Trip fighting with Dexterity?

[Pinkcrusade]

Greetings, Playground.

Is there anyways to apply dexterity instead of strength to a trip attempt? It seems that WotC has made a few races who use the Spiked Chain as a main weapon, but have average strength and are very dexterous -- it seems to me if trip is based on strength (touch attack then trip attempt (1d20 + Strength + Size Modifiers + Feat Modifiers vs. 1d20 + Strength or Dexterity), these dexterity-high races are quite sub optimal. Are there any ways to add Dexterity instead of Strength to your trip attack?

Thanks.

[Red Fel]

Confound the Big Folk (RotW) is a great option, if you happen to be dexterous and small. Its third option, Unsteady Footing, lets you make a standard action trip attempt that does not provoke AoOs, and you can use Str or Dex, at your option. The enemy can't attempt to counter-trip you, and if you have Improved Trip, you can make the melee attack as usual.

The thing is that there are so many ways to gain a bonus to your trip attempt that, frankly, it seems any penalties (or lack of bonus) can be easily accommodated. You can make up for a low Str with feats, gear, and other tricks.

[Techwarrior]

A lot of Setting Sun maneuvers do allow you to use Dex over Str.

Ask if your DM will allow you to take Pathfinder's Agile Maneuvers feat.

[StreamOfTheSky]

A lot of Setting Sun maneuvers do allow you to use Dex over Str.

Ask if your DM will allow you to take Pathfinder's Agile Maneuvers feat.

Yeah, setting sun is an option, though you're still size-restricted, so a dex thrower will face major hurdles to trip bigger foes (enlargig typically hurts dex). Agile Maneuvers is bad in a game using actual PF rules; combat maneuvers are already attack rolls, so weapon finesse applies anyway. If you are using PF material, though, get Fury's Fall feat. It adds dex to trip in addition to Str. If you're already replacing str with dex, that means you're adding dex twice.

There is also Master Thrower PrC. One of its tricks is Trip Shot, to do a trip from range that uses your dex instead of str.