a chain as a weapon

[beckerc]

Has anyone thought about the modifications of a kusari to reflect a western-style modern industrial/farm chain? I have a player who wants to be skilled in swinging a chain and wondered if anyone has added this as a weapon to their game. I thought about basing it on a kusari and just upping the damage (?), the weight, and the strength required, and maybe making it slower as well somehow. It seems like it would be very unwieldy in a fight. Any thoughts? Has this been written up in a sourcebook somewhere?

[Phantasm]

In Low-Tech in the sidebox for Improvised Weapons, a chain (as encountered as a weapon used by a street thug) is listed with a penalty to Kusari skill, with stats roughly the same for a length and weight; I don't recall if there was any damage adjustment.

[The Colonel]

Bear in mind that the classic street fighter's chain is usually one off a motor bike and is a lot shorter and denser than a kusari. You're not likely to trip or entangle someone with it, but it is really good at transferring energy and breaking bones. Definitely a signature weapon for "outlaw bikers".

[DouglasCole]

Originally Posted by The Colonel

Bear in mind that the classic street fighter's chain is usually one off a motor bike

Knew a guy who claimed he was a gang member at one time (though he didn't precisely fit the stereotype), and he claimed his favorite chain was a blade from a chainsaw, with a handle on one end.

[Christopher R. Rice]

Originally Posted by DouglasCole

Knew a guy who claimed he was a gang member at one time (though he didn't precisely fit the stereotype), and he claimed his favorite chain was a blade from a chainsaw, with a handle on one end.

Don't know about your friend, but I came across this one night (I think - I had a concussion at the time). One end of the chain was welded onto a wide belt buckle with the leather belt acting as a sheath of sorts. Back of my left leg still has the marks from getting hit with it near ten years ago. Never saw that one coming and I'm quite paranoid about hidden gewgaws.

[The Colonel]

Originally Posted by DouglasCole

Knew a guy who claimed he was a gang member at one time (though he didn't precisely fit the stereotype), and he claimed his favorite chain was a blade from a chainsaw, with a handle on one end.

I would guess that converts the damage type to cutting...

[Not]

Apparently a flexible rope or chain with a weight hung on the end is called a "slung shot." Bicycle chain with a lock on the end makes a plausible weapon with plausible deniability.

[malloyd]

Originally Posted by The Colonel

I would guess that converts the damage type to cutting...

I wouldn't think so. Chain saw chains aren't very sharp and the places the teeth actually have something edge like are perpendicular to the direction of motion of the chain in the saw - i.e. arranged the wrong direction to bite something hit with a swung chain. Indeed the edges are actually recessed in the chain

[cptbutton]

Now I am wondering what kind of chain Cherryh's merchanters are always using in their bar fights.

From context I assume that the knives and chains they use all require some degree of plausible deniability that they are weapons by stationer law.

[Humabout]

Originally Posted by malloyd

I wouldn't think so. Chain saw chains aren't very sharp and the places the teeth actually have something edge like are perpendicular to the direction of motion of the chain in the saw - i.e. arranged the wrong direction to bite something hit with a swung chain. Indeed the edges are actually recessed in the chain

Sounds like just a +1/die with a fractional armor divisor, maybe. Interesting, though.