Which other feat might I use for double wielding reach?

Question

Starting from the assumptions that Dragon Magazine material was often unbalanced (under- or over-powered) and that adding lots of options always increases the chance of combining powers and feats into something more lethal than otherwise, I gave my players a strict list of manuals they can use for character building.

I've always been prone to accept case-by-case additions from Dragon Magazines when it is a feat that fixes some problem with the rules, e.g. a class feature not working properly.

Now, one of my players is intent in creating a (level 10, bordering 11) character that looks like Kratos, from the God of War videogame franchise, and he would like to get the spiked chain training feat in order to be able to dual wield the chain.

Is there another feat that comes from the manuals (PHB 1 to 3, heroes of, * Power, forgotten realms campaign setting) that might make the character able to dual-wield reach weapons? I'm not against refluffing something else into a spiked chain.

Answer 1

Not until epic levels.

Barring weapons that innately support dual-wielding and reach, there are very few ways to dual-wield 2-handed weapons (almost all reach weapons are 2-handed) or to gain reach.

The only always-on method of doing so that I'm aware of is the Eternal Defender epic destiny from Martial Power 1. Its level 24 feature, Godlike Stature, allows characters to wield weapons as if they were one size larger and increases their reach by 1 square.

The level 22 swordmage daily utility power Giant's Might from the Forgotten Realms Players Guide similarly increases the character's size and grants reach (but not the ability to wield larger weapons), but it only lasts for a single encounter.

Answer 2

You might be able to use a whip.

The whip is a one-handed superior weapon with the reach & off-hand properties (though see below about off-hand). It was originally published in Dragon 368, but was also later included in the Dark Sun Campaign Setting & Mordenkainen's Magnificent Emporium books.

Dual-wielding whips is mechanically identical to wielding a spiked chain as a double weapon with the spiked chain training feat, with the following differences:

1. The damage drops from 2d4 to 1d4
2. The whips have to be enchanted separately rather than as a single double weapon (which costs more money but allows special properties on the off-hand weapon)
3. No feat is needed to dual-wield whips

An Important Caveat: As published in Dragon 368 and the Dark Sun CS the whip has the off-hand property. As published in Mordenkainen's Emporium it does not have that property. Neither book has received errata that resolves the discrepancy. It's thus ultimately up to the GM whether the whip has that property; if it doesn't, the ranger's ability to dual-wield non-off-hand weapons would be needed to dual-wield whips.

Answer 3

Well, you won't get the exact ability to Dual-Wield Spiked Chains, but if the character is fine with some 'reflavoring' of the weapon (and NOT reliant on other feats or powers that wants you specifically wielding that weapon) might I suggest the Transcendant Ki Focus, a Superior Implement.

Transcendent Ki Focus
Blinking (When you hit with a teleportation attack power, you have concealment until the start of your next turn.).
Reaching (You gain +1 reach with melee attacks using a reaching implement.).

The character could then wield a different weapon, such as a Flail, that would mechanically be different but flavor/fluff could be changed. All that would be needed is obtaining Ki Focus Proficiency to take the Superior Implement Training feat.

EDIT: This does not work by RAW, as PHB3 prevents Superior Implements from ever working with Weapons (regardless of the kind). So unless the Character is also deciding to go Monk, this won't work as I previously mentioned.

Answer 4

Mordenkaine's Magnificent Emporium page 21, Superior melee weapons, two-handed

Spike Chain +3 proficiency, 2d4 damage, price 30gp, 10lb reach property flail group

you would be looking at weapon proficiency spike chain feat and then flail feats for it.