35ft reach???

[Flipguarder]

I was wondering how much reach I could give a medium size character. There are some debates over the rules, these are where I get iffy

1. increase in weapon size, increases its range by 5 ft.
2. a spiked chain can hit anything within its range (many debates on this, my logic is that a spiked chain has spikes all the way down it, so I think the entire length of the chain is dangerous.
3. Although I can't find it in my library I KNOW for a fact there is a spell that increases the range by 5 ft for lrd/level in the cleric spell list. If anyone can find this, Id appreciate it.

Slar a human 10th lvl cleric of Kord (or really any diety)

standard reach w/ spiked chain = 10ft
aberration blood feat: inhuman reach (add 5ft to reach ) = 5ft
feat (monkey grip) increase size of weapon = 5ft
righteous might (increase size of both weapon and person) = 10ft
cleric spell for increasing weapon reach = 5 ft

total reach 35ft

I might be wrong about the "increasing weapon size increases its range", but just role playing I think it should, and would allow it for pcs in my campaign because Id allow it for npcs too.

even without the weapon increase, its still 25 ft for a medium(base) size character. whirlwind attack anyone?

I'd actually be willing to argue the point above if ya'll wanna do that. But Id prefer someone out do me.

 

[moritheil]

even without the weapon increase, its still 25 ft for a medium(base) size character. whirlwind attack anyone?

I'd actually be willing to argue the point above if ya'll wanna do that. But Id prefer someone out do me.

Clerics can do much scarier things with their feats than gain whirlwind attack. If someone wanted to play that cleric IMC (RAW, of course, the spiked chain does not threaten the full distance, but you already noted that it's the subject of some debate) I wouldn't bat an eye.

 

[Felix]

Not to sound rude, but what are you trying to do here? What purpose are you trying to serve by extending a character's reach? To show that it can be done, or to do something specific with that weapon with all that reach? A mental exercise, perhaps?

Because if you simply want to attack someone far away, take a look at some historical polearms and make a weapon that can strike someone 20' away but no closer.

If you're trying to do some crazy stuff with the spiked chain, trust me, it isn't as amazingly awesome as it sounds.

 

[Felix]

the spiked chain does not threaten the full distance

... it doesn't?

Chain, Spiked: A spiked chain has reach, so you can strike opponents 10 feet away with it. In addition, unlike most other weapons with reach, it can be used against an adjacent foe.​

 

[Flipguarder]

what he was referring to was the common rule that spiked chains, when enlarged (15ft range), don't threaten at one of the squares.

#here
#here
#not here
PC

or

#here
#not here
#here
PC

I've heard both suprisingly.

 

[Felix]

Huh. Never thought of it that way. I could see an argument from a mechanical balance standpoint, but I never did think the weapon overpowered so I don't really see the need.

 

[Hypersmurf]

I might be wrong about the "increasing weapon size increases its range",

In 3.5, a Medium creature using a Large reach weapon threatens the same area he does with a Medium reach weapon.

There was an alternate system in the (3E) sourcebooks Arms and Equipment Guide and Savage Species; if you updated that for 3.5, it might have a similar effect to what you describe.

... it doesn't?

Chain, Spiked: A spiked chain has reach, so you can strike opponents 10 feet away with it. In addition, unlike most other weapons with reach, it can be used against an adjacent foe.​

Right.

Large or larger creatures using reach weapons can strike up to double their natural reach but can’t strike at their natural reach or less.

So let's say we have a Large creature with a Large Spiked Chain. He has a natural reach of 10 feet.

He's using a reach weapon, so he can strike up to double his natural reach (20 feet), but can't strike at his natural reach or less (10 feet). However, unlike most weapons with reach, the spiked chain can be used against an adjacent foe.

So, he can strike up to double his natural reach (20 feet), but can't strike at his natural reach or less (10 feet), unless the foe is adjacent (5 feet).

Conclusion? He can strike foes at 5 feet, 15 feet, or 20 feet, but not those at 10 feet.

-Hyp.

 

[Felix]

Right.

Large or larger creatures using reach weapons can strike up to double their natural reach but can’t strike at their natural reach or less.

So let's say we have a Large creature with a Large Spiked Chain. He has a natural reach of 10 feet.

He's using a reach weapon, so he can strike up to double his natural reach (20 feet), but can't strike at his natural reach or less (10 feet). However, unlike most weapons with reach, the spiked chain can be used against an adjacent foe.

So, he can strike up to double his natural reach (20 feet), but can't strike at his natural reach or less (10 feet), unless the foe is adjacent (5 feet).

Conclusion? He can strike foes at 5 feet, 15 feet, or 20 feet, but not those at 10 feet.

Ah. So that's the argument. Thanks for presenting it, but no thanks. When your weapon is long enough to reach 20 feet away and flexible enough to hit folks next to you, you're going to be able hit things in between; no Uncanny Valley for weapons, eh?

Also, "Natural Reach" is a nice stand-in for "Adjacent Foe" when you're talking about Large creatures; medium creatures don't have this issue what with their natural reach and adjacent being synonymous. So allowing the chain to be a reach weapon and still strike foes within the Large creature's Natural Reach seems both reasonable and consistent with an interpretation of the language.

*shrug*

 

[Flipguarder]

I just imagine a guy (or girl) swingin a spiked chain towards a line of people, sweeping at them all.

DM: Okay, you get hit, you get hit, and you are fine, because you are in the middle?

Call me an idiot, but for someone who is role-playing kinda strict, I'd even call that one attack that did much less damage.

The spiked chain is really broken because of what it is, a mobile contortable, long weapon which has spikes running all the way down its length. If I was a dm and wanted to fix it, Id make it do much less damage. like 1d4. Or you know what, how about its only 5ft long?

Just another spiked chains are broken thread.

 

[RangerWickett]

Try doing the same with a whip dagger and a cleric who has the lasher prestige class.