Still familiarizing myself with the PF version of the rules, I've read some threads on CMB and apparently things like Weapon Finesse do not substitute DEX for STR when it comes to combat maneuver bonus.
Is there any way a non-STR class, especially those without a full BAB, can get & stay good at combat maneuvers (including at upper levels)?
I've noticed a few Traits that add bonuses to one or two combat maneuvers, but is there any way to consistently keep it good? Or is it something that becomes increasingly difficult to accomplish?
What are the best ways to improve CMB, and do things that affect your attack bonus (such as enhancements to a weapon used in the maneuver, or a morale or other bonus to attacks) improve CMB as well?
Side question: to what extent do these same things improve CMD?
For certain maneuver you can use dexterity, but only with weapons where you can use weapon finesse. There is also this.
Agile Maneuvers (Combat)
You've learned to use your quickness in place of brute force when performing combat maneuvers.
Benefit: You add your Dexterity bonus to your base attack bonus and size bonus when determining your Combat Maneuver Bonus (see Combat) instead of your Strength bonus.
Normal: You add your Strength bonus to your base attack bonus and size bonus when determining your Combat Maneuver Bonus
Agile Maneuvers is a feat from the CRB that allows you to use your Dex in place of Str on CMB checks. Weapon Finesse will apply to a few maneuvers, but not many (only those with weapons involved, and only with light weapons, namely disarm, sunder, and trip). The Improved and Greater feats for combat maneuvers give you a small boost and negate the AoO involved. If your maneuver uses a weapon (see above) enhancement bonuses and Weapon Focus (and weapon training if you are a fighter) will apply. CMB rolls are attack rolls. Any bonus that applies to attacks should apply to CMB, including true strike, inspire courage, high ground, flanking, and so forth. The feats that improve your CMB generally improve your CMD by the same abount. Defensive Combat Training is a good feat for 3/4 and 1/2 BAB characters that are afraid their CMD is a little low.
Weapon Finesse counts for Trip...and Disarm, I think.
|
It's a little class dependent as well. Obviously Monks are your go to for a class that can be good at combat maneuvers without Strength or a full BAB. You'll need decent supporting feats for most anything else though. There are specific archetypes that make some, if not all, CMB checks without needing a high STR (Archer Fighter Archetype, Gunslinger gets deeds that accomplish the same thing as many CMB checks), but CMD scales pretty high as you level, so deciding whether or not you want a character who will integrate CMB into their fighting style is kind of something you have to decide early on.
Still familiarizing myself with the PF version of the rules, I've read some threads on CMB and apparently things like Weapon Finesse do not substitute DEX for STR when it comes to combat maneuver bonus.
This is not quite accurate. Weapon Finesse allows you to use DEX for STR for any maneuver performed by a weapon. That is, trip, disarm, and sunder, as well as reposition and drag when using a weapon with the trip special ability. Agile Maneuvers, however, will cover all combat maneuvers. Owing to the overlap between them, combining the two feats into one appears to be a moderately popular house rule.
I've noticed a few Traits that add bonuses to one or two combat maneuvers, but is there any way to consistently keep it good? Or is it something that becomes increasingly difficult to accomplish?
It gets pretty tough. Higher level enemies have a nasty tendency to be big, strong, and have a high BaB. It is much more viable if you think you will be facing mostly NPCs or Medium-Large, vaguely humanoid enemies. If you are fighting the various outsiders, aberrations, and other high level monstrous nasties, maneuvers are a lot less useful. Trip is especially tough, given the size restriction, penalty for number of legs, and the fact that flight simply shuts it down.
What are the best ways to improve CMB, and do things that affect your attack bonus (such as enhancements to a weapon used in the maneuver, or a morale or other bonus to attacks) improve CMB as well?
CMB has lots of ways to be increased, so many that it is tough to give a short answer without narrowing it down by class or maneuver. On your question, I'll point you to the Combat Maneuver FAQ. It should clear things up a bit.
Thanks for the flurry of replies.
the Feats look good but I'll have to play with builds to see if any of them actually end up having room for them (one problem with most non-full-BAB classes is they tend to be feat-starved/need their slots for other things).
Thanks also to the people who pointed out Weapon Finesse counting with maneuvers done with weapons (I had missed that somehow).
On your question, I'll point you to the Combat Maneuver FAQ. It should clear things up a bit.
Thanks in particular for that, I hadn't found that FAQ yet and will check it out. ^_^