Rod of Flailing

[BOZ]

one of my PCs asks me this:

I looked again at the Rod of Flailing and have one question - since the Rod turns into a Dire Flail, does it also require a Exotic Weapon Prof - Dire Flail to use as well?

 

[Flyspeck23]

If it looks like a Dire Flail, smells like a Dire Flail, and behaves like a Dire Flail, then you'd better have that Exotic Weapon Proficiency. IMC, at least

Honestly, I'd vote "yes".

 

[iwatt]

one of my PCs asks me this:

I looked again at the Rod of Flailing and have one question - since the Rod turns into a Dire Flail, does it also require a Exotic Weapon Prof - Dire Flail to use as well?

The description says:

Flailing: Upon the command of its possessor, the rod activates, changing from a normal-seeming rod to a +3 dire flail. The dire flail is a double weapon, which means that each of the weapon’s heads can be used to attack. The wielder can gain an extra attack (with the second head) at the cost of making all attacks at a –2 penalty (as if she had the Two-Weapon Fighting feat).
Once per day the wielder can use a free action to cause the rod to grant her a +4 deflection bonus to Armor Class and a +4 resistance bonus on saving throws for 10 minutes. The rod need not be in weapon form to grant this benefit.
Transforming it into a weapon or back into a rod is a move action

So I guess you'd have to take EWP.

 

[BOZ]

but you can still use it with penalties right?

 

[Flyspeck23]

Sure, as any other exotic weapon. Why not?

 

[Steverooo]

Fwiw...

...the 3.0 version granted automatic proficiency...

 

[herald]

No, it shouldn't need EWP.

Rods by design are to be able to be used by anyone unless there is some kind of restrictor. Hence anyone can use a rod of resurection.

 

[Voadam]

No, it shouldn't need EWP.

Rods by design are to be able to be used by anyone unless there is some kind of restrictor. Hence anyone can use a rod of resurection.

Anyone can use it, just as anyone can use a normal dire flail. If you don't have proficiency in a dire flail, you simply attack at -4. But you can still use it. And more importantlythan using the dire flail as a weapon, anyone can activate the rod.

Here are the srd quotes:

Rods are scepterlike devices that have unique magical powers and do not usually have charges. Anyone can use a rod.

Flailing: Upon the command of its possessor, the rod activates, changing from a normal-seeming rod to a +3 dire flail. The dire flail is a double weapon, which means that each of the weapon’s heads can be used to attack. The wielder can gain an extra attack (with the second head) at the cost of making all attacks at a –2 penalty (as if she had the Two-Weapon Fighting feat).
Once per day the wielder can use a free action to cause the rod to grant her a +4 deflection bonus to Armor Class and a +4 resistance bonus on saving throws for 10 minutes. The rod need not be in weapon form to grant this benefit.
Transforming it into a weapon or back into a rod is a move action.
Moderate enchantment; CL 9th; Craft Rod, Craft Magic Arms and Armor, bless; Price 50,000 gp.

 

[Flyspeck23]

No, it shouldn't need EWP.

Rods by design are to be able to be used by anyone unless there is some kind of restrictor. Hence anyone can use a rod of resurection.

Grantin EWP is like granting Weapon Focus. Both are feats, and both enhance your attack with the selected weapon. Neither is necessary to wield that weapon.

It starts getting funny if the Dire Flail is prohibited for a class (say, a druid). What now? Anyone can use a rod, ok. But not everybody can cope with the consequences.

One more thing: is this Dire Flail medium? I presume so, although halflings and gnomes won't like it that way. Or would it change size in their hands, because "anyone can use a rod"? No, because... well, see above

 

[d20Dwarf]

Grantin EWP is like granting Weapon Focus. Both are feats, and both enhance your attack with the selected weapon. Neither is necessary to wield that weapon.

It starts getting funny if the Dire Flail is prohibited for a class (say, a druid). What now? Anyone can use a rod, ok. But not everybody can cope with the consequences.

One more thing: is this Dire Flail medium? I presume so, although halflings and gnomes won't like it that way. Or would it change size in their hands, because "anyone can use a rod"? No, because... well, see above

Just add 500gp to the Market Price and have it grant EWP. It already grants 2 Weapon Fighting.