In choosing weapon finesse, do I have to use my dexterity bonus to calculate my CMB and CMD?
Only with finesable weapons that allow for maneuvers, such as whip/trip or disarm for example.
Only with finesable weapons that allow for maneuvers, such as whip/trip or disarm for example.
Thanks, a little difficult to manage it because I have to determin 2 CMB according the combat manoeuvre, but that's what I thought! Thnaks !
Instead of 2 CMBs why don´t you just figure out how your CMB differs from your melee attacks?
The only difference between them is size has the opposite effect:
(small = + melee attack/AC, -CMB/CMD, large = -melee attack/AC, + CMB/CMD)
You basically just need a MODIFIER which cancels out the normal Size mod to melee attacks and ends up with the size mod to maneuvers - that value happens to be 2x(normal maneuver size mod). If you write that ´modifier´ down, you can add it on top of ANY pre-calculated melee attack bonus (i.e. including iteratives) and have the accurate CMB for that attack. If you´re Medium Size (0 size mod) there is no difference, so you can use normal melee attack bonus un-modified.
If you´re using a Finesse weapon to deliver a maneuver, you´re already using DEX, if you´re not using a Finesse weapon you will use STR. If all your weapons tend to be Finesse and/or Ranged, you probably will want to write down ´generic´ non-Finesse attack bonus numbers (which you can use for non-Finesse weapon attacks like Grapple or Bullrush) - Having that info ready can occasionally be useful even for melee attacks (i.e. non-maneuvers) when you need to use a non-Finesse weapon for some reason.
This has the side effect of using DEX for ranged maneuvers, i.e. Bolas+ Trip.
Per RAW, there´s nothing that says you use DEX for ranged maneuvers (they´re not mentioned in the maneuver rules, though Bolas and the like allowing Ranged Maneuvers do exist) but I´m pretty sure the RAI is that DEX is relevant here. It just happens the RAW was written so as to derive everything about maneuvers from scratch, when simply applying a MODIFIER to attacks/touchAC has the SAME END RESULT but is simpler to comprehend and use, while avoiding problematic corner cases like Ranged Maneuvers.
If you like that, try something similar with CMD.
Instead of calculating it from scratch, you can simply add BAB+STR+ the 2x(normal maneuver size mod) to Touch AC.
Like normal, individual maneuvers may have offensive/defensive bonuses due to feats, racial abilities, and for specific equipment, and that applies on top of the base CMB/CMD (attack/AC) numbers.