weapon finesse w/improved grapple, trip?

[Andre]

Hi guys... had our new recruit nestor (who will be running a human monk) throw a question at me I honestly don't know the answer to so I thought I'd post it here to see if our rules experts have any insight (I'll be the first one to admit there are players who know the rules better than I do here .. I like to think I know enough to be able to DM at least but ) ... here's a copy and paste of his e-mail to me.. thoughts?

" If I am not mistaken, Weapon Finesse feat will allow my unarmed strike to use my dex as the attack mod. So my melee (with unarmed strike or any light weapon) should ( use my dex bonus).

What I am not sure of is that if improved grapple and improved trip fall under the same mechanic? "

[darkalloy]

Well technically yes and technically no. Tripping or grappling do require a touch attack so you can use your dex for that with Weapon Finesse.

Trip with the feat Imp. Trip I'm not sure if it allows you to use your dex, but as far as I know that is a Str for attacker only thing. I don't trip enough so I only know the basic trip rules, I do know however Wf does not apply to tripping.

Grappling is done Str and BaB only, I'm 95% sure of that as well as that there is no feat to make it dex based.

[nestor]

hey guys

It have been years since i played d&d, and i am just getting back into it over the last few months

so to use Imp trip to knock down a opponent, i first make a touch attack roll (with will use dex - via weapon finesse), and then I roll for the trip? with my bab + str?

same with imp grapple?

thanks

[darkalloy]

Yes I do believe that is the case I'd have to look up imp. grapple and imp. trip to be completely sure but as far as I know it is a str+Bab roll after the initial touch attack for both grapple and trip,

[solardawn]

Yeah, as far as I know Dark is completely right, it let's you use it for the touch attack, but not for the actual grappling, that's how I remember it too in any case.