Ranger - Spiked Chain ?

[Istar]

Any reason why this would be a good idea.
Our ranger is looking at MC feat "Spiked Chain Training" for the benefits ????/\

 

[Rechan]

Any reason why this would be a good idea.

It sounds fun? Had my Assassin not been feat starved and not qualify because it's not the martial power source, I'd have been very tempted by the spike chain and the garrotte multi's.

Honestly I wish there were more specialty multi-classes like the weapon multi-classes.

 

[elephantgrey]

The spiked chain MC feat turns the spiked chain into a double weapon (so it can be used, with THF powers), with +3 prof. 2d4 damage per [w] and reach.
Good use of a feat if your not planning to multiclass anyway in my oppinion.

 

[Istar]

Okay he was asking me what I thought.
Seems an odd weapon for a ranger, more of a thugs or clerics choice of weapon.
Rangers with Bows and Swordsd more normal.

For a feat though, what do you get.
2D4 instead of 1D10 ???

 

[elephantgrey]

its always 2d4, but with MC feat it counts as two melee weapons. Id add that there are some nice feats for flails too, sliding/knocking prone and the like.

 

[Rechan]

Doesn't being a double weapon mean it gets the Defensive feature?

 

[elephantgrey]

Doesn't being a double weapon mean it gets the Defensive feature?

No, its just a common property for double weapons.

 

[Neonchameleon]

Okay he was asking me what I thought.
Seems an odd weapon for a ranger, more of a thugs or clerics choice of weapon.
Rangers with Bows and Swordsd more normal.

For a feat though, what do you get.
2D4 instead of 1D10 ???

What you get is reach and the ability to use as a light blade or flail (I forget which) rather than a heavy blade, both of which have better support. Given that rangers IME are the first ones down (and for a very good reason) reach to protect themselves will help a lot.

 

[Larrin]

The feat itself has confused me for a while.

You gain proficiency with the spiked chain. You can treat the spiked chain as a double weapon. As a double weapon, each end of the spiked chain is a light blade and deals 2d4 damage. The primary end gains the stout property, and the secondary end gains the off-hand property.

It says each end is a light blade, but is it still a flail? Does it still have reach? Its hard to say if the feat is trying to describe the 'new' weapon in its entirety OR if its saying "everyithing the same plus these additions (light blade, stout, off hand) and each end still does 2d4'. If its the former you have two 2d4 light blades with no reach, no flailing, and no described proficiency bonus, if its the latter you have have two light bladed flails with reach. The former is my initial inkling of truth and intention, its a pretty decent weapon, and the prof bonus should obviously not change. But I'd rather it keep its flailingness....(reach is nice too, but not my hearts desire)...

 

[elephantgrey]

The feat itself has confused me for a while.

It says each end is a light blade, but is it still a flail? Does it still have reach? Its hard to say if the feat is trying to describe the 'new' weapon in its entirety OR if its saying "everyithing the same plus these additions (light blade, stout, off hand) and each end still does 2d4'. If its the former you have two 2d4 light blades with no reach, no flailing, and no described proficiency bonus, if its the latter you have have two light bladed flails with reach. The former is my initial inkling of truth and intention, its a pretty decent weapon, and the prof bonus should obviously not change. But I'd rather it keep its flailingness....(reach is nice too, but not my hearts desire)...

Written as you quoted, it looks like it drops flail and becomes light blade, The Stout and Off-Hand keywords then get added to the appropriate ends, meaning it should still keep its Reach.
Thats a little dissapointing, as Flail has some nice support.