How does a whip work?!

[Bobbystopholes]

It says to treat it as a projectile, so do you use your dex with a whip? Can you use point blank shot and such?

I'm sure there are threads about it, but you guys know the usually problems with searching

 

[Thanee]

You use it exactly the same as you would use a bow or thrown dagger. It's just a ranged weapon with "unlimited ammo" and a very short range (15' max) for rules purposes.

So yes, you can and must use your Dex, you can use Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot, etc., you do provoke Attacks of Opportunity, you cannot yourself use the whip to make Attacks of Opportunity with it, and so on.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Bobbystopholes]

Since it's a dagger, can you add melee enhancements? It would seem that most of the ranged weapon enchantments would be useless (returning, distance, etc.).

Also, it would seem that cleave and such wouldn't work, but this is such a weird weapon, maybe it would? What are the limitations?

1) Just ranged feats and enhancements
2) Some Ranged, some Melee feats and enhancements

When is WotC gonna get us a "Pierce" feat so we can shoot through people

 

[Thanee]

No Melee, only Ranged!

Bye
Thanee

 

[Thanee]

The whip dagger is still a whip not a dagger.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Bobbystopholes]

The whip seems really weak then... strange stuff!

Thanks!

 

[Zhure]

The whip seems really weak then... strange stuff!

Thanks!

Well, IRL it is a poor weapon. (I hate "IRL" arguments, just thought it'd be worth mentioning).

For the Lasher PrC or for Rogues trying to use subdual Sneak Attack, it's a fantastic weapon. Coupled with PBS and Rapid Shot, a Lasher can dish out a lot of damage really quickly and IMO make fantastic melee'ers.

Greg

 

[Kae'Yoss]

When is WotC gonna get us a "Pierce" feat so we can shoot through people

They won't, but afaik some d20 publisher did that.

Also, in Diablo II: Diablerie, there's the Amazon's Pierce Ability. Though that might be a bit strong for a mere feat, you could tweak it.

And if you don't want to wait for Wizards to make such a feat, make it yourself! Just like cleave (1 additional attack when you drop a foe), but the second enemy must stand behind the first, not beside it. You could also create greater pierce, like pierce but without limitation.

 

[Malin Genie]

Has some benefits that you might be overlooking...

Well, it's a projectile weapon, so you use Dex. Also IIRC you don't have a Strength penalty to damage. Good for elves and halflings.

It can be used with the Point Blank Shot and Rapid Shot feats. A melee weapon can't get the PBS bonus nor can you get an extra attack with it.

Even a normal whip can deal decent damage with enhancements like Flaming/Shocking/Frost/Holy and/or Sneak Attack damage. A whip dagger is just nasty.

It can be used to disarm at range which no other weapon can. Which is great for a halfling rogue; opposed Attack rolls, so his Size and Dex bonuses count, and he gets the +2 bonus from the whip itself (although the whip being Small is admittedly a disadvantage.) Also, the fact that the disarm is ranged means no AoOs unless the opponent has 15ft reach...

If you have a strong character, a mighty whip dagger can deal serious damage and ranged Trip becomes a powerful option. A whip dagger specialist with PBS, Rapid Shot and Improved Trip can Trip and follow up on two opponents - and Trip is only a touch attack!

 

[CRGreathouse]

Re: Has some benefits that you might be overlooking...

Also IIRC you don't have a Strength penalty to damage. Good for elves and halflings.

Strength penalties (but not bonuses) apply with whips.

It can be used to disarm at range which no other weapon can.

Well, reach weapons can, too, and are better on the check: a longspear has +4 and a whip has -2 after size mods.

If you have a strong character, a mighty whip dagger can deal serious damage and ranged Trip becomes a powerful option. A whip dagger specialist with PBS, Rapid Shot and Improved Trip can Trip and follow up on two opponents - and Trip is only a touch attack!

Yeah, but Trip requires an opposed Str vs Str/Dex check, which doesn't improve wth level - making it hard to keep up with monsters (and even NPCs who don't need high Dex).

Overall, the whip can be useful, but it's not the perfect solution. It all comes down to what you really need - it's that whole "hard choices" thing again.