Do you allow the Spiked Chain in 3.5 as-is?

[Terwox]

This seems to be a common concern on the boards lately -- the spiked chain in 3.5x.
So. Do you allow it as is in 3.5x, or do you houserule the reach or the AoO on the standing up from the trip or some other method?
I personally don't houserule it, but I've also personally only seen a single one in use, but that was back in 3.0.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

The only house rule is a feat that allows it to be used as a double weapon, but not in the same turns it is used as a reach weapon.

The Auld Grump

 

[Psion]

As someone mentioned elsewhere (the rules board perhaps), it does things that other non-exotic weapons can. Combining them is worth the feat. Yes, some feats are potent with it... but those are feats you won't be using with something else.

Perhaps I'll change my mind when I playtest a villain... but as is, I am not seeing the problem.

 

[was]

We don't use it.

 

[FireLance]

A spiked chain is...

1. A heavy flail that can be finessed, has reach, and does slashing damage, but has a lower threat range and does slightly less damage on average.

2. A guisarme that can be finessed, can attack adjacent squares and gets a +2 bonus on Disarm checks, but has a lower crit multiplier.

Sounds fine to me.

 

[Herpes Cineplex]

None of us have 3.5, but if we did, I think that I'd probably ditch the "standing up invites an attack of opportunity" rule.

Because honestly, I'm not sure why that rule was introduced in 3.5 in the first place. Not once did I ever see a character stand up from prone in a 3.0 game and think "man, that should TOTALLY mean everyone gets an attack of opportunity on him."

By itself, making standing up invite AoOs is kind of a "meh" rule anyway, neither improving nor damaging the game in any real way. But judging from the various spiked chain threads that run through here, the whole "trip, trip-attack, attack of opportunity when he stands up again" sequence annoys a lot of people. So if we ever move to 3.5, I'll probably take a half-step back and let people stand up like it's 3.0.

--
or party like it's 1999, i suppose
ryan

 

[TheAuldGrump]

I was using the standing up grants an AoO as a house rule in 3.0. It was just silly that folks wouldn't attack you either while you were down or as you were standing.

The Auld Grump

 

[Ryltar]

There *are* no spiked chains.

[edit]Except for Kytons, who are powergaming in that regard .

 

[green slime]

We changed Improved Trip. It was too much that you got an extra free attack after tripping someone, in addition to all the other bonuses.

 

[Bigwilly]

What he said!

There *are* no spiked chains.

[edit]Except for Kytons, who are powergaming in that regard .

Completely removes even the possibility of twinked characters.

Bigwilly