I stumbled upon this and couldn’t find any definite answers.
The Escape action states that you can use Athletics, Acrobatics, or your unarmed attack modifier. However, it specifically says that you use your modifier and not an actual attack. While fists have the Finesse trait, the regular attack does not - so am I correct in assuming that if you have a higher Dex than Str, that you can only use Dex with acrobatics, not with the unarmed attack modifier?
I would think. I have not seen that call made but I have for druids wildshape and no one has claimed dex can’t be use. It says the same thing. unarmed attack modifier. which if you use wanders guide gives you a value that uses the higher of dex and str. also since this gives you the option of using a str or dex skill that would just seem to be more indication it should be so.
Huh. The Escape action’s kind of awful, isn’t it?
You attempt to escape from being grabbed, immobilized, or restrained. Choose one creature, object, spell effect, hazard, or other impediment imposing any of those conditions on you. Attempt a check using your unarmed attack modifier against the DC of the effect. This is typically the Athletics DC of a creature grabbing you, the Thievery DC of a creature who tied you up, the spell DC for a spell effect, or the listed Escape DC of an object, hazard, or other impediment.
It seems to suggest – but does not explicitly state, for what are probably obvious reasons – that you’re escaping by using an unarmed strike, like by elbowing someone in the side of the head if they’ve put you in a bear hug.
But what good does an unarmed strike do against being tied up? That sounds like it should be a thievery check to untie the rope.
I think they tried to consolidate too many things into a single action here.
Anyway, given my personal vision of this as trying to beat your way out of being grappled or restrained, I’d say whether it has the Finesse trait or not would depend on what kind of unarmed “attack” you’re using.
I think the reason they added this is because some creatures are untrained in both athletics and acrobatics, and defensive actions should always scale with level. Just a theory tho
That makes sense, but it still feels like a hack, either because the original idea was to let people who haven’t invested in STR or DEX skills just remain tied up (which is thematically coherent, but it’s a major feel-bad for the player), or it was an oversight.
Whatever the cause, it sure is kind of clunky.
