Spiked chain question

[NightCrawler]

I ve seen many times PCs using spiked chain as a weapon rather than ''normal'' weapons (such as swords etc)... The question is why they preffer that weapon? Is there a special comination that can be made when using spiked chain or is it something else?

 

[useridunavailable]

The major advantage is that it can be used both against opponents 10 feet away and against opponents adjacent to you. Add to that the fact that you can use it to make trip attempts and the fact that it gives you +2 to disarm attempts, compare these advantages to all other available weapons, and it's pretty obvious.

 

[Elethiomel]

The spiked chain does everything that any weapon can do:
- It is a two-handed weapon and gains benefits from that.
- It's a finesseable weapon.
- It's a reach weapon, and the only one of its kind in core that threatens both adjacent and non-adjacent squares.
- It allows Trip attacks.
- It gets a bonus to Disarm attacks.

So it can be used for all "specialty" builds, plus the thing that's worth mentioning twice - it threatens both adjacent and "reach" squares.

 

[UltimaGabe]

I ve seen many times PCs using spiked chain as a weapon rather than ''normal'' weapons (such as swords etc)... The question is why they preffer that weapon? Is there a special comination that can be made when using spiked chain or is it something else?

As others have explained, for several reasons, it's the uber weapon. It can do pretty much anything you want it to do- finesse, trip, disarm, attack enemies far away, attack enemies close up, two-hand power attack, everything. Heck, it's an awesome weapon even if you're not proficient, mainly due to the ability to AoO trip anyone who comes at you (trip only requires a touch attack, remember, and who minds taking a -4 on a touch attack?).

And if you're a high-strength Fighter with Improved Trip and Improved Disarm, well, you win.

You just win. Simple as that.

 

[Zurai]

The downsides to a spiked chain are that its damage and crit range/multiplier suck, and that it costs a feat to use.

 

[Kat']

The downsides to a spiked chain are that its damage and crit range/multiplier suck, and that it costs a feat to use.

I deals only an average 2 points of damage less than a Greatsword, and has awesome options. Get your caster to Enlarge you, then Disarm/AoO everyone in sight within 15'. Anyway, who cares about base damage when you've got a two-handed weapon and Power Attack?

I'm just thinking... Goliath Fighter with maxed Str (18 base, +4 racial), 13 Dex (hurts with a Goliath, but required for Dodge), 13 Int.
1- EWP Spiked chain, Combat Expertise
2- Improved Trip
3- Dodge
4- Mobility
6- Spring Attack, Whirlwind Attack

Get the Wizard to Enlarge you, and then use Whirlwind Attack to trip everyone within 15'. Have a look at this Trip modifier: 4(goliath)+4(Enlarge)+4(Improved trip)+7 Str (yeah, Enlarge Person also grants +2 Str) = +19, plus you get an immediate attack against everyone you successfully trip.

You could consider a similar build with a Finesse Catfolk and Improved Disarm. Upon ECL9 you can Pounce and Disarm everyone within 15' at a +29 modifier in the first round of combat. Mrrraow...

 

[Rackhir]

As others have explained, for several reasons, it's the uber weapon. It can do pretty much anything you want it to do- finesse, trip, disarm, attack enemies far away, attack enemies close up, two-hand power attack, everything. Heck, it's an awesome weapon even if you're not proficient, mainly due to the ability to AoO trip anyone who comes at you (trip only requires a touch attack, remember, and who minds taking a -4 on a touch attack?).

And if you're a high-strength Fighter with Improved Trip and Improved Disarm, well, you win.

You just win. Simple as that.

Not quite in practice. We have a character who uses one in Shilsen's campaign and while he has been effective, it's not a "You just win.".

For one thing most monsters are stronger than PCs. Many are much larger. Many are 4 legged. All of this means that many times monsters are either untripable or very difficult to trip and remember a failed trip attempt means they have a chance of pulling the spiked chain away from the character. Tripping is a stat check rather than something skill or BAB based, so the modifiers are usually not large compared to the results of the d20 roll. Which means that almost any target can with a decent roll beat the tripper. The character in our group who uses one has in fact had to carry around several spiked chain specifically for this reason.

It is not the uber weapon people like to think it is. It sounds better in theory than it is in practice.

A lot of these supposed "uber builds" also require a large number of feats to boot.

 

[Mystern]

though the spiked chain is still a really evvective weapon even it it's not uber. i recently made a spiked chain rogue and he's highly effective, because let's face it, the most opportune time to use sneak attack is when you're flanking. thus, i can flank from some really nonstandard positions

 

[FalcWP]

I'm just thinking... Goliath Fighter with maxed Str (18 base, +4 racial), 13 Dex (hurts with a Goliath, but required for Dodge), 13 Int.
1- EWP Spiked chain, Combat Expertise
2- Improved Trip
3- Dodge
4- Mobility
6- Spring Attack, Whirlwind Attack

Get the Wizard to Enlarge you, and then use Whirlwind Attack to trip everyone within 15'. Have a look at this Trip modifier: 4(goliath)+4(Enlarge)+4(Improved trip)+7 Str (yeah, Enlarge Person also grants +2 Str) = +19, plus you get an immediate attack against everyone you successfully trip.

Just a quick point on this... if the Wizard Enlarges you, you take a -2 penalty to Dex, and no longer meet the prerequisite for Dodge, which means you no longer meet the prerequisite for mobility, spring attack, or whirlwind attack. Better get some Gloves of Dexterity or have the wizard hit you with Cat's Grace while you're at it.

 

[Darklone]

Spiked Chain damage: Don't forget the bad crit range/multiplier. That lowers the overall damage too.

This weapon is about options, if you want damage, use Power Attack.