Spiked Chain Rules?

[kreynolds]

Now, what is this suposed to mean?

It means exactly what it says.

I don't apply any on-the-spot variant rules, or implement any off-the-cuff rulings.

Please, give me some examples because I really don't know what you are talking about.

Two words...missing eye. Basically, its nice to know what fairly influential variant rules are being implemented before the fact. For example, its generally considered a good idea to make it known to your players that you're going to use the variant rule Death From Massive Damage Based On Size, especially if there's a halfing in the party. Otherwise, when said halfling is suddenly caught by surprise by a non-standard rule that he wasn't aware of, it could create unrest with the player.

In the case of the missing eye, I wasn't pissed off or anything, and I don't think the other player was either. Mostly, it was just the resulting confusion that messed up the flow of the game. Its not a huge deal, and I'm not saying that haven't ever done the same thing, but just something for every DM to keep in mind.

 

[Number47]

Wade in making trip attacks against all NPCs? That is a sure way to wind up without a spiked chain. Spiked chain lets you make a trip attack, it doesn't guarantee any success. Even specializing in tripping with it, I expect you'll get it ripped out of your hands 25% of the time, which is unacceptable.

 

[dkilgo]

Wade in making trip attacks against all NPCs? That is a sure way to wind up without a spiked chain. Spiked chain lets you make a trip attack, it doesn't guarantee any success. Even specializing in tripping with it, I expect you'll get it ripped out of your hands 25% of the time, which is unacceptable.

Granted it wouldn't work 100% of the time, but if you speacialize in it that would make it happen more often. Also, if you go for a trip attempt and fail you don't necessarilly get the weapon ripped from your handed. Well, I guess you could, but why wouldn't the character just drop the chain? It is a free action to do so. Even if he/she loses the weapon due to some reason or another they could simply take a move equivalent action to draw another one. If they had the Quick Draw feat they would not have to worry about taking the move action. But, then again, you could argue by saying, "How many people carry two weapons of the same type around with them?" My simple reply would be, "How dumb are they?" Wouldn't you think that any smart adventurer would, atleast, keep a back up weapon, and why not the weapon they are most proficeint with?

Granted there are always going to be loop holes in every tactic, but that is all it is, a tactic. Not a sure proven method of getting something done. A tactic is more, or less, like a theory. Sure, you think it would work great, but in reality does it? But, then I do thank you for pointing out that flaw within my thinking. I will have to adjust to make it that much better.

Well, there is my little rant for the day. Sorry for taking up so much of your time. Have a very Merry Christmas.

 

[dkilgo]

It means exactly what it says.



Two words...missing eye. Basically, its nice to know what fairly influential variant rules are being implemented before the fact. For example, its generally considered a good idea to make it known to your players that you're going to use the variant rule Death From Massive Damage Based On Size, especially if there's a halfing in the party. Otherwise, when said halfling is suddenly caught by surprise by a non-standard rule that he wasn't aware of, it could create unrest with the player.

In the case of the missing eye, I wasn't pissed off or anything, and I don't think the other player was either. Mostly, it was just the resulting confusion that messed up the flow of the game. Its not a huge deal, and I'm not saying that haven't ever done the same thing, but just something for every DM to keep in mind.

Sorry, about that! It didn't occur to me that it would be prudent to talk this variant over with the group. Won't happen again.

 

[Vocenoctum]

In the swashbuckling article in Dragon, they had a couple feats, one of which was "Kick them while they're down."

Allows you to get an AoO when someone stands up from prone in your threatened area.

 

[dkilgo]

In the swashbuckling article in Dragon, they had a couple feats, one of which was "Kick them while they're down."

Allows you to get an AoO when someone stands up from prone in your threatened area.

The swashbuckling article was fabulous. I really think that in future games that I could incorporate the things in this article to mess with my players. They all looked at it, and decided that there was nothing of you to them in thier. They never specified whether it was for the time being, or just in general. I am not sure which.

SCs ROCK!