Is the Spiked Chain Fighter really that Cheesy?

[Legildur]

I just hope I never meet a Charisma draining monster.

Oh, and they exist... trust me

 

[The Blow Leprechaun]

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

I think you're pretty severely autistic at that point. That might be fun to roleplay.

I'm currently playing a spiked chain fighter, but at the moment he's only level 1, so I can't really speak to effectiveness yet. I'm planning on turning him into a Dragon Disciple for the strength bonuses (need something that will pretend to make trip an effective tactic at later levels), and it dovetails amazingly with my character story.

Personally, I don't think a spiked chain build is the be-all and end-all of anything. It's primarily a nuisance tactic (although since it's a two-handed weapon, you can power attack nicely with it). Trip is a dangerous attack because every time you fail the strength check, they can return the favor and you can either go down yourself or lose your weapon.

Unless your DM is a) stupid or b) too rigid to adapt the module s/he's using, it's pretty easy to get around a spiked chain fighter. Use minions to absorb his AOOs and then get in his face, have one creature 5' adjust into his threatened area and another following behind him (because you can't make AOOs through cover), use ranged attacks, plan an ambush and close during a surprise round, heck - just tumble... DC 15 is pretty easy.

The spiked chain fighter isn't cheesy, it just takes advantage of one of the classic weaknesses of monsters - their stupidity. If your game has smarter monsters, they just have to act like it and actually think instead of rushing headlong and swinging.

 

[hong]

I think you're pretty severely autistic at that point. That might be fun to roleplay.

He's the quiet guy, never says much, keeps to himself... likes cutting pieces off people now and then, but everybody has their quirks, you know?

 

[Tetsubo]

Yes. The Spiked Chain is the cheesiest weapon in the game. In ANY game. It is the absolute definition of CHEESE.

My hatred for the Spiked Chain knows no bounds... it is in fact the ONLY thing in the world I still hate. Stupidity of this level should be punishable by imprisonment...

Simply put the Spiked Chain is the dumbest thing ever introduced into D&D...

 

[Felix]

No. The Spiked Chain is the best weapon in the game. In ANY game. It is the absolute definition of SWEET.

My love for the Spiked Chain knows no bounds... it is in fact the ONLY thing in the world I still love. Awesomeness of this level should be rewarded by enshrinement...

Simply put the Spiked Chain is the cleverest thing ever introduced into D&D...

I just wanted to get that anti-post up there quick, so the concentrated mass of ire didn't collapse into a black hole, sucking all of ENWorld into the ether.

 

[el-remmen]

I called it Kau sin ke - and since it is an exotic weapon, I made it as part of another culture where the campaign is not taking place - and since I enforce setting cultural appropriateness in the character creation process no one has even looked in that direction.

 

[Legildur]

...because you can't make AOOs through cover...

... unless you have taken a level of Exotic Weapon Master (CW) and selected the Exotic Reach Exotic Weapon Stunt.

 

[Moon-Lancer]

I have yet to see any proof that the spiked chain is broken or that its cheesy, it just hasn't gotten enough good lip service yet. I personally see it as being like ivy's sword.

 

[hong]

I have yet to see any proof that the spiked chain is broken or that its cheesy, it just hasn't gotten enough good lip service yet. I personally see it as being like ivy's sword.

Yep. And Ivy is FECKIN' ANNOYING to play against.

Well, when she's being run by the AI, that is. When it's a human, she's deadmeat because no ordinary human has a clue how to control that damn whip.

 

[TheGogmagog]

I've played two pole-arm (quickdraw greatmace) trip-masters. They ranged from craptacular to underwhelming. First to trip you have to be facing something equal to or smaller than you and without four leggs. These were both from 5th to 8th level, and there were few chances where I had a chance to trip. It only mattered once, a small dragon, it kept him from getting full attacks and escaping. Aside from that it only came into play a half dozen other times, either an already futile fight or only slowed the opponent down a little (move action and attack of opportunity to stand). If you were in a city based mostly humanoid opponents campaign, and/or allowed all books and PRC's it might be as powerful as the awsome build people say. Oddly I don't see any of them here.

If you are DM and would really put this to the test, how bout a giant or other large base creature? A thri-kreen would have both large size and four leggs, that would be a trip machine.

Also as mentioned make it two of these fighers, a cleric and a warmage. Then you have a challenge. Even one thri-keen (or whatever they are called) all maxed out but standing alone shouldn't be that tough. Hmmm, another thought for an encounter; A Hydra with improved trip....