Spiked chain question

[Darklone]

Skill tricks. Nimble Stand and relatives.

 

[gnfnrf]

Skill tricks. Nimble Stand and relatives.

So, take nimble stand and then... get your cousin to follow you around? I don't get it.



--
gnfnrf

 

[cignus_pfaccari]

Over two years of experience observing one in actual use over a wide range of situations has proven to my satisfaction, that spiked chain is hardly over powered, instant death or nearly as lethal as you believe it to be.

Exactly.

I used one in a humanoid-heavy game, where my character concept was (don't laugh) to emulate the ninja from Samurai Warriors, who used a kusari-gama, which is pretty much the same thing.

NPCs had a distressing habit of making their opposed checks; possibly because I rolled low a lot, possibly because they rolled high a lot. The damage output was relatively low; you'd be surprised how much the crit range and/or multiplier add to average damage, but it's a significant difference. It wound up that I'd've been better off with a longspear.

Also, unless you're in Whimsical's campaign, a further disadvantage is that chain weapons are likely to be rare. As a result, you won't be able to rely on them dropping; while the DM can and probably should make them available, a spiked chain will almost never be a result of a random roll on the treasure tables.

Brad

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

Get your caster to Enlarge you, then Disarm/AoO everyone in sight within 15'

20 feet, actually.

Goliath Fighter

Is not a humanoid (Goliaths are Montrous Humanoids), and thus

Get the Wizard to Enlarge you

Won't work. Options for non-humanoids to get enlarged:
1) Goliath Barbarian first sub. level (actually a pretty sucky "enlarge," but gives the reach and is actually balanced in play)
2) Expansion psionic power, if you go Psychic Warrior, or just buy some tattoos (shorter duration than Enlarge person, unless you shell out more)
3) Some Cleric domain from SC has granted power 1/day to enlarge yourself.

1- EWP Spiked chain, Combat Expertise
2- Improved Trip
3- Dodge
4- Mobility
6- Spring Attack, Whirlwind Attack

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

Instead of all those feats to only whirlwind attack foes already standing within reach, why not go Warblade? By level 7, you can have Mithral Tornado maneuver, which does the same thing with a +2 to hit, and is only a standard, so you can tumble into position first. Of course, that only targets adjacent squares, but still, seems better to me...

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...

A one level dip in Lion Totem Barbarian, and you could full attack pounce any round of combat with any race (in return for no fast movement). Add in Whirling frenzy variant for a flurry option with any weapon while raging and...yeah...

 

[eamon]

As the ultimate proof of spiked chain's uber1337ness:

A character wielding a spiked chain can attack underwater without penalty, unlike a character wielding a slashing or bludgeoning weapon. Those poor sods take a -2 penalty on attack rolls, and deal only half damage.

Source:
SRD - Combat Adjustments Underwater


</tongue-in-cheek>