D&D 5E 5E: Whips?

[Sir Brennen]

Advantage is great, and granting it all the time with a specific weapon, even on restricted maneuvers is too good.

Perhaps you're right. Like I mentioned, I don't have the PHB handy to compare other feats and write something balanced with those. That was just something off the top of my head.

I just don't see a whip actually being able to immobilize someone at a distance.

Well, it wouldn't exactly immobilize, but it would prevent them from moving *away*, and could restrict their arms as well. The cinematic "wrap the whip around someone" maneuver. Unfortunately, there's no D&D condition that only partially restricts movement in this way, even though it's something that could be envisioned. How would you model a lasso, for example? I suppose the situation could be considered the "restrained" condition with a caveat that the target can still move toward you. Or one could simply spell out the exact penalties to the target in the feat description, without applying a specific condition.

Shouldn't need a feat to do the first part. What happens when you roll 10? The bonus is too good.

I know this was Astrosicebear's feat, but I think he was basically treating it like the Rogue's Reliable Talent. Though it'd probably be redundant with that class feature if the whip wielder is a 11+ level rogue trained in Athletics or Acrobatics.

There is no disadvantage for using a whip on adjacent foes. Making your whip longer via a feat seems silly, especially for (level) rounds per day.

I think Astrosicebear was going off of my musing that perhaps a whip should be more difficult to use up close, even though that's not spelled out in the rules. Can you imagine getting a good whip crack off on a target that's at sword length from you with a 10' whip? And the reach... you're not making the whip longer, you're able to lunge and extend your reach. I believe there's precedent for this in the rules, either in a feat or one of the fighter subclass features.

 

[Fralex]

It is possible, I think Mythbusters verified this one.

As the whip tail wraps around the object, it can be made so the larger portion overlaps the smaller portion, like wrapping a string around your finger, and then overlapping the string so any weight applied in a downward force exerts that force on the string as well, holding everything in place. Some slack and a quick whip should knock the loose hold out of place.

[video=youtube;6I_ESNuLwGA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6I_ESNuLwGA[/video]

OK, that was pretty cool! Although, I also kinda saw a related video on how a whip is not an effective disarming tool... eh, who cares. It was the grappling thing that didn't make sense to me. As long as the rest sounds like it's possible, that's good enough for me.

 

[Kobold Stew]

It's possible on a slope (with a stepladder), using a specially made whip reinforced with parachute cord.

 

[Fralex]

It's possible on a slope (with a stepladder), using a specially made whip reinforced with parachute cord.

But as long as it's theoretically possible, the fact that it takes place in an adventure game is enough to handle the rest as far as I care!

On another note, the concept of giving some weapons a "tool" property that lets you add your proficiency bonus to ability checks made using it in a plausible way is a fantastic idea. I think if a whip is used to grapple or trip a creature, you should need to make a Dexterity (Slight of Hand) check rather than a Strength (Athletics) check.

On second thought, treat all weapons as having the "tool" property. The whip has more utility use than a greatsword anyway, so it should work out.

 

[Savevsdeath]

I take issue with the notion that any weapon must be "optimal" in order to justify its existence. But I think you are underestimating the whip. Reach is quite powerful, and one-handed reach can be incredible in the right hands.

As a one-handed finesse weapon with reach, the whip is completely unique. It's also not an easy weapon to master. There is nothing wrong with expecting a character to expend a feat slot or a class level to take advantage of its very useful properties.

What he said. In thread after thread, I see people talk about supposedly weak/suboptimal things that I am using or have seen used in games to gerat effect, and scratching my head going 'what are you people talking about'? Number-crunching is all well and good, but let me tell you beyond a doubt that a reach finesse weapon is amazing in practice, and my dual rapier and whip-wielding vengeance pally has benefited greatly from the extra rang. Now, what I WOULD like is a version of the spiked chain brought back that wasn't ridiculous (though i didn't think it was even in 3.5, simply because it was generally used by non casters) to appease the people who just can't live without that bigger damage die.

 

[Leatherhead]

Consider using it on a fighter battlemaster instead.

 

[evilives]

Indy this. Indy that. What, no love for Castlevania from you all? /ragequit

 

[PnPgamer]

Indy this. Indy that. What, no love for Castlevania from you all? /ragequit

I think castlevania used macechainwhip after first upgrade. The basic whip sucked.

 

[Eejit]

Indy this. Indy that. What, no love for Castlevania from you all? /ragequit

Pfft, Johnny-come-lately. Indy pre-dates it by 5 years.

 

[Henry]

There is certainly room in this edition for a single feat that covers adding a small bonus to damage for a whip, combined with a few tool use ideas such as grappling, swinging, etc.