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<blockquote data-quote="Lord Zardoz" data-source="post: 3380984" data-attributes="member: 704">The only thing that really does bother me about the spiked chain is the close + reach hitting.&nbsp; Against someone using a regular reach weapon, once you get in close, you pretty much force the guy to either change weapons or allow adjacent opponents to attack with impunity.If it was only a matter of the reach properties, I would say ok, no problem.&nbsp; But the weapon just seems to be good at too many different things.&nbsp; For me, the problem is a Spiked chain + Cleave / Great Cleave situation is the primary problem.Any DM who complains about a particular spell, feat, or class ability usually does so because the existence of that item compromises his prefered play style a bit too much.&nbsp; I am no different.&nbsp; I get a lot of mileage out of low HD humanoids, even after Fireball comes into play.&nbsp; Using them allows a great deal more fine tuning of encounter difficulty then I can get out of spell casters.&nbsp;&nbsp; I don't feel compelled to pull back when using them either.&nbsp; I am not eager to throw my players against a caster loaded up with Hold Person, even though it is a tactically effective option.&nbsp; There are plenty of other examples I could suggest.But the prospect of facing down a player with the kind of build I suggest would force me to use tactics or monsters that are more difficult for me to balance.&nbsp; It is easier for me to disallow the Spiked chain.END COMMUNICATION</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Lord Zardoz, post: 3380984, member: 704"] The only thing that really does bother me about the spiked chain is the close + reach hitting. Against someone using a regular reach weapon, once you get in close, you pretty much force the guy to either change weapons or allow adjacent opponents to attack with impunity. If it was only a matter of the reach properties, I would say ok, no problem. But the weapon just seems to be good at too many different things. For me, the problem is a Spiked chain + Cleave / Great Cleave situation is the primary problem. Any DM who complains about a particular spell, feat, or class ability usually does so because the existence of that item compromises his prefered play style a bit too much. I am no different. I get a lot of mileage out of low HD humanoids, even after Fireball comes into play. Using them allows a great deal more fine tuning of encounter difficulty then I can get out of spell casters. I don't feel compelled to pull back when using them either. I am not eager to throw my players against a caster loaded up with Hold Person, even though it is a tactically effective option. There are plenty of other examples I could suggest. But the prospect of facing down a player with the kind of build I suggest would force me to use tactics or monsters that are more difficult for me to balance. It is easier for me to disallow the Spiked chain. END COMMUNICATION [/QUOTE]

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