Spiked Chain Character help

[Yasmin Swiftbow]

I am having some trouble with deciding how I want my character before it hits level two. I currently have a fighter wielding a spiked chain for tripping with high dex but not as much str. So my CMB is not as high as I would like it. The other problem is I am playing character in Core mode so not many options to really bump CMB. Should I keep dex and just take agile maneuvers feat or go str build and take heavy flail as well?

[Imbicatus]

Lose the spiked chain. It is not worth the EWP feat to take it, especially in core. If you are going to be a finesse fighter in core you should stick with rapier, and plan on going into duelist.

[Murdock Mudeater]

There's a ranger style for followers of zon kuthon, which has a nice collection of spiked chain related feats. I'd start there, even if only as a reference point.

[Imbicatus]

The problem is the op is playing core. All of the spiked chain support is not in core.

[KainPen]

remember weapon focus, weapon training, the bonus on the weapon, insite bonus on attack roll luck ect, Flanking all apply. To the CMB when trying to trip with a particular weapon even weapon finesse. All that just from core book raising CMB is not that hard. the problem is CMD is even easier to raise, since deflection, dodge ect bonus also apply to cmd, and combination of str and dex, your best core only option for a dex build is going to be agile maneuvers or weapon finesse, also if you can make a person flat footed or lose their dex and dodge bonus to ac they also lose it to CMD also. that will help you with deficient.

[Murdock Mudeater]

Imbicatus wrote:

The problem is the op is playing core. All of the spiked chain support is not in core.

The ranger style isn't core, but the feats are often core. I tend to use the ranger styles as a starting reference point for my fighters.

Was on the cell before hence the short post, but the feats in Zon Kuthon's fighting style are:

Exotic Prof (Spiked Chain)
Agile Maneuvers
Weapon Finesse
Disruptive
Bloody Assault (non-core)
Improved Trip
Bleeding Critical
Pin Down(non-core)

Only two of these are non-core feats. Like I said, a good starting point.

You could also just use it as a two-handed weapon, relying on heavy strength and not bother with the weapon finesse route. It's still a two-handed weapon with both the trip and disarm properties.

As a fan of Zon Kuthon, I have been tinkering around with the idea of getting an undersized Spiked Chain, so it could be wielded in one hand. It would no longer be weapon finesse eligible, -2 on attack, and it would do a die step less damage, but you could wield it with a shield or another weapon. Iffy for those that don't follow Zon Kuthon, but it really opens some doors in terms of weapon options. This is core PFS legal, but still an iffy option.

Anyway, for Core, I think the key is deciding if you want a dex or a strength based character. After that, all decisions revolve around your options within those stats. Personally, seems more a flavor question than one of viability.

Since it sounds like you've already decided on high dex, I'd definitely take a level in Rogue. Your fighter is already in lighter armor, due to max dex penalties, and having the high dex makes them a useful rogue anyway, plus sneak attack is a great way to add damage to your low strength two-handed weapon user. The extra skill points never hurt a fighter, anyway.

I'd pick one of those maneuvers that the spiked chain works with (trip or disarm), and be sure to take feats to improve that one. Personally, I'd lean towards disarm. If you do, I'd also look into the Catch Off Guard feat, which has some obvious synergy with Agile Maneuvers+Sneak Attack+Disarming weapons. Catch Off Guard is Core, and very much a useful feat for every fighter. It's not a huge combo, but it does help, plus switching weapons from spiked chain to improvised is really easy (like using the spiked chain to deal bludgeon damage as an improvised weapon).