Wielding a Spiked Chain - for the first time.

[Legildur]

silly, slightly off on a tangent question, whirlwind attack allows a melee attack against all opponents within reach. is this just a regular (roll to hit, roll some damage) attack, or can you use the other attack options, such as disarm, trip, etc?

See Table 8-2: Actions in Combat in the PHB. Under the sub-heading 'Action Type Varies' you'll see that Disarm and Trip (and Grapple, but that isn't relevant to the spiked chain) have a footnote '7' which indicates that 'these attack forms substitute for a melee attack, not an action. As melee attacks, they can be used once in an attack or charge action, one or more times in a full attack action, or even as an attack of opportunity.'

Note that the Sunder action is absent from that sub-heading and does not have footnote 7.

 

[farscapesg1]

I still stand by knockdown over whirlwind attack, unles your using 3.0, in which case, although the reach wont do you any good, it can be combined wiht knockdwon and improved trip, to take out up to 8 opponents surrounding you

Has Knockdown been published in any 3.5 sourcebooks? The DM we play with doesn't allow the 3.0 "splatbooks" since most of the material has been updated in the "Complete" series.

 

[Legildur]

Has Knockdown been published in any 3.5 sourcebooks? The DM we play with doesn't allow the 3.0 "splatbooks" since most of the material has been updated in the "Complete" series.

No, but it is included in the 3.5E SRD here: Divine Feats.

But what really upsets me about it's inclusion in the current SRD is that WotC didn't even bother to amend the original feat with the published errata from Sword and Fist, let alone update it for 3.5E.

 

[Asmo]

Thanks for all the feedback, really great!
I rolled 16,15,12,12,12,12 and put 16 at Str,thinking about extra damage.
Was it a misstake, should I´ve put it on my Dex instead?

Asmo

 

[Darklone]

No, Asmo, you did it right IMHO. Strength is more important for fightertypes than gimmicks.

 

[AntiStateQuixote]

WHIRLWIND ATTACK [GENERAL]
Prerequisites: Dex 13, Int 13, Combat Expertise, Dodge, Mobility, Spring Attack, base attack bonus +4.

Benefit: When you use the full attack action, you can give up your regular attacks and instead make one melee attack at your full base attack bonus against each opponent within reach.

When you use the Whirlwind Attack feat, you also forfeit any bonus or extra attacks granted by other feats, spells, or abilities.

Special: A fighter may select Whirlwind Attack as one of his fighter bonus feats.

Sounds to me like you can't make a follow-up attack granted by Improved Trip when you use Whirlwind Attack to knock everyone down . . . what say you all?

Still a very cool image . . . big (enlarge person) guy with chain knocks everyone within 20 feet to the floor.

 

[Asmo]

How weird.. I just realised how backward we have been playing the trip-mechanic:

1. I make a melee touch attack:

a: if I miss nothing happens

b: if I hit, we make an opposed str or dex check, and if I win that check I can follow up with an attack directly. If I loose I can drop my chain to avoid beeing tripped myself.
Much harder that way

Instead of:

1. I make a meele touch attack:

a: if I hit, I trip the opponent and can follow up with an attack on a prone opponent.

b: if I miss we make an opposed check to see if I´ve been tripped or not.

Correct?

Asmo

 

[Cabral]

1. Make a melee touch attack

2. if it succeeds, make a strength check opposed by opoonents strength or Dex check with modifiers for size (on both sides) and stability

3. If it fails, the defender may try to trip you, if it succeeds, defender is prone

4. If you have Improved Trip, follow up with an immediate attack (vrs a prone opponent)

 

[Asmo]

?
lol, I knew I should have stuck to a longsword..how tragic, I wonder why I´ve so hard to understand the rules?

Asmo

 

[Dark Dragon]

Consider taking Power Attack. Since the spiked chain is a two-handed weapon, the power attack damage is also doubled

Cleave is also nice against weak or injured foes.

If you're playing a Faerûnian PC, consider taking the Wolf Berserker feat. It makes trip checks easier and allows you taking Improved Trip without meeting the normal prerequesites.

EDIT: Stupid typos...