a monk's chain

[lotuseater]

i have been thinking about a new kind of spiked chain, that would work as a special monk's weapon, compatablie with flurry of blows. i'd appreciate knowing what people thought. or if they've come across something similar someplace.

this weapon is lighter, 4lbs instead of 10, and uses smaller links than the spiked chain, but still can be used as a reach weapon up to 10' while maintaining the ability to attack only 5'. it is weilded with two hands by twirling and twisting it around the body, and then lashing out unexpectantly. both ends of the chain have a spiked ring attached that is used to inflict puncture damage. it deals less damage, only 1d4, but it's has a +2 bonus for trip and disarm attacks, since it is much easier to wrap it around a leg or a weapon. but because it is wrapped around the weilder's own body, when a trip attempt fails, the weilder cannot drop the chain to avoid being tripped him or herself. as a special monk's weapon, it can be used with flurry of blows as per that special ability. if you are able to make two attacks, you can, for example, strike at opponents on either side of you, up to 10' away.

to summarize the advantages and disadvantages:

advantages:
lighter
can be used with flurry of blows
+2 bonus to trip and disarm

disadvantages:
half as much damage
cannot be dropped should a trip or disarm fail


any thoughts?

 

[Tetsubo]

Why can't it be dropped? I'm just trying to understand the reasoning. Is it a pure balance thing?

 

[lotuseater]

it's becasue of the way it's being weilded. in order for it to be effective, it must be constantly twirling and wrapped around the monk's body. it's not easy to explain exactly what i mean in words. if you check out a jackie chan movie, he often uses a weapon like this. same with jet li. the new house of flying daggers as a scene with zhang zi yi using her long silk belt as a weapon in similar manner.

this chain is actually quite longer than the spiked chain of the player's handbook, but but in order to effectively attack with it, and to distract the opponents attention, you need to keep it twirling about yourself. so when you are striking at the opponent, the other end of the chain is wrapped around some part of your body, meaning that you are not able to just drop it to avoid being tripped yourself.

does that explain things?

 

[Evilhalfling]

I created an exotic weapon style (feat) called the silken stash, which allows a monk to use a piece of cloth as a weapon with the exact same statstics as you are considering.
without the can't be dropped.

I think your idea would work just fine, as IMC it was not overpowered.

 

[Tetsubo]

it's becasue of the way it's being weilded. in order for it to be effective, it must be constantly twirling and wrapped around the monk's body. it's not easy to explain exactly what i mean in words. if you check out a jackie chan movie, he often uses a weapon like this. same with jet li. the new house of flying daggers as a scene with zhang zi yi using her long silk belt as a weapon in similar manner.

this chain is actually quite longer than the spiked chain of the player's handbook, but but in order to effectively attack with it, and to distract the opponents attention, you need to keep it twirling about yourself. so when you are striking at the opponent, the other end of the chain is wrapped around some part of your body, meaning that you are not able to just drop it to avoid being tripped yourself.

does that explain things?

I understand the weapon that you are creating, a manriki-gusari or rante basicly. I just don't see a reason that it can't be dropped to avoid a counter trip. If I've already hit my target, the chain isn't moving. All I need to do is open my hands and I'm no longer attached. I don't think this would unbalance the weapon. I've always loved the idea of a realistic chain weapon in the game. Rather than that absurd spiked chain...