?E. N. Arsenal ? Spiked Chain? was the first release in E. N. Publishing?s Arsenal series. Written by M. Jason Parent, this ?Complete Weapon Sourcebook? installment takes a look at the titular weapon by presenting a bit of potential real-world history of the weapon, weapon variants, feats, prestige classes, spells and magic items.
The first chapter presents the spiked chain with more detail than the weapon has received in the core sourcebooks. Different-sized spiked chains ? from Tiny to Colossal ? are detailed here with their costs, damage, weights and hardness. Information on stowing this potentially-awkward weapon is also given.
There are a number of variant spiked chains here. The balled chain is essentially a spiked chain with a morning star head attached to either end. The chain-axe, designed by dwarves, is topped with a double axe-head. The spiked ribbon actually appears to be a sash or belt that reveals barbs along its length when used. Some of the variants are also Asian in flavor, like the chigiriki and kusari-gama.
Rules for using a spiked chain as a sort of grappling hook are given before several new feats are introduced. Several of these feats stand out. Blood Lust and Blood Frenzy (neither of which are spiked-chain-wielding-specific) increase the character?s Constitution, Strength and even armor class, but at the cost of their Dexterity modifier or maybe even a little bit of damage. Firm Grip and Firm Stance give the wielder a +4 bonus versus being disarmed or a +4 bonus versus trips, bull rush or overrun attempts, respectively. Greater Sunder and Greater Disarm give the character an extra immediate melee attack when successfully making a sunder or disarm attack against an opponent. Strike Around allows a spiked chain wielder to reduce his or her opponent?s shield bonus by half.
Two prestige classes are introduced ? the scorpion warrior, whose Ripping Blow forces his or her opponent to make a Fortitude save or suffer a bleeding wound that deals one point of damage per round until Healed, and the raveller, who combines spiked chain use with magic. The sinuous cobra school is also introduced, but this isn?t a prestige class. Instead, it?s a full 20-level playable class multiclassing the monk, rogue and, eventually, the assassin.
The raveller?s spell list contains over 30 spells, but only five of them ? ?weeping wounds?, ?steel shrapnel?, ?iron web?, vertebrate chain? and ?wall of chains? ? are new. The other spells on the list, however, are all given slight variants. For example, a raveller doesn?t cast ?barkskin?, ?hold portal? or ?blade barrier.? Instead, a raveller would cast ?iron skin?, ?chain portal? or ?chain barrier.?
Of the new spells, ?vertebrate chain? caught my attention the most. When using this spell, the caster transforms the spinal column of a slain creature into an unholy spiked chain. If nothing else, an NPC could use this spell to dastardly effect.
Six weapon enhancements and seven specific magic spiked chains round out this supplement. They are all well-designed and well-balanced.
This is a great supplement. While mostly spiked chain-specific, the material in this weapon sourcebook is quite varied, and can be used by almost any character class (a deity of chains ? Darreal, the Binder ? is even included for players interested in playing a chain-based cleric).
<br><br><b>LIKED</b>: This entire sourcebook is well-balanced and quite playable. Both players and DMs can find something of use in ?E. N. Arsenal ? Spiked Chain.? The artwork supplements the material nicely as well. The new spells, and the way the existing spells from the existing sourcebooks are modified, give this supplement a great deal of flavor.
<br><br><b>DISLIKED</b>: I'm not a fan of breaking down a multiclassed character into a 20-level progression like the sinuous cobra school. This may be a personal bias, but it isn't enough to detract from the product.
<br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Excellent<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Very Satisfied<br><BR>[THIS REVIEW WAS EDITED]<BR>
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