Any DM's not allowing Spiked Chains?

[Crothian]

I have had zero issues with it. The group is now 10th level and the spiked chain fighter while very effective is not close to a point I think banning it would be needed.

 

[Elethiomel]

Or the Half-Ogre has Hold the Line: One AoO for the movement out of a threatened square, one AoO vs. a charging foe.

That was the example I supplied. The additional line was provided as a joke.

 

[Greatwyrm]

IME, most people who claim that that Spiked Chain is broken are really saying that either 1) the concept of the Spiked Chain is too cheesy, or 2) the rules for Tripping are problematic. The amount of resources you have to spend to get full value out of the spiked chain make it pretty balanced with the other tripping and reach options out there.

I agree with #2. I think Improved Trip is the problem, not the spiked chain. As a house rule, I removed the free attack from Improved Trip, then made another feat (Kick 'em While They're Down) that added the free attack later. Can't recall the specifics right now, but the second feat had prereqs similar to Great Cleave and someone who wanted it would be able to get it about the same time. Worked pretty well for us.

 

[Celebrim]

I have, but mostly because it fails a versimultude test, not because I think its particularly unbalancing. It's cheesy, so whether it might be broken is less of an issue to me.

My feeling is that since no real world chain weapon had nearly the impact and popularity that the spike chain has in 3rd edition, that the mechanics for the weapon must by badly wrong. In particular, its a weapon that just BEGS for fumble checks like no other weapon in the game, and its completely unclear to me how you would fight along side someone with one of these.

Based on its real world impact, I'd rather have the staff - say with the addition of a feat or two - use the spiked chain mechanics rather than the spiked chain.

 

[Moon-Lancer]

I always saw the spiked chain like ivys wip sword. Make it slashing, makes sense to me. They even had that sword in brotherhood of the wolf. for those who feel its cheesy, well lots of the exotic weapons are. War fan? how does one block with that? It doesn’t matter, its fun. One could trip and using a bit of slack left in the chain block. Just think of any chucky chian movei. I think it should have a warning label. "Warning!! Not for the cinematically impaired, or non action film stunt coordinators." I don’t think it needs to follow real physics, just as magic is not bound to these rules, why should only heroic fights be limited in a magical fantasy world were people slay dragons ect...?

I don’t see any complaints when someone sheaths a great sword, typically those are kept on the back. Its very hard if not impossible to sheath a great sword then the sheath is over the shoulder. If its at the hip its too low and drags on the ground. So how is this done? well its done the same way you wield a spake chain


actually, sorry for the slight sidetrack, but

I’ve looked, and pretty much any 3d animated character who wields a sword on their back sheaths it by putting it through the sheath quickly. Its a tick of the eye and most of the time and if well done, it doesn’t stand out and flows pretty naturally. The only one i can think of at the moment is zelda TP.

I think it’s unfair to a player if they want to have a spiked chain wielding character. I would at least make a alternate weapon with the same stats (but different look). I agree with others that exotic weapons other then the spiked chain sometimes are too weak.

sorry if i have hurt anyones feelings, i just feel if people think somethings is cheesy becuse it breaks the mold of heroic fighting, well perhaps looking at it diffrently will help. after all, d&d is as real as the spiked chain so why make a big fuss over flavor when that can be changed very easaly?

*edit* fixed a lot of little errors so people could understand me. i was sleepy.

 

[Felon]

What is so "silly" about a chain weapon, and why does it lack verisimilitude? Chains have actually been wielded as weapons. Here's a section in Wikipedia that references them: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chain_weapons

 

[Bacris]

I think a requirement that allies can't be standing within 5' of a spiked chain wielder is reasonable. I liked the article in wiki on the Manrikigusari - it's ALMOST a spiked chain.

 

[Celebrim]

What is so "silly" about a chain weapon, and why does it lack verisimilitude? Chains have actually been wielded as weapons. Here's a section in Wikipedia that references them: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chain_weapons

You think I don't know chains have been welded as weapons? That's kinda cute.

So much trouble would be avoided if people actually read what I said. And that post was actually short and to the point by my standards. It's not like you got lost in the wordy essay.

Anyway, just for a second would you do me a favor and besides reading what I said, actually read the links you linked to. I'll wait.

Now, please, answer the following questions:

1) How many of the weapons you linked to are spiked?
2) How many of the weapons you linked to are long enough to be considered reach weapons?
3) How many of the weapons you linked to are long enough to be considered reach weapons and spiked?
4) How many of those weapons were actually used as other than concealed or improvised weapons on a regular basis?
5) How many armies do you know of that fielded spike chain wielding units?
6) How many of those weapons are famous - by which I mean that they known of to someone other than a geek - in the same way that swords, spears, bows, javelins, clubs, maces, and so forth are?

Am I understood now?

 

[Celebrim]

I think a requirement that allies can't be standing within 5' of a spiked chain wielder is reasonable. I liked the article in wiki on the Manrikigusari - it's ALMOST a spiked chain.

Except that "Typical Manrikigusaris are approximately three feet long..." and hense NOT REACH WEAPONS!

Sheesh.

 

[EyeontheMountain]

Am I understood now?

Ok, now count form 1 to 10 slowly. Very slowly. And then post. If you feel like repeating the tone you just used, then count from 1-10 again. Repeat as needed until you can be civil.