Is the Spiked Chain Fighter really that Cheesy?

[Herremann the Wise]

Hello Everyone,

There have been several threads regarding the Spiked Chain and its lack of sense as well as its supposed "overpoweredness". I'm not so sure this is actually true. I've been fiddling round with a 10th level character to throw at my PCs but for all the supposed smell, I can't find the cheese.

Has anyone got a level 10 souped up Spiked Chain fighter that I can throw at my group. Consider it 32 point buy and a PC level of wealth, I want this guy to make my player's sweat. I have a funny feeling though he ain't gonna be quite as good as what I'm thinking.

Best Regards
Herremann the Wise

PS: I've played around with a Swashbuckler 3/ Fighter 4/ Exotic Weapon Master 3 build but I have a feeling this is completely ineffectual. Help me good boffins of EN World, you're my only hope.

 

[Legildur]

I'm currently playing a Bbn1/Clr3/Ftr4 half-orc spiked chain wielder. He's fun, but not devastating as he only excels against humanoids.

He has Kord as a deity with the Luck and Strength domains, so before a big battle he can cast Enlarge Person and Bull's Strength to buff up. Currently wandering through the World's Largest Dungeon, and often don't have the tactical space to be size large and make use of the consequent 20ft reach.

His feats are Combat Expertise, Improved Trip, Imrpoved Disarm, Weapon Focus (spiked chain), Exotic Weapon Proficiency (spiked chain), and Combat Reflexes.

Next feats are Weapon Specialisation (spiked chain), Melee Weapon Mastery (piercing), and Power Attack. (there are already two effective melee fighters in the group for really hitting hard, I'm just there for battlefield nuisance value).

Future levels will be in Exotic Weapon Master.

 

[Sejs]

Has anyone got a level 10 souped up Spiked Chain fighter that I can throw at my group. Consider it 32 point buy and a PC level of wealth, I want this guy to make my player's sweat.

A? No. A spiked chain fighter will get killed horribly by your party. What was the line in Baldur's Gate? "Let's see who is the better swordsman - you, or my group." A single spiked chain figher is a speedbump. Your PCs will not sweat.

Now a team of three spiked chain fighters.. that's a bit more sweatworthy.

 

[hong]

A? No. A spiked chain fighter will get killed horribly by your party. What was the line in Baldur's Gate? "Let's see who is the better swordsman - you, or my group." A single spiked chain figher is a speedbump. Your PCs will not sweat.

Now a team of three spiked chain fighters.. that's a bit more sweatworthy.

Mind you, it could also be argued that three Str-twinked raging barbarians would be even more sweatworthy.

IMO, the point of the spiked chain isn't that it's dangerous. What it IS, is annoying. The barbarian is pretty straightforward: he hits you, you hit him, eventually one of you goes down. The spiked chain guy, OTOH, is all about stopping you hitting him. Close in, AoO, trip, you fall down; on his turn, disarm, you lose your weapon. Now there are ways to deal with this, just like there are ways to deal with a raging barbarian in your face; but I'd wager that most people would get tired of fighting spiked chain guys before they get tired of fighting regular melee brutes.

 

[JRR_Talking]

Yep

Ive only played Living Greyahwk about 15 times so far, and im already had enough of both half-orc spikey chains and barbars as well

it isnt just cheesey, its silly

 

[necromental]

I'm curently playing

Human Ranger1/Fighter4/Exotic Weapon Master1/Pious Templar4 Of Moloch(custom LE fire deity, favored weapon spiked chain, you can substitute him with Kossuth if playing Faerun)

Ranger lvl 1 is background flavor, fighter feats, exotic weapon master's Flurry of Strikes, 4 lvls of templar give DR 1/-, mettle, a bit of divine spellcasting(paladin's or blackguard's spell list), W.Specialization bonus feat, and another fighter bonus feat and general smite 1/day(vs. anyone, +4 attack, lvl on damage)

Feats: Ex.W.Proficiency(spiked chain), W.Focus, W. Spec(bonus), Track(bonus), C.Reflexes, C.Expertise, P.Attack, Blind-Fight, Improved Trip, Expert Tactician, True Believer


you can substitute blind fight for Extra Smite, Greater Resiliency, or Improved Disarm


next two lvls are ex.w. master(exotic reach, and trip features), and then pious templar all the way

 

[Victim]

No, it's merely good, and an actual reason to remain fighter.

Don't go with Swashbuckler. Going Dex for Finess doesn't help you Trip at all.

 

[Plane Sailing]

I'm currently playing a Bbn1/Clr3/Ftr4 half-orc spiked chain wielder. He's fun, but not devastating as he only excels against humanoids.

He has Kord as a deity with the Luck and Strength domains, so before a big battle he can cast Enlarge Person and Bull's Strength to buff up. Currently wandering through the World's Largest Dungeon, and often don't have the tactical space to be size large and make use of the consequent 20ft reach.

His feats are Combat Expertise, Improved Trip, Imrpoved Disarm, Weapon Focus (spiked chain), Exotic Weapon Proficiency (spiked chain), and Combat Reflexes

Gosh, I wonder how many half-orcs would have put their an initial 15 in Intelligence?

Joking aside, I wouldn't expect to see very many half-orc fighters with spiked chain and improved trip/disarm etc, because getting the Int 13+ prereq must *really* hurt when your race has a -2 Int penalty.

 

[Bagpuss]

So you don't want me to mention mine then? Admittedly I rolled some odd stats, 17,16,16,15,11,5

Which for a Half-Orc is Str 19 (+1 at 4th), Dex 16, Con 16, Int 13, Wis 11, Cha 3

He's 6th level all Fighter...

Gaunlets of Ogre Strength, Combat Reflexes, Improved Trip, Improved Disarm, etc.

His total trip modifier is +10, and Disarm +22.

Next three level in EWM to get exotic trip, exotic reach and flurry.

I just hope I never meet a Charisma draining monster.

 

[Legildur]

Gosh, I wonder how many half-orcs would have put their an initial 15 in Intelligence?

Joking aside, I wouldn't expect to see very many half-orc fighters with spiked chain and improved trip/disarm etc, because getting the Int 13+ prereq must *really* hurt when your race has a -2 Int penalty.

It did! It did! And needing the 13 Wis for the 3rd level Cleric spells. But such is life. But I had a decent set of scores to start with.

And like I said, he is more nuisance value than outright mean - simply there to support the other meatshields, which is a funny story as a couple of times now I've had to use the reach of the chain to trip allies trying to flee from combat due to a failed saving throw (even used a bolas (non-proficient) once to trip an ally).