Talk:Spiked Chain Focus (3.5e Feat)

Maybe Raise the Prerequisites.

I know you shouldn't have to but this feat can lead to serious abuse. Let me tell you why.

The average Spiked Chain character if optimised is normally a Half Giant. The problem lies with the Half Giants Powerful Build Abbility.

Powerful Build (Ex): The physical stature of half-giants lets them function in many ways as if they were one size category larger. Whenever a half-giant is subject to a size modifier or special size modifier for an opposed check (such as during grapple checks, bull rush attempts, and trip attempts), the half-giant is treated as one size larger if doing so is advantageous to him. A half-giant is also considered to be one size larger when determining whether a creature’s special attacks based on size (such as improved grab or swallow whole) can affect him. A half-giant can use weapons designed for a creature one size larger without penalty. However, his space and reach remain those of a creature of his actual size. The benefits of this racial trait stack with the effects of powers, abilities, and spells that change the subject’s size category.

The bolded part of the abbility combined with the Monkey Fist Feat from CWarrior and your feat the Half Giant can effectivly have a huge sized spiked chain in one hand at the cost of a -2 penalty. This deals 3d6 damage and with a 10ft reach means anyone who gives this guy and attack of oppurtunity will pay for it. Another thing that can happen is the Half Giant may take the oversize two weapon fighting feat. That allows someone with the feat to treat a one handed weapon as a light weapon or a two handed weapon as a one handed weapon when it comes to Two weapon fighting penalties. This means he can use one huge spiked chain in his primary hand as one handed weapon. And! A Large Spiked chain in his off hand as a light weapon. This in total would mean he takes a -4 penalty for attacks with a huge weapon and -2 for his offhand.

In one round at ecl 20 with 19 levels of fighter this guy effectivly does (if he ownly took twf, ostwf and this feat 17d6 damage with a full round attack.

This is the probably when it comes to spike chains all the time. --ShadowyFigure 07:45, 24 March 2008 (MDT)

But don't make it racial specific! As not just 1 race is focused in a weapon. --ShadowyFigure 09:29, 24 March 2008 (MDT)

That is not true! check Drow of the Underdark- there are loads of race-specific stuff in there like this... --Sam Kay 10:18, 24 March 2008 (MDT)

Maybe just say in the special, something like "This feat only works when you are wielding a spiked chain that is made for your size. For example a human can only use this feat with a medium sized spiked chain." --Green Dragon 10:30, 24 March 2008 (MDT)

Ah but why would the drow be they don't even get proficiency with it for free and so that makes it you know... weird for only them to be able to have the Spike Chain focus feat. And I phrased what I meant wrong. It doesn't make sense that only one race can focus in the spiked chain especially if that race doesn't get weapon proficiency in the weapon for free or at least weapon familiarityShadowyFigure 10:45, 24 March 2008 (MDT)

INTERESTING FACT: Monkey Grip and Powerful Build don't stack! --TK-Squared 11:18, 24 March 2008 (MDT)

Source? Why dont they. ShadowyFigure 11:28, 24 March 2008 (MDT)

http://forums.gleemax.com/showpost.php?p=9178092&postcount=4 --TK-Squared 11:32, 24 March 2008 (MDT)

I see interesting.I always thought it did. ShadowyFigure 11:52, 24 March 2008 (MDT)

TWF?

Why TWF its not a double weaponShadowyFigure 02:10, 25 March 2008 (MDT)

Racial prerequisites

If it's got a racial prerequisite, maybe make it more flavourful. Every non-drow spiked chain weilder would want this feat, so there'd end up being one for each different race. Yeah, fluff or remove the racial prereq, imho. --Othtim 17:00, 26 March 2008 (MDT)