Please rate the Master of Chains

[smetzger]

Master of Chains, Sword & Fist p.27

Requirements: Any nongood alignment, Escape Artist 6 ranks, Open Lock 4 ranks, Exotic Weapon Proficiency(spiked chain), Expertise, Improved Trip, Improved Disarm, Weapon Focus(spiked chain), Weapon Specialization(spiked chain), Int 13+

Class Features: Scare, Climb Fighting, Superior Weapon Focus, Chain Bind, Chain Armor, Double Chain, Extra Lash, Deflect Attacks, Superior Weapon Specialization, Superior Spiked Chain, Singing attack, Chain Mastery

 

[smetzger]

... Extra Lash...

I thought I would make a comment before Hong strikes.

It seems obvious that this class was inspired by Stanley Kubreks(sp?) Clockwork Orange

 

[the Jester]

Excellent flavor, though some of the abilities only kick in in weird circumstances and are mostly usable as villain in lair tricks (which, don't get me wrong, is perfectly fine. )

Takes a strong option and gives it lots of flavor. I love it.

 

[smetzger]

5.5 after 18 votes

---------------------------
7. Shadowdancer(7.05,93,40632), Duelist(7.18,62,44686)

6. Arcane Archer(6.23,70,38773), Assassin(6.07,54,38913), Blackguard(6.29,52,39353), Loremaster(6.58,79,40493), Archmage(6.91, 110, 4073), Church Inquisitor(6.74,27,41662), Devoted Defender(6.68,53,43342), Drunken Master(6.03,37,43839)

5. Dwarven Defender(5.72,69,39947), Cavalier(5.45,53,42534), Fist of Hextor(5.41,29,45277), Knight Protector of the Great Kingdom(5.69,32,48520)

4. Ghost Walker(4.95,37,46163), Gladiator(4.85,34,46981)

3. Halfling Outrider(3.73,49,47746)

 

[Darklone]

Nice class, though I'd like to have seen one more suitable for PCs...

Using a Spiked Chain at close distance as double weapon makes for one of the most interesting weapons around.

Till you meet a kyton. Being strangled to death by your own weapon is such a silly death for a hero...

 

[Norfleet]

The class is pretty neat, but spiked chain is so overpowered. It'd be nice if spiked chain normally WASN'T an overpowered weapon, and this PrC made it useful, as with the Lasher and the whip.

 

[reapersaurus]

The Master of Chains is FAR less than the sum of its parts.

It is rather steep to qualify for, with non-synergistic prereqs, and the payoff is just "Meh" in game-mechanics.

When trying to play one, I was desperate to have the DM modify some abilities.
Ironically, both DM's I mentioned it to AGREED that it was underpowered, and were totally open to modifying it, something I've never encountered with any other PrC I have tried to play.

 

[Darklone]

Can you explain that a little bit more Reaper? The Master of Chains I saw in action was everything but underpowered.

 

[smetzger]

bump

 

[samwana]

The Master of Chains is FAR less than the sum of its parts.

It is rather steep to qualify for, with non-synergistic prereqs, and the payoff is just "Meh" in game-mechanics.

When trying to play one, I was desperate to have the DM modify some abilities.
Ironically, both DM's I mentioned it to AGREED that it was underpowered, and were totally open to modifying it, something I've never encountered with any other PrC I have tried to play.

can you explain what you did modify reapersaurus? i'm thinking about taking the prestige class, but as i started out with a spiked chain on lvl 1 and being up to lvl 4 now, i'm not so sure this prestige class is so good. (it's pretty funny playing a fighter with a spiked chain though)