, and want to trip somebody, am I right in thinking it's not such a great deal. The true strike insures you get the touch attack to hit (barring a 1) but after that it's a strength check and true strike doesn't help at all?

 

[IronWolf]

1) What is a weapon that's capable of tripping?
<snip>
Can you not trip with just any old weapon?

If a weapon can be used for tripping it will be listed with the weapon's description - i.e. Heavy flail, Guisarme, Halbred, etc.

2) If you have true strike going, and want to trip somebody, am I right in thinking it's not such a great deal. The true strike insures you get the touch attack to hit (barring a 1) but after that it's a strength check and true strike doesn't help at all?

I would agree with this, though one of the real rules gurus may show up and prove me wrong!

 

[ThirdWizard]

2) If you have true strike going, and want to trip somebody, am I right in thinking it's not such a great deal. The true strike insures you get the touch attack to hit (barring a 1) but after that it's a strength check and true strike doesn't help at all?

You'll get a nice +20 to that touch attack.

True Strike is very good with disarm, however.

Note that Trip is fabulous for iterative attacks, since you just have to hit their Touch AC, which is usually somewhere between 10 and 14. You can use the first attack for normal attacks, disarms, etc, then follow up with a Trip on your last attack to put them in a bad situation for when their turn comes up.

 

[VorpalStare]

Note also that the actual trip attempt is resolved as an opposed strength or dexterity check, rather than an attack, and True Strike only applies to attack rolls.

Edit: So that means that you are correct that True strike does not help on the opposed roll.

 

[Felnar]

could you make a trip attempt while holding a sword and shield?

 

[Dracomeander]

I have an issue with the list of weapons that are considered appropriate for trip attacks. I believe it is way too short. Historically, axes, picks, sickles, scythes, and kamas were also used frequently for trip attacks.

Any weapon that was articulated or had a L-shaped or hook-like projection was used for trip attacks because that was an efficient way to take control of the battle away from the opponent. The list of weapons considered appropriate for trip attacks really should be expanded to include these as well.

 

[IronWolf]

could you make a trip attempt while holding a sword and shield?

No. Trip attacks can be made unarmed or with a weapon that can be used to trip. A sword is not listed at being able to trip, so you could not make a trip attempt. Again, one of the *real* rules gurus may come along and trump me on this...

 

[Caliban]

could you make a trip attempt while holding a sword and shield?

Yes you could, but it would be an unarmed trip attempt and thus provoke an AoO unless you have Improved Unarmed Strike or Improved Trip. (Unarmed attacks can be made with almost any part of the body, and do not require you to have your hands free. An unarmed trip attack could be you hook your foot around their ankle, or whatever.)

 

[Legildur]

(Yeah, like Caliban said)

I believe you could trip whilst wielding a sword and wearing a shield. The text from the 3.5E SRD has the following (my emphasis):

"You can try to trip an opponent as an unarmed melee attack."

"Making a Trip Attack: Make an unarmed melee touch attack against your target. This provokes an attack of opportunity from your target as normal for unarmed attacks."

"Unarmed Attacks: Striking for damage with punches, kicks, and head butts is much like attacking with a melee weapon."

To me, it looks like you could do a leg sweep or similar, but I'm happy to be corrected by someone more knowledgeable or armed with a PHB or FAQ response.

 

[IronWolf]

::hangs head in shame:: Back to lurking mode in the Rules forum!