Yeah, don't get me wrong, I totally get where you're coming from, and even the dand homebrew version of this weapon tries to make Disarming some kind of weapon property, or give some extra bonus to disarming with the weapon.
But since 5e made things like disarming completely up to the DM, I don't feel that it's right to design the weapon around it.
As I found this thread, I just wanted to show the way how I handled a spiked chain looted from a shadow dancer by one of my players. This may not be a perfect solution or satisfy all desires, but so far I ran into no problems with the given "mechanics".
As base weapon I used a whip. I gave it the Two-Handed property, replaced its damage type with piercing damage, and gave it an additional 1d4 piercing damage, so a hit would deal 2d4 plus ability modifier piercing damage in total.
I also gave it a Special property, which I handled as follows:
Special. When you hit a Medium or smaller creature with a weapon attack made with the spiked chain, you can immediatly use a bonus action to make another attack roll with the spiked chain contested by the target's Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics) check (the target chooses the ability to use). You succeed automatically if the target is incapacitated. If you succeed, the attack causes no damage or other ill effect, but the target suffers one of the following effects of your choice:
The target is grappled by you. Until this grapple ends, the target is also restrained, and you can’t grapple another target with the spiked chain.
(The target drops one object of your choice that it is currently holding, and the object lands at its feet.)*
* If you want to allow disarming. I personally allow the combat option Disarm as written in the DMG.
As I didn't want to give someone wielding a spiked chain the ability to make a second attack, I didn't include it in its Special property. If you want to give this option, I would change it as follows:
Special. When you hit a creature with a weapon attack made with the spiked chain, you can immediatly use a bonus action to make another attack roll with the spiked chain contested by the target's Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics) check (the target chooses the ability to use). You succeed automatically if the target is incapacitated. If you succeed, the target suffers one of the following effects of your choice:
The target is grappled by you if it is a Medium or smaller creature. Until this grapple ends, the target is also restrained, and you can’t grapple another target with the spiked chain.
The target is knocked prone if it is a Medium or smaller creature.
The target drops one object of your choice that it is currently holding if it is a Medium or smaller creature, and the object lands at its feet.
I like your conversion. It is much more accurate in the stat block..... However, in your description concerning OA's there are some issues. First, the special property is activated when you use the ATTACK ACTION, and it does not matter whether the attack hits or not, you can use your BONUS ACTION to make a second attack... Second, an OPPORTUNITY ATTACK is NOT an ATTACK ACTION it is a REACTION that happens outside your turn, such as another creature leaving your threat range. An OA is a REACTION which means until the end of your next turn, you can not take another REACTION... Third, the special property on the spiked chain is NOT triggered with an OA because it is a REACTION and not an ATTACK ACTION.
Outside of the clarification I just made, I think your conversion is spot on. GOOD JOB!
With the reference to the DBS, it is finesse with the Revenant Blade feat in Eberron, and if your campaign is based in Eberron, I think that the SC would be a perfect fit for the Drow of Xen'Drik with the scorpion theme..... just food for thought.
Yeah, don't get me wrong, I totally get where you're coming from, and even the dand homebrew version of this weapon tries to make Disarming some kind of weapon property, or give some extra bonus to disarming with the weapon.
But since 5e made things like disarming completely up to the DM, I don't feel that it's right to design the weapon around it.
As I found this thread, I just wanted to show the way how I handled a spiked chain looted from a shadow dancer by one of my players. This may not be a perfect solution or satisfy all desires, but so far I ran into no problems with the given "mechanics".
As base weapon I used a whip. I gave it the Two-Handed property, replaced its damage type with piercing damage, and gave it an additional 1d4 piercing damage, so a hit would deal 2d4 plus ability modifier piercing damage in total.
I also gave it a Special property, which I handled as follows:
Special. When you hit a Medium or smaller creature with a weapon attack made with the spiked chain, you can immediatly use a bonus action to make another attack roll with the spiked chain contested by the target's Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics) check (the target chooses the ability to use). You succeed automatically if the target is incapacitated. If you succeed, the attack causes no damage or other ill effect, but the target suffers one of the following effects of your choice:
* If you want to allow disarming. I personally allow the combat option Disarm as written in the DMG.
As I didn't want to give someone wielding a spiked chain the ability to make a second attack, I didn't include it in its Special property. If you want to give this option, I would change it as follows:
Special. When you hit a creature with a weapon attack made with the spiked chain, you can immediatly use a bonus action to make another attack roll with the spiked chain contested by the target's Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics) check (the target chooses the ability to use). You succeed automatically if the target is incapacitated. If you succeed, the target suffers one of the following effects of your choice:
Isn't a spiked chain just a flail that does piercing damage?
There is no dawn after eternal night.
Homebrew: Magic items, Subclasses
There's one caveat I'd make to the approaches adding grappling; make sure the player can't use the chain for anything else while the grapple is held.
That's how I've been treating it.
That's a good point. Thanks! I will change that.
I like your conversion. It is much more accurate in the stat block..... However, in your description concerning OA's there are some issues. First, the special property is activated when you use the ATTACK ACTION, and it does not matter whether the attack hits or not, you can use your BONUS ACTION to make a second attack... Second, an OPPORTUNITY ATTACK is NOT an ATTACK ACTION it is a REACTION that happens outside your turn, such as another creature leaving your threat range. An OA is a REACTION which means until the end of your next turn, you can not take another REACTION... Third, the special property on the spiked chain is NOT triggered with an OA because it is a REACTION and not an ATTACK ACTION.
Outside of the clarification I just made, I think your conversion is spot on. GOOD JOB!
With the reference to the DBS, it is finesse with the Revenant Blade feat in Eberron, and if your campaign is based in Eberron, I think that the SC would be a perfect fit for the Drow of Xen'Drik with the scorpion theme..... just food for thought.