Post/Author/DateTime	Post
jamie_noone 10-13-04, 11:13 PM	First a couple questions: 1) Do you apply 1.5 times your strength bonus to damage rolls with a spiked chain or is the second hand used just to steady/control the chain's slack? 2) The picture in the PHB looks like it's got two ends, even though the text never refers to it as a dual weapon. Would the kensai need to imbue both ends of the chain? My character's attributes before racial adjustments or levelling increases are: 14, 15, 14, 16, 17, 18 (the DM actually rolled these for me - I think he fudged a couple). I was thinking about going with a Sun Elf, and putting the ability increases from 4th, 8th, and 12th levels into strength. So his attributes at lvl 12 would be: Str 20, Dex 15, Con 14, Int 20, Wis 14, Cha 14. Here's what I was thinking for the build: 1 rog1 - Combat Expertise 2 rog1/swa1 3 rog1/swa2 - Exotic Weapon: Spiked Chain 4 rog1/swa2/ftr1 - Weapon Focus: Spiked Chain 5 rog1/swa2/ftr2 - Power Attack 6 rog2/swa2/ftr2 - Cleave 7 rog2/swa3/ftr2 8 rog2/swa3/ftr2/ken1 9 rog2/swa3/ftr2/ken2 - Combat Reflexes 10 rog2/swa3/ftr2/ken3 11 rog2/swa3/ftr2/ken4 12 rog2/swa3/ftr2/ken5 - Great Cleave If the character (or campaign) makes it to lvl 15, I'll take either Improved Trip or Improved Disarm. I was thinking Great Cleave would be more useful than Whirlwind Attack, but I don't really have prior experience with either. Any suggestions? I don't really have much experience playing characters above 3rd level, so any feedback on these feats at level 12 would be appreciated. Thanks in advance. Jamie
nihility 10-13-04, 11:35 PM	1) Do you apply 1.5 times your strength bonus to damage rolls with a spiked chain or is the second hand used just to steady/control the chain's slack? I think this is the wrong board for this, but the answer is: as a two-handed weapon, you apply 1.5x your strength bonus. There is no other consideration to worry about. 2) The picture in the PHB looks like it's got two ends, even though the text never refers to it as a dual weapon. Would the kensai need to imbue both ends of the chain? The spiked chain is not a double weapon, regardless of the illustration. Enchant it as you would any other single weapon. Take improved trip as soon as possible; there's no real point in using the spiked chain if you aren't taking advantage of its various combat options. It's a tactical weapon, not a weapon geared to high damage. Check this thread for more tactical information and feat advice: http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=163005 (note that Snow uses the chain lash, which CAN be used as a double weapon, rather than the spiked chain. The spirit is still there.)