Unless wielded by a monster like the chain devil I would make these a magic item, but if you want to just allow fighting with a chain, then a modified Whip that deals bludgeoning damage sounds fine. I'm guessing you're thinking of them being wielded in video game/anime style, so I'm going to ignore any attempt at realism.
If you want a magical version that can grapple and restrain creatures, try these:
I think there's an angle towards treating them like a type of melee weapon Net, that doesn't need to be thrown to make its attacks? I'd probably still give it some other special trait that results in it having the same disadvantage at close range (maybe it has Reach and Special:attacks with this weapon against adjacent foes (within 5 feet) are made with disadvantage), and have it deal some damage, even just 1 damage like a dart rather than null like a net.... so really I suppose it's getting pretty homebrewed already. Maybe:
Special: A Large or smaller creature hit by a chain is restrained until it is freed, or until the wielder makes another attack using the chain. A chain has no effect on creatures that are formless, or creatures that are Huge or larger. A creature can use its action to make a DC 20 Strength check, freeing itself or another creature within its reach on a success. Dealing 10 slashing or bludgeoning damage to the chain (AC 18, resistance Slashing) also frees the creature without harming it, ending the effect and destroying the chain. When you use an action, bonus action, or reaction to attack with a chain, you can make only one attack regardless of the number of attacks you can normally make. Attacks with a chain against adjacent creatures (within 5 feet of the wielder) are made with disadvantage.
This would have a lot of disadvantages (disadvantage when not using its full Reach, only one attack even with Extra Attack like a Net has, have to stop using it to keep an enemy Restrained, weapon can be attacked and destroyed by enemies, takes two hands), but also advantages (GWM-eligible, more resilient than a Net, reach, etc.). I think it would be balanced enough!
You could model a two-handed chain weapon on the double-bladed scimitar, with a feat giving it reach and maybe some other small bonus. That's essentially how 4e handled it.
I would ask the DM and explain what you want to do with it. I could see reflavoring a Glaive to a chain but add the Versatile trait so if you wanted to wield it 1-handed it would do 1D8 instead of D10 and it would add 5' of Reach.
Be real careful before creating a Heavy weapon that can be wielded one handed, you'll find that that's a very desirable niche that a lot of martial characters would snap up if it became an option even disregarding everything else about the weapon.
Be real careful before creating a Heavy weapon that can be wielded one handed, you'll find that that's a very desirable niche that a lot of martial characters would snap up if it became an option even disregarding everything else about the weapon.
I can see that. If it were at my table, I would state that the weapon would only be considered Heavy if it were being wielded with 2 hands. Another way to look at it would be a Whip with the Versatile trait so that if you wielded it with 2 hands it would go up a damage die but Whips typically have a 15' range if I recall and I was thinking of only 5.
Whips are a melee weapon with Reach, so they have a 5-10 foot range just like Glaives. No real difference in effective range.
A Chain being a VersatileWhip that goes up to d6 damage, and deals bludgeoning instead of piercing (and loses the Finesse property?) is probably the simplest possible explanation, without going into special Restrained rules.
The Ogre Chain Brute wields a chain that does 2d8+str bludgeoning on a hit with a 10ft reach. If you applied that to a medium sized creature it'd be a 1d8+str, or basically a weaker Glaive/Pike.
Whips are a melee weapon with Reach, so they have a 5-10 foot range just like Glaives. No real difference in effective range.
A Chain being a VersatileWhip that goes up to d6 damage, and deals bludgeoning instead of piercing (and loses the Finesse property?) is probably the simplest possible explanation, without going into special Restrained rules.
I have used this technique for a chain in the past, but I left the finesse property.
chain gotta give up SOMETHING if it’s grabbing versatile. AND arguably even without that, bludgeoning is a better control damage type - crusher movement is great on reach, and a single PAM bonus is currently the only other way to use it, so a 1h reach bludgeon d4 or 2H bludgeon d6 that can be swung twice or more per turn is candy…
What's a good weapon to reflavor as chains? I was thinking of the whip, but I was wondering if someone else had a better idea
Chains would be quite unwieldy in melee combat, but are heavy so maybe would do more than 1d4 if they hit.
Unless wielded by a monster like the chain devil I would make these a magic item, but if you want to just allow fighting with a chain, then a modified Whip that deals bludgeoning damage sounds fine. I'm guessing you're thinking of them being wielded in video game/anime style, so I'm going to ignore any attempt at realism.
If you want a magical version that can grapple and restrain creatures, try these:
Chains of Sanvaelia
A Quaterstaff would be a faire choice it deals bludgeoning damage and can be used both one handed and two handed.
Or possibly a flail since the concept involves chains already
I think there's an angle towards treating them like a type of melee weapon Net, that doesn't need to be thrown to make its attacks? I'd probably still give it some other special trait that results in it having the same disadvantage at close range (maybe it has Reach and Special: attacks with this weapon against adjacent foes (within 5 feet) are made with disadvantage), and have it deal some damage, even just 1 damage like a dart rather than null like a net.... so really I suppose it's getting pretty homebrewed already. Maybe:
This would have a lot of disadvantages (disadvantage when not using its full Reach, only one attack even with Extra Attack like a Net has, have to stop using it to keep an enemy Restrained, weapon can be attacked and destroyed by enemies, takes two hands), but also advantages (GWM-eligible, more resilient than a Net, reach, etc.). I think it would be balanced enough!
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I'm going to make this way harder than it needs to be.
When I was playing a Ghost Rider inspired PC I re-skinned a halberd as her chain and just switched the damage type to bludgeoning.
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That's how to fight with a chain haha
You could model a two-handed chain weapon on the double-bladed scimitar, with a feat giving it reach and maybe some other small bonus. That's essentially how 4e handled it.
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I would ask the DM and explain what you want to do with it. I could see reflavoring a Glaive to a chain but add the Versatile trait so if you wanted to wield it 1-handed it would do 1D8 instead of D10 and it would add 5' of Reach.
Be real careful before creating a Heavy weapon that can be wielded one handed, you'll find that that's a very desirable niche that a lot of martial characters would snap up if it became an option even disregarding everything else about the weapon.
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I'm going to make this way harder than it needs to be.
I can see that. If it were at my table, I would state that the weapon would only be considered Heavy if it were being wielded with 2 hands. Another way to look at it would be a Whip with the Versatile trait so that if you wielded it with 2 hands it would go up a damage die but Whips typically have a 15' range if I recall and I was thinking of only 5.
Whips are a melee weapon with Reach, so they have a 5-10 foot range just like Glaives. No real difference in effective range.
A Chain being a Versatile Whip that goes up to d6 damage, and deals bludgeoning instead of piercing (and loses the Finesse property?) is probably the simplest possible explanation, without going into special Restrained rules.
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I'm going to make this way harder than it needs to be.
The Ogre Chain Brute wields a chain that does 2d8+str bludgeoning on a hit with a 10ft reach. If you applied that to a medium sized creature it'd be a 1d8+str, or basically a weaker Glaive/Pike.
I have used this technique for a chain in the past, but I left the finesse property.
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If you leave Finesse, it’s just a “better whip”.
chain gotta give up SOMETHING if it’s grabbing versatile. AND arguably even without that, bludgeoning is a better control damage type - crusher movement is great on reach, and a single PAM bonus is currently the only other way to use it, so a 1h reach bludgeon d4 or 2H bludgeon d6 that can be swung twice or more per turn is candy…
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I'm going to make this way harder than it needs to be.