Spiked chain questions/prestige classes?

[Phoenix8008]

Hiya. I'm starting a new character that is going to be a spiked chain specialist. I know there are some funky rules and errata for this weapon, but I can't find them anywhere. Any chance one of you can give me the readers digest version or point me to a thread where this was discussed already? I don't have search capability here on ENworld, or I'd search for it that way.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Wormwood]

Rules/ Errata?

None that I know of. Works like it says it does.

Oh, and it's not broken.

 

[gfunk]

If you want a broken spiked chain combo, make a half-ogre fighter with a huge spiked chain and the feat Large and In Charge.

Your dm will hate you.

 

[hammymchamham]

don't forget to make the spiked chain outa gold so it does more damage!

 

[Bauglir]

If you want a broken spiked chain combo, make a half-ogre fighter with a huge spiked chain and the feat Large and In Charge.

Your dm will hate you.

And Combat Reflexes, and Spring Attack

 

[gfunk]

And Combat Reflexes, and Spring Attack

And pick up the Singh Ranger PrC from OA to get Lion's Charge.

 

[Destil]

And Improved Disarm, Weapon Finese, Expertiese, improved Trip....

There's the beauty of the spiked chain. It's a balanced weapon but, as someone here once put it, also a complete munchkin trap. It requires so much dedication and specialzatioon to use to it's fullest, and for it's size the damage is rather poor.

It's a two handed weapon. You'll want good strenght for the 1.5x bonus.

It's fineseable, so you'll want high dex. Also you'll need combat reflexes and a good number of AoOs per round, and you want Spring Attack (requires light armor and dodge, so at least 13+ dex, and higher ideaily to offset the loss of AC).

You need 13+ int for expertiese, so you can get improed disarm and improved trip.

Since you're focusing on one weapon, specialzation, focus and improved crit are all good investments.

If you don't want to be a large race with large and in charge you'll need a level of a psionic class in order to take stand still...

In other words, to use it to it's fullest, you'll need good stats everywhere and many many feats. And after all that you'll be a master of inconveniencing people, dealing OK damage (not bad, but a greatsword or greataxe user will out do you up close. Even a polearms user will often do beter, and with fewer feats dedicated to their weapon). And OK AC (since if you want spring attack you're gonna need light armor).

Feats
Weapon Finese Spiked Chain
Weapon Focus Spiked Chain
Weapon Specialization Spiked Chain
Improved Crit Spiked Chain
Improved Disarm
Improved Trip
Combat Reflexes
Dodge
Mobility
Spring Attack
Large and in Charge (requires size large) / Stand Still (requires psionics)

Stats
16+ Str (so you get the the benifit of a 2 handed damage bonus)
13+ Dex (more for combat reflexes and AC)
13+ Int

And after all that you have a 2d4 weapon with a 19-20 threat range... I should hope you get some other benifits.

 

[Pagan priest]

Unless you've got a dex that's MUCH higher than your str, don't bother with weapon finesse. You will be better off bumping str for the damage, once you've got the dex for the Spring Attack chain of feats. Even though Whirlwind is limited to opponents within a 5 foot range, it is still useful... especially if your DM lets you Cleave out to 10 foot.

Don't forget getting a friendly mage to make it Keen!

 

[Phoenix8008]

Thanks for the serious comments, Destil & Pagan Priest. You're making me reconsider whether or not I want to do this kind of character. I just found an awesome Reaper miniature with a spiked chain and thought it might be cool.

Hmmm, lots to look at and consider. Thanks for the info so far.

 

[Spatula]

You need a lot of feats to get everything out of the spiked chain, but that's because you can do a lot of different things with it. You don't actually have to go for all of them. Weapon finesse is uneccessary unless your DEX is higher than your STR, which it shouldn't be if you want to do damage. And you don't need every stat to be high, but you will probably want a decent DEX, because there's a lot of dexterity-related feats that work well with the chain, and enough INT to get Expertise, because you might want Improved Disarm & Trip.