The Whip -- Any use at all?

[Caredoc]

I'll be starting a new character soon, a sort of aristocratic swashbuckler type. His main weapon will be a Keen Rapier, but I was thinking a whip would make a very stylish offhand weapon. Problem is, it seems utterly worthless. The Disarm bonus would be cool, except that the Small size makes it pretty useless. Other than that, it seems like the whip is just a much weaker Spiked Chain.


Is there any way for the whip to be a useful weapon, without taking the prestige class designed around it?

What about those special types (mighty and dagger, is it?) that I've heard mentioned? I don't have many books, and I haven't seen stats for them.

I was thinking about asking for a magical whip that would always count as the same size as the other guy's weapon for disarming purposes, but that might end up being a bit too pricey to fit in comfortably with the Rapier.

 

[Relentless]

The Lasher PrC is necessary to make the whip a truly viable option.

The whip becomes somewhat less useless when enchanted with the "Merciful" property from S&F or MoF.

Emphasis on "somewhat".

 

[Deset Gled]

A standard whip by itself is a little underpowered. But there are options to make it better.

As you mentioned, there are alternate types of whips. IIRC, the mighty whip functions in pretty much the same fasion as a composite bow. There is also a whip-dagger in Sword and Fist, which is basically the same as a dagger, except it deals regular damage and doesn't have a problem with armor. I believe there's also a whip-like weapon called a nagaika in Masters of the Wild, but I don't know what is special about it.

As for utility of the whip, the best part is that it's a ranged weapon. Try using ranged specific enhancements (like Distance, which doubles its range to 30'). Also, ranged feats like Point Blank Shot will work with it.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Try using ranged specific enhancements (like Distance, which doubles its range to 30').

No, it doesn't - Distance doubles range increments. A whip has no range increments, just a maximum range.

-Hyp.

 

[Deset Gled]

No, it doesn't - Distance doubles range increments. A whip has no range increments, just a maximum range.

My mistake. It sounded a bit too good to be true.

Oh well. At least you could still use fun ranged enhancements like ... um ... Returning?

 

[Caredoc]

Oh well. At least you could still use fun ranged enhancements like ... um ... Returning?

Heh! I guess the tip would come back toward you, so you end up holding both ends.


That might actually be useful once in a while. Intentionally miss something so that the end goes around it before coming back... might work as a grapplehook, or an entangling weapon. Or maybe not.

 

[Judas]

My ftr5/rgr4 got his rear handed to him by a halfling rog4/vampire using a +1 whip of speed.

 

[ForceUser]

Whips are groovy provided you go into it knowing that you are not there to deal damage. A proficient whip user is a master of harassment, though; tripping and disarming foes is a great way to set up your opponents for the big hits from your teammates.

 

[Hypersmurf]

A proficient whip user is a master of harassment, though; disarming foes...

Yeah! Fear my Small weapon!

-Hyp.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

The whip really should be considered large for purposes of disarming. Sort of the way the Purple Worm is considered Gargantuan. Not tall big, but long big.