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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Messageboard Golem" data-source="post: 2011466" data-attributes="member: 18387">E.N.Arsenal - Spiked ChainThis is the shortest E.N.Publishing product I have seen to date (and the shortest one released according to their catalog on RPGnow). Spiked Chain is a 21-page PDF, with 18 pages of game content within. Immediate Plusses before reading:The catalog advertises this as an 18-page PDF. That's cool because they aren't inflating the page count by including the OGL, Credits and cover. VERY nice artwork - surprising for such a short product, IMO.Thurough bookmarking makes this a breeze to navigate on screen.And on to the content:This PDF is introduced as the first release in the E.N.Arsenal series, and the adcopy is certainly right when it tells us this is a primarily "crunch" based product. Reading that this is written by M Jason Parent, I was immediately struck by the fear that the book would revolve around prestige classes (as he is best known for his prestige classes in Librum Equitis and that Mind Flayer book from Paradigm Concepts). However, this is not the case, and the classes that ARE in this book are well presented. (see later)The product opens with a quick overview of the spiked chain itself, as well as a paragraph about what races in a typical fantasy setting would use such a weapon. There are immediate sidebars about using spiked chains as double weapons (at reduced efficiency, so as to not overly disturb the current game balance) as well as the potential 'issues' someone of medium size but dwarven stature could have while attempting to wield such a long weapon. The optional rules in this sidebar made my day, they go to show that the author put some serious thought into these weapons.The second chapter is a collection of variants on the spiked chain, including balled chains (a chain with morning star heads - very nicely illustrated), bladed chain, chain-axe (for the dwarves), a collection of oriental chain weapons (welcome to the ninja craze - fortunately these are not statted as the uber-weapons that many sourcebooks start doing for anything associated with ninjas or samurai) and some interesting twists on the theme such as the ribbon daggers (heavy blades swung on long cloth ribbons or belts - expanded upon from Bastion Press' "Arms & Armor", I believe), a spiked scarf, and a simple weighted chain. In addition, there is a sidebar about stowing spiked chains which adds a lot to the book in my mind, as it discusses different methods of carrying, stowing and wielding these weapons. The chapter finally closes with some methods of crafting a superior spiked chain (along with another amazing illustration of a spiked chain).The third chapter is perhaps the weakest in the product. Feats & Fighting Techniques. It covers rules for using a spiked chain as a short grappling hook, and then swinging with it into combat. It then goes into a selection of new feats (and no one really needs any new feats in d20, do we?). However, the list is minimal at only 10 feats, all of which are directly related to the specialties of spiked chains and / or one of the prestige classes that follows. The highlights are firm grip which grants a bonus against disarming as well as making it so you only fall from a climb if the Climb check is failed by 10 or more instead of the normal 5 or more (nice cross-synergy), and Chain Mastery which requires Weapon Focus and Weapon Specialization with a chain weapon, and provides a +1 bonus on all attack rolls with chain weapons that the character is proficient in, and that stacks with Weapon Focus. While the weakest chapter of the book (and the least needed), it is only 2 pages long and acts to help glue the weapons to the prestige classes later.The fourth chapter is the classes. The first is not a class or prestige class, but a multi-class character progression of monk, rogue and assassin. What makes this interesting is both the monk and rogue classes have been slightly modified for this class, taking away abilities and adding others to buld a unique character build for "The Sinuous Cobra School" of monk / assassins who specialize in the spiked chain. Quite cool.There are also two prestige classes in this chapter. Although I half-expected a rebuild of the chain-wielding class from Sword & Fist, instead I found the Scorpion Warrior which is interesting in that there are three different methods of joining the class, with three different requirements and different settings in which they operate. This makes the class very easy to insert into a campaign on the fly. The class features focus around making the spiked chain an even more brutal and intimidating weapon, by creating tearing wounds and by physically throwing around those tripped by the spiked chain. The second class was the real surprise - the Raveller is a spellcasting prestige class focused around the spiked chain. In exchange for losing one level of spellcasting ability, this five-level class grants an enhanced spell list and a few fighter feats as well as the ability to cast touch-range spells through the chain. The classes were refreshingly simple, well-designed and original. While I exspected to skip over half of the prestige classes in this when I first bought it, these really made me happy.This leads to the magic chapter. Here are 6 new spells including the wall of chains which creates a metallic variant of the wall of thorns spell, and vertebrate chain, which turns the spine of a slain creature into a magical unholy spiked chain temporarily. In the magic items there are six new weapon enhancements that are particularly appropriate to the spiked chain (or for those trying to survive one), as well as 7 specific magical weapons. Each of these seven weapons is very well described with some history and a detailed physical description, plus they mix-and-match weapon enhancements from this book and the core rules to produce an interesting assortment of new magic items. Finally, the chapter closes with a deity of chains - Darreal the Binder, who's portfolio is Discipline, Pain and Bondage and which includes the Chains clerical domain, primarily focused around the new spells in the PDF as well as some bondage-oriented spells such as Hold Person  and Soul Bind. The sidebar here, once again, shows the thought that went into this product, describing how deities who's favored weapon is an exotic one (such as Darreal the Binder) should not also be assigned the War domain - otherwise clerics can gain access to the exotic weapon proficiency feat for free through the war domain.If this book was any more expensive, I would have been disappointed with the brevity. However, knowing that there are 2,000 word PDFs selling for $1 each, this beautifully-illustrated and well thought-out product is a great buy for under $4. My personal rating for this product is a 4.5 out of 5. It is definitely better than "Good", and is verging on perfect. I does all it claims, keeps an eye to game balance, and is definitely going to be seeing use in my games (although mostly for villains and treasures).I certainly look forward to the rest of the line.</blockquote>

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