Spiked Chain Fighter Rogue advice needed please

[Kwyn]

Greetings,
My wannabe fighter->weaponmaster bit the dust for the third time so I'm starting over. I'll be 5th level coming in and thought of trying something a bit different, different for our campaign at least.


Here are my stats

S: 16
D: 14
C: 16
I: 13
W: 10
CH: 8

My plan is to stop Fighter at 4 and advance rogue the rest of the way. Normally, I would sink all my bonus stat points into Dex as I usually go TWF/Finess with my rogues, but with the spiked chain's nifty trip ability, which is strength dependent, I thought I would put all my points into Strength and go that route. Is that a viable path? You don't see many strength rogues out there. I also can't live without darkvision and darkvision goggles will *not* be easy to get in our campaign. Otherise, I'd most certainly go human in a heartbeat.

Here were the feats I had in mind

1 - Rogue 1 - Base feat - Spiked Chain
2 - Fighter 1 - Bonus feat - Weapon Focus Sp.Chain
3 - Rogue 2 - Base feat for lv 3 - Combat Reflexes
4 - Fighter 2 - Bonus Feat - Dodge - +1 Strength
5 - Rogue 3 - No feat
6 - Fighter 3 - Base Feat - Mobility
7 - Rogue 4 - No feat
8 - Fighter 4 - Bonus Feat - Spec.Spiked Chain - +1 Strength
9 - Rogue 5 - Base Feat - Spring Attack
10 - Rogue 6 - No feat
11 - Rogue 7 - No feat
12 - Rogue 8 - Base Feat - Expertise

Any thoeries on how this might end up? Is it viable? Should I just go with the tried and true TWF/Finessed Short Sword Fighter4/Rogue16?

I will not mix in 1 level of barb/monk/ranger/sorceror, etc. so please offer suggestions with that in mind.

Thanks!

 

[CRGreathouse]

It works. Right now I play a Dex spiked chain fighter - Kytess on the IC forum on these message boards.

Combat Reflexes/Cleave is a lot of fun...

 

[Kwyn]

Did you finesse your chain? I'd be interested to hear thoughts on why strength might be better than a finessed dex spiked chain route or vice versa.

I was thinking that with trip's dependency on strength, that going a dex route and adding dex as I leveled might end up making the trip option pretty much a deathwish as I wouldn't have the strength to win the opposed rolls.

This brings me to another question. The PHB says spiked chain gets +2 on disarm rolls. Large weapons would always get a +4 agains medium weapons. Would a spiked chain, being large stack the +2 and +4 for a total of +6 in disarm contests? If so, I could see that being a frequently used tactic.

Thanks for posting!

 

[Hypersmurf]

Would a spiked chain, being large stack the +2 and +4 for a total of +6 in disarm contests?

Damned straight

-Hyp.

 

[CRGreathouse]

Heck yeah I finnessed the chain.

Dex fit that character better than Str, though it could certainly go either way - 1.5 Str with high Str is great.

Kytess doesn't usually trip; attackin normally and disarming are her usual tactics. And yes, it has a total of +6 on such checks...

Here's the character:
http://www.enworld.org/messageboards/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1765

 

[Kwyn]

Thanks!

I like your character Greathouse. She even has sane stats like me!

So, what will your feat path be once you hit level 3 and 4 with your fighter and then level 6?

So far it makes a lot of sense and I'd like to know where it's headed.

Although I can't get an 18 on my dex, I can get a 16 so that would have to do. If I went straight rogue, I suppose I could do an elf to get my dex to 18 and settle for low light vision, but I'm not fond of elves so I don't think that would be the wise move

How much do you guys think making a dwarf is going to hurt me? This character will obviously need some maneuverability and I was hoping that tumble and spring attack (which may not make the final draft) would make up for my stunted 20 foot move. I could go human I suppose, but being the parties only rogue or stealth oriented character, I am *deathly* afraid of what it would be like trying to scout while carrying a torch

Thanks again

 

[Crothian]

the 20ft move of the Dwarf really hurts. Tumble and spring attack don't allow you to move any farter then normal. If you can get some Boots of Striding and Springing or something else to increase your move.

 

[CRGreathouse]

The 20' movement of the dwarf does really hurt, but it's doable. On the upside, it lets you take the Dwarven Defender prestige class. Just imagine waiting there, unmoving, as your enemies approch... and Combat Reflexes (and Great Cleave?) kick in. Mmm...

Where's my character going? Straight fighter. She was originally created to show that fighter is a viable long-term class.

If you'd like to see her stats from 1st to 12th, just email me... You can read Word documents, right?

crgreathouse@yahoo.com

 

[Crothian]

The 20' movement of the dwarf does really hurt, but it's doable. On the upside, it lets you take the Dwarven Defender prestige class. Just imagine waiting there, unmoving, as your enemies approch... and Combat Reflexes (and Great Cleave?) kick in. Mmm...

Now that is a really good idea. I like that a lot. I may steal this character idea. I'm looking for something different from my human Bard, and this may be it.

 

[CRGreathouse]

Now that is a really good idea. I like that a lot. I may steal this character idea. I'm looking for something different from my human Bard, and this may be it.

3 foes approach you, a "boss" monster (#1) and two lackeys (#2 and #3). Fortunatly, you have Great Cleave, Combat Reflexes, Dex 14, and a spiked chain. When #1 comes within 10 feet, your readied attack kicks in. When they continue move into melee range, you take an AoO, but miss. Darn. #2 comes up, provoking an AoO, a solid hit. #3 comes up, provoking an AoO. you crit, killing the foe. You cleave into #2, killing it; you Great Cleave into #1, taking it down further. You then take your full attack, severely wounding #1. #1 turns to flee, triggering a killing AoO.

You suffer 2 hits, killing 3 monsters handily. Granted, it's an idealized situation, but it's so cool...