Post/Author/DateTime	Post
kardock 04-25-04, 12:12 PM	hi guys, do you believe a spiked chain can be considered as 2 weapons? can a level 2 fighter use it like that? and make a second attack as a 2-weapon fighter would? if so, the second attack is not a light weapon, right? need some input on this subject. thanks.
Zubon 04-25-04, 12:18 PM	The spiked chain is not a double weapon. Savage Species and Oriental Adventures list a chain that can be used as either a double weapon or a reach weapon, but not both at once, and it does less damage. There are class abilities that give the spiked chain this options, such as the Master of Chains PrC. It is not a base ability of the already-very-strong spiked chain.
Steelwill 04-25-04, 12:47 PM	Whoa! If that were the case I would roll up a Spike Chain specialist fighter right now. No the spiked chain is not considered a double weapon, possibly because the spikes on the striking length of it would hurt like h*** to grab a hold of. It is a reach weapon, can be used unlike other reach weapons on foes adjacent to you, can be used to make trip attacks, and has a +2 bonus for disarm. Also as an exotic 2-handed weapon, it can grant 1.5 x str bonus, double power attack bonus to damage(per the power attack feat), and for some really odd reason is weapon finessable. This weapon already does it all, but being a double wepon isn't one of those things. My 2 cents
Lord Crimson 04-25-04, 02:04 PM	I admit though, in the pictures they use to give players an idea of how weapons look, the spiked chain looks like it could be a double weapon. But no. According to the rules, it is not.
Fixxxer 04-27-04, 12:07 AM	Originally posted by Lord Crimson I admit though, in the pictures they use to give players an idea of how weapons look, the spiked chain looks like it could be a double weapon. But no. According to the rules, it is not. Most of the weapon pictures from the PHB suck anyhow.
Lord Crimson 04-28-04, 03:09 AM	Yeah, like the rapier with the bulbous end. Or the two-bladed sword... Yeegh!!! I like a lot of the other weapon illustrations though. The scimitar finally resembles an actual scimitar and the flails look good.
Green Gilled Dragon 04-28-04, 01:41 PM	In one of my campaigns, I'm playing a 5th level ranger. At first level I chose Exotic Weapon: Spiked Chain. When second level came up and I had a choice about Weapon Style, I asked the DM if I could use my spiked chain as a double weapon, but without reach. Since I rarely use a bow, the TWF works better for my ranger. He thought about it and agreed, so spiked chains in my campaign work as follows: normally they do 2d4 damage and with a reach of 10 feet. At the start of a round, I can change it to a double weapon (as I hold one spikey end in each hand). Each head does 1d6 damage, but no reach for that round. So far it hasn't been overbalancing. In fact, my Combat Reflexes feat (and 17 dex) has been a bigger problem.
Amphetryon 04-28-04, 03:42 PM	There's a Sword & Fist PrC, Master of Chains, that allows you to use Spiked Chain as a Double Weapon without Reach instead of as a Single Weapon with Reach. Personally, I'd be leery of replicating one of the better aspects of a very good PrC for free; I'd at least require a (new) Modify Weapon Use Feat or similar.
Vaelan 04-29-04, 02:10 AM	Or you could take one level of Exotic Weapon Master and get Flurry of Blows which allows the benifits of TWF(normal only) with full STR bonus and range. Warrior/EWM/MoC is pretty good if you use Sword & Fist...