Tatterdemalion witch

[Fiuren]

Hey, I saw a cool tatterdemalion witch build that made use of the « equipment trick » feat to use an animated rope (one you would be able to control as prehensile hair) as a spiked chain to attack.

It seems really cool, but the person who posted this build recommended feats at first level and boasted about the fact that a tatterdemalion that is proficient with a spiked chain (mandatory to use equipment trick - spiked chain, if I remember correctly) could do x actions and blah blah blah.

The thing is, the tatterdemalion witch’s proficiencies are simple weapons, bolas, nets and whips. No spiked chains to be seen.

I tought that maybe he included being a human and taking exotic weapon proficiency as a bonus feat ar first level because of race, but no, he was using this build on a ratfolk...

It overall made confused about how does the witch get the proficiency in spiked chains to use the feat at 1st level? Am I missing something in the archetype ability descriptions explaining this?

And if you have some other advices on how to play a tatterdemalion witch, they would be gladly appreciated. :D

[mardaddy]

I don't think you are missing anything, it is pretty straightforward.

Ratfolk as a race does not give the spiked chain prof. and that archetype does not either. The Equipment Trick feat mentions that you still need to have the skills or, "other requirement listed," to use the tricks with the Rope, as DM, I would read that, "other requirement," as being proficient.

A spiked chain may be employed as a weapon like a whip, but RAW it is not, can you ask the source to break down how he made the build?

[Ferious Thune]

I posted a Ratfolk tatterdemalion build not long ago, but I wasn’t using equipment trick or anything to do with spiked chain. I’ll track down the post when I’m not on my phone.

[Fiuren]

Another thing I think may be why the person thought the character had proficiency is because of the « dancing string » ability, it basically makes it act like prehensile hair and prehensile hair can be use as a natural attack.

Maybe he thought that because it could be used as a natural attack, he had proficiency with it (the rope itself) and thus could use the equipment tricks related to this rope?

Anyway, here’s the source where I found people talk aboit the build:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Pathfinder_RPG/comments/6di1xa/witch_archetype_tat terdemalion_discussion_breaking/

[graystone]

1/2 orcs with Chain Fighter can get spiked chain prof. without a feat.

With a ratfolk, I can only guess he's confused spiked chain with whip.

[Ferious Thune]

I don't think a lot of what is posted in that build works. He was going Ratfolk to increase the range/length of the dancing string hex, but as he noted, that doesn't work.

Just because you're treating a knotted rope as a spiked chain, it doesn't mean that you get reach or anything that a spiked chain doesn't already give you. The only difference is that it deals bludgeoning damage (and that people might not think the rope is a weapon). You're not going to get 100 feet of reach, or even 10 feet of reach, because that's not what a spiked chain gives you.

But a Robe of Infinite Twine could be fun with the build, as the post mentioned. And the archetype does have a lot of fun flavor to it.

The Ratfolk Tatterdemalion I'm working on is posted HERE.

The issue facing the archetype is that Witch is 1/2 BAB, so I am attempting to create something close to a 3/4 BAB 6-level Witch based multiclass. I wanted a backup tactic for when I don't have my hair active, and Inspired Blade gives that essentially with one level dip. Ranger/Slayer is in order to get Power Attack without meeting the STR prerequisite.