A use for the whip [Archive] - Wizards Community

A use for the whip [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Longarms
09-06-05, 04:04 AM Has anyone found a us for the whip? I think I finally thought up a use. Please tell me if I am missing something. Read carefully, bc this is kind of technical.

Okay, rogues generally like to use ranged weapons bc they don't have to get up close an personal. One problem with ranged weapons is that it is hard to get a sneak attack off with them. One way to get off a sneak attack with a ranged weapon is if you are within 30' of a flanked opponent. The only problem is that as a ranged attacker, you are not a flanker. Therefore, you actually need two other party members to engage in melee and flank so that you can get a ranged sneak attack in. Wouldn't it be great if you could somehow count as one of the melee opponents so that it would only take one party member besides yourself to flank?

This is where the whip comes in. The whip is a onehanded weapon and is a 15' reach weapon. If you put a whip in your left hand you are threatened bad guys who are 15' away (you don't need to be proficient in the whip). Now you can count as a melee combatant and cause a bad guy to be flanked even though he is only engaged with one other party member. Now just use your right hand to say throw a throwing axes for sneak attack damage. Your DM might rule that you need two-weapon fighting feat b/c you are flailing the whip around to cause the flanking. Not sure though, since technically you are not *attacking* with the whip. Any thoughts on this?

Has anyone else found a good use for the whip? I noticed it is the only one handed reach weapon in the PHB. Plus it has a reach of 15'. Maybe it could be handy for tripping or disarming with one hand from a distance too and using your free hand for something else.
anarco_rata
09-06-05, 09:20 AM Has anyone found a us for the whip? I think I finally thought up a use. Please tell me if I am missing something. Read carefully, bc this is kind of technical.

Okay, rogues generally like to use ranged weapons bc they don't have to get up close an personal. One problem with ranged weapons is that it is hard to get a sneak attack off with them. One way to get off a sneak attack with a ranged weapon is if you are within 30' of a flanked opponent. The only problem is that as a ranged attacker, you are not a flanker. Therefore, you actually need two other party members to engage in melee and flank so that you can get a ranged sneak attack in. Wouldn't it be great if you could somehow count as one of the melee opponents so that it would only take one party member besides yourself to flank?

This is where the whip comes in. The whip is a onehanded weapon and is a 15' reach weapon. If you put a whip in your left hand you are threatened bad guys who are 15' away (you don't need to be proficient in the whip). Now you can count as a melee combatant and cause a bad guy to be flanked even though he is only engaged with one other party member. Now just use your right hand to say throw a throwing axes for sneak attack damage. Your DM might rule that you need two-weapon fighting feat b/c you are flailing the whip around to cause the flanking. Not sure though, since technically you are not *attacking* with the whip. Any thoughts on this?

Has anyone else found a good use for the whip? I noticed it is the only one handed reach weapon in the PHB. Plus it has a reach of 15'. Maybe it could be handy for tripping or disarming with one hand from a distance too and using your free hand for something else.
This makes no sense.
VirgilCaine
09-06-05, 12:57 PM You could just get within 30', but not right next to the enemy and then sneak attack them as a surprise attack...or trip or disarm them to the benefit of your companions...
green_yawgmoth
09-06-05, 01:02 PM The Lasher PrC. it's all you need to be amazing with a whip.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v91/yawgmoth/kittyjig.gif
Escef
09-06-05, 01:03 PM One way to get off a sneak attack with a ranged weapon is if you are within 30' of a flanked opponent.

This is not how the RAW work. Flanking is something you do, not a status picked up by the flanked individual. (I houserule otherwise, but that's me.)
Longarms
09-06-05, 02:39 PM "This is not how the RAW work. Flanking is something you do, not a status picked up by the flanked individual"

Okay thank you for clarifying. Your clarification is absolutely correct. Did you notice that your clarification actually makes the whip even more relatively advantageous?

Generally a ranged attacker can't flank (or can flank only by being within 5 feat and having a threatening offhand attack). In contrast, with the whip in the left hand, a ranged user can flank from a safe distance at 15' away. The right hand can be used for throwing two weapons a round.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Longarms 09-06-05, 04:04 AM	Has anyone found a us for the whip? I think I finally thought up a use. Please tell me if I am missing something. Read carefully, bc this is kind of technical. Okay, rogues generally like to use ranged weapons bc they don't have to get up close an personal. One problem with ranged weapons is that it is hard to get a sneak attack off with them. One way to get off a sneak attack with a ranged weapon is if you are within 30' of a flanked opponent. The only problem is that as a ranged attacker, you are not a flanker. Therefore, you actually need two other party members to engage in melee and flank so that you can get a ranged sneak attack in. Wouldn't it be great if you could somehow count as one of the melee opponents so that it would only take one party member besides yourself to flank? This is where the whip comes in. The whip is a onehanded weapon and is a 15' reach weapon. If you put a whip in your left hand you are threatened bad guys who are 15' away (you don't need to be proficient in the whip). Now you can count as a melee combatant and cause a bad guy to be flanked even though he is only engaged with one other party member. Now just use your right hand to say throw a throwing axes for sneak attack damage. Your DM might rule that you need two-weapon fighting feat b/c you are flailing the whip around to cause the flanking. Not sure though, since technically you are not attacking with the whip. Any thoughts on this? Has anyone else found a good use for the whip? I noticed it is the only one handed reach weapon in the PHB. Plus it has a reach of 15'. Maybe it could be handy for tripping or disarming with one hand from a distance too and using your free hand for something else.
anarco_rata 09-06-05, 09:20 AM	Has anyone found a us for the whip? I think I finally thought up a use. Please tell me if I am missing something. Read carefully, bc this is kind of technical. Okay, rogues generally like to use ranged weapons bc they don't have to get up close an personal. One problem with ranged weapons is that it is hard to get a sneak attack off with them. One way to get off a sneak attack with a ranged weapon is if you are within 30' of a flanked opponent. The only problem is that as a ranged attacker, you are not a flanker. Therefore, you actually need two other party members to engage in melee and flank so that you can get a ranged sneak attack in. Wouldn't it be great if you could somehow count as one of the melee opponents so that it would only take one party member besides yourself to flank? This is where the whip comes in. The whip is a onehanded weapon and is a 15' reach weapon. If you put a whip in your left hand you are threatened bad guys who are 15' away (you don't need to be proficient in the whip). Now you can count as a melee combatant and cause a bad guy to be flanked even though he is only engaged with one other party member. Now just use your right hand to say throw a throwing axes for sneak attack damage. Your DM might rule that you need two-weapon fighting feat b/c you are flailing the whip around to cause the flanking. Not sure though, since technically you are not attacking with the whip. Any thoughts on this? Has anyone else found a good use for the whip? I noticed it is the only one handed reach weapon in the PHB. Plus it has a reach of 15'. Maybe it could be handy for tripping or disarming with one hand from a distance too and using your free hand for something else. This makes no sense.
VirgilCaine 09-06-05, 12:57 PM	You could just get within 30', but not right next to the enemy and then sneak attack them as a surprise attack...or trip or disarm them to the benefit of your companions...
green_yawgmoth 09-06-05, 01:02 PM	The Lasher PrC. it's all you need to be amazing with a whip. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v91/yawgmoth/kittyjig.gif
Escef 09-06-05, 01:03 PM	One way to get off a sneak attack with a ranged weapon is if you are within 30' of a flanked opponent. This is not how the RAW work. Flanking is something you do, not a status picked up by the flanked individual. (I houserule otherwise, but that's me.)
Longarms 09-06-05, 02:39 PM	"This is not how the RAW work. Flanking is something you do, not a status picked up by the flanked individual" Okay thank you for clarifying. Your clarification is absolutely correct. Did you notice that your clarification actually makes the whip even more relatively advantageous? Generally a ranged attacker can't flank (or can flank only by being within 5 feat and having a threatening offhand attack). In contrast, with the whip in the left hand, a ranged user can flank from a safe distance at 15' away. The right hand can be used for throwing two weapons a round.