'Weapon Finesse' for unarmed attacks?

[Magic Rub]

Simple question...

Can you take 'Weapon Finesse' for unarmed attacks (Monk)?

WEAPON FINESSE [General]
You are especially skilled at using a certain weapon, one that can benefit as much from Dexterity as from Strength. Choose one light weapon. Alternatively, you can choose a rapier, provided you can use it in one hand, or a spiked chain, provided you’re at least Medium-size.

Prerequisite: Proficient with weapon, base attack bonus +1 or higher.

Benefit: With the selected weapon, you may use your Dexterity modifier instead of your Strength modifier on attackrolls. Since you need your second hand for balance, if you carry a shield, apply the shield’s armor check penalty to your attack rolls.

Special: You can gain this feat multiple times. Each time you take the feat, it applies to a new weapon.

By the text of the feat I would say yes. However that seems to good to be true? (and we all know what that tends to mean) I can't find it in the Faq. The Faq does say that you can use two weapons, but it never notes if those weapons can be parts of your body (natural weapons). I can't recall any monsters that use this feat with natural weapons, they use Weapon Focus a lot but not this feat. Also the e-tool will not let you aply it to a monks unarmed attacks (, or so I've been told).

I was going rule that it wouldn't work for natural weapons. What do you kids think?

 

[Christian]

As a general rule, 'weapon' feats (Weapon Focus, Weapon Specialization, Weapon Finesse, etc.) can be used with unarmed strikes. And I don't actually understand why it's 'too good to be true,' frankly.

 

[James McMurray]

Natural weapons are always considered light weapons for their user, and two sizes less then the creature for other situations where it matters (such as disarm).

You most certainly can take Finesse with unarmed strikes or natural weapons. In fact, all animals get finesse with their main weapon (IIRC).

 

[Christian]

I'd forgotten that ... actually, only a few do, specifically the itty-bitty ones with pathetic Strength. Cats, for example, get Weapon Finesse (claw, bite).

 

[Dr. NRG]

I seem to recall running across this early on when 3E came out. I believe that someplace (in the PHB?), there is an example monk that has weapon finesse on UA. This is, of course, only circumstantial evidence that finesse can actually be used on UA, but it convinced my DM at the time.

Anyone have the specific citation? I'm stuck at work.

Now that I think about it, the section I'm thinking of may be in S&F's "how to make a monk" section...

Anyone?

 

[Magic Rub]

In fact, all animals get finesse with their main weapon (IIRC).

Holy crap! so they do! Thanks. The E-tools warped my view I was going to allow it, then the player told me about the E-tool problem. I said I'd ask here, but untill I knew for sure, I told him that he couldn't take it. Cool He'll be very happy with this news. I'm going to make a new house rule that makes all PC's made with the E-Tools, & all references from the E-Tools, inadmissible.

 

[Magic Rub]

And I don't actually understand why it's 'too good to be true,' frankly.

Sorry I should have explained that better. When my players find something that really benfits them it's generally because they've only read half of whatever it was. Then I come along & read the rest after they've assured me that it was "OK" for them to take or do whatever it was. Normally they have missed something big.

 

[Zhure]

From the SRD, on Equipment, Weapons:

"Strike, Unarmed: A Medium-size character deals 1d3 points of subdual damage with an unarmed strike, which may be a punch, kick, head butt, or other type of attack. A Small character deals 1d2 points of subdual damage. The damage from an unarmed strike is considered weapon damage for the purposes of effects that provide a bonus to weapon damage.

Use the Weapon Finesse feat to apply a character's Dexterity modifier instead of the Strength modifier to attack rolls with an unarmed strike."