Originally, my halfling was using Bolas to do ranged-trip attacks against opponents. Prior to Pathfinders, his chance to hit was very high and his chance to cause a trip was so-so - depending on which DM I played with, some would let me use Weapon Finesse for the Bolas. Now with CMB however, he can't hit anything with his Strength modifier of -2 and his size. I understand why they included the Base Attack Bonus to CMD to avoid having to make the Strength check after the attack roll, but they way it works now is pretty silly.
So anyways, I had the idea to hire a gnomish inventor and create a bolas shooter using a crossbow - like a net shooter. When using an crossbow, you get no Strength modifiers because it is tempered just right. Also, crossbow damage in 2E was considered to be a size M weapon. Is it the same for 3E? So my question is if I used a crossbow bolas shooter, would my Strength modifier and size modifier both be zero when calculating my CMB?
Also, does CMD factor in Dodge bonuses? And does CMB factor in magical +'s from gauntlets used to "trip" someone?
And shouldn't bolas use the Strength of the material, not the attacker? When we were kids, we used to throw bolas like devices at each other and I can safely tell you that they need barely strike you to instantly wrap around you - strength has very little to do with the object wrapping itself around you. To hit, the attack itself is much more effective. The Strength should be the tensile durability of the bolas vs the strength of the target, not the physical strength of the attacker.
And on one final note, when we were in Jr. High and High School, I used to watch people who were 4' roll into the legs of people who were 5-6' and knock them over with ease. This is a very effective way to trip someone other than using your hands and feet or a weapon. If a bowling ball moving fast enough to drop a huge man, then CMB really does not make much sense in my opinion. There has to be a better way.
I see my post was moved to Homebrew from Rules, but I'm not sure why. Perhaps it can be moved back? Here are my questions laid out:
1) Is the damage from a crossbow considered a size M weapon?
2) Does the Strength and Size modifier of the character factor into ranged trip attacks if using a mechanical device?
2b) If not, then what do you use for Strength? I assume size would be 0 if it were M.
3) Does CMD factor in "Dodge" bonuses?
4) Does CMB factor in magical +'s from gauntlets used to "trip" someone?
5) Do Bolas really use the attackers Strength modifier when determining CMB even though it is the winding rope that causes the trip, not the attackers strength?
I see my post was moved to Homebrew from Rules, but I'm not sure why. Perhaps it can be moved back? Here are my questions laid out:
1) Is the damage from a crossbow considered a size M weapon?
2) Does the Strength and Size modifier of the character factor into ranged trip attacks if using a mechanical device?
2b) If not, then what do you use for Strength? I assume size would be 0 if it were M.
3) Does CMD factor in "Dodge" bonuses?
4) Does CMB factor in magical +'s from gauntlets used to "trip" someone?
5) Do Bolas really use the attackers Strength modifier when determining CMB even though it is the winding rope that causes the trip, not the attackers strength?
1) Weapons are sized to the creature in pathfinder, they dont have their own 'size' anymore, like they did in 3.0. So there are several entries for each kind of crossbow, one for a small and one for a medium creature, they are just completely different weapons.
2) This is why you got moved to homebrew, there are no rules for doing such a thing. I would say no strength bonus from the user, but assign some strength bonus to the user.2b) Size penalties would still apply since weapons are sized to the user. You might be able to come up with house rules for a gnome to use a human's light crossbow as a heavy crossbow or something, but its gotta be made up.
3) yes
4) From the PRD
"When you attempt to perform a combat maneuver, make an attack roll and add your CMB in place of your normal attack bonus. Add any bonuses you currently have on attack rolls due to spells, feats, and other effects. These bonuses must be applicable to the weapon or attack used to perform the maneuver."
So if you try to trip with a magic weapon the enhancement bonus on the weapon counts towards your CMB.
5) Yes because your strength matters when throwing the bolas. If you throw it harder its more likely to trip your opponent. The force with which you throw the bolas translates to the weights that do the actual tripping. This would not rationally apply to a crossbow which is why you need house rules for this.
Well there always is the Agile Maneuvers feat which allows you to use your dex mod rather than your str mod when calculating CMB
And if he has Weapon Finesse, all attack-subsitution Maneuvers (Trip, Disarm, etc, basically all but 'as a Standard Action' Maneuvers like Grapple) already use DEX instead of STR - Dextrous Maneuvers is there only for the Maneuvers like Grapple and Bullrush.
It's actually debatable whether DEX should normally apply instead of STR for Ranged Maneuvers like a Bola Trip, as a Maneuver still IS an attack roll. The wording chosen sort of painted itself into a corner by re-hashing the exact same attack roll mechanics, rather than just specifying the differences of maneuver vs. normal attacks, but the idea that Ranged attacks use DEX instead of STR seems applicable here. ...Certainly I would run things that way myself, even if "RAW" that doesn't apply to Ranged Maneuvers (which aren't even discussed AFAIK).
As to what applies to maneuver attack rolls and to CMD: just think of them as normal attack rolls and touch AC. Everything that applies to those applies to maneuver attacks/ CMD.
As to why this post was moved... Could be because it mentions home-brew Bola cross-bows in the thread title. If you constrain yourself to core rules topics, I doubt your post would get moved from that thread. If you don't...