Whirlwind and reach weapons

[Malum]

I have seen some threads about the spiked chain so if this mule has already been kicked I do apologize.
Here is the question: Whirlwind allows you to attack all "within reach" at max BAB I have a new player and she is now considering a monk/fighter build wielding a spiked chain, this combined with whirlwind feat chain would create a freaking nightmare! She is considering some class called Tempest? And/or the Dervish.

So are we talking about a broken pc?

Opinions please

Malum

 

[mikebr99]

I have seen some threads about the spiked chain so if this mule has already been kicked I do apologize.
Here is the question: Whirlwind allows you to attack all "within reach" at max BAB I have a new player and she is now considering a monk/fighter build wielding a spiked chain, this combined with whirlwind feat chain would create a freaking nightmare! She is considering some class called Tempest? And/or the Dervish.

So are we talking about a broken pc?

Opinions please

Malum

Whirlwind Attack with a spiked chain is going to cost 6 feats and both DEX and INT have to be 13 or above. Every opponent is only going to get attacked once per round.

This is not a big deal... considering the cost.

Mike

 

[AuraSeer]

It won't be that bad. This may sound like a strong combination, but the cost will leave her a bit of a one-trick pony.

She'll need to use up 6 feat slots (Dodge, Mobility, Spring Attack, Combat Expertise, Exotic Weapon Proficiency, and Whirlwind Attack). Even for a single-class fighter, that's a lot of feat slots that could be spent elsewhere, on stuff like Weapon Specialization, or perhaps Improved Trip/Disarm/whatever.

She also will have to split her ability scores quite severely. WWA requires Dex 13 and Int 13. If she wants to be a Monk, she'll want points in Wis. That means she can't focus on Str and Con, so she will have fewer hit points, and her attacks will hit less often and do less damage.

And after all that, WWA is not useful in all situations. It can't be used in the same round as a move, and it's utterly pointless when there is only one enemy in melee range.

 

[Magesmiley]

I don't think its horribly overpowered myself. I'd fear the dervish more than a whirlwind attack with reach.

Incidentally, if she adds power attack, cleave, and great cleave and has her arcane caster friend add an enlarge person, her build gets a bit scarier, particularly when fighting crowds of weaker opponents.