I'm sorry for posting another charge attack question but I haven't seen this answered to my satisfaction as yet.
Movement During a Charge: You must move before your attack, not after. You must move at least 10 feet (2 squares) and may move up to double your speed directly toward the designated opponent. If you move a distance equal to your speed or less, you can also draw a weapon during a charge attack if your base attack bonus is at least +1.
You must have a clear path toward the opponent, and nothing can hinder your movement (such as difficult terrain or obstacles). You must move to the closest space from which you can attack the opponent. If this space is occupied or otherwise blocked, you can't charge. If any line from your starting space to the ending space passes through a square that blocks movement, slows movement, or contains a creature (even an ally), you can't charge. Helpless creatures don't stop a charge.
If you don't have line of sight to the opponent at the start of your turn, you can't charge that opponent.
The PRD seems to indicate that one can make a charge attack as long as they move in a straight line from a distance of at least 10'. Does this mean the PC can makes turns over the first 20' and then still charge for the final 10' as long as it is unimpeded in a straight line?
Zig zag into charge? Yes or no?
Thanks in advance.
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I'm sorry for posting another charge attack question but I haven't seen this answered to my satisfaction as yet.
Movement During a Charge: You must move before your attack, not after. You must move at least 10 feet (2 squares) and may move up to double your speed directly toward the designated opponent. If you move a distance equal to your speed or less, you can also draw a weapon during a charge attack if your base attack bonus is at least +1.
You must have a clear path toward the opponent, and nothing can hinder your movement (such as difficult terrain or obstacles). You must move to the closest space from which you can attack the opponent. If this space is occupied or otherwise blocked, you can't charge. If any line from your starting space to the ending space passes through a square that blocks movement, slows movement, or contains a creature (even an ally), you can't charge. Helpless creatures don't stop a charge.
If you don't have line of sight to the opponent at the start of your turn, you can't charge that opponent.
The PRD seems to indicate that one can make a charge attack as long as they move in a straight line from a distance of at least 10'. Does this mean the PC can makes turns over the first 20' and then still charge for the final 10' as long as it is unimpeded in a straight line?
Zig zag into charge? Yes or no?
Thanks in advance.
As I understand it the answer would be no.
I have never asked this straight out, but as I have been to understand it, a charge is a full round action and doing complex movements would constitute as a single move action. Thus you could not do a zig-zag then charge in the same turn. I am not an expert rules lawyer but that is how I understand it.
When it says "any line from your starting space", it means that you draw lines from the four corners of your space to the four corners of the ending space, and if none of them touch anything then you're good to go.
In addition, I think "Directly toward" pretty much means that the entire movement has to be in a straight line, since deviating from that straight line means you're not moving directly to the target.
When it says "any line from your starting space", it means that you draw lines from the four corners of your space to the four corners of the ending space, and if none of them touch anything then you're good to go.
In addition, I think "Directly toward" pretty much means that the entire movement has to be in a straight line, since deviating from that straight line means you're not moving directly to the target.
This. However which direction the attack is, from that last square you moved to, is mostly irrelevant. Meaning you can charge "next" to someone with movement and attack any viable target from that point. It can lead to some very odd charge attacks.
This. However which direction the attack is, from that last square you moved to, is mostly irrelevant. Meaning you can charge "next" to someone with movement and attack any viable target from that point. It can lead to some very odd charge attacks.
I don't know if you missed it, or mean something that I don't comprehend, but you must charge to the first possible space from which you can attack your opponent:
You must move to the closest space from which you can attack the opponent.
If you know that, could you explain what you meant?
Do not forget that Charge is a Full Round Action so there is no way to move 20' then charge. You cannot move at all before taking a full round Charge action (you cannot even take a 5'Step because the rules for 5'Steps say you can only take them when you are not making any other movement in the same turn).
So your entire movement for the entire Full Round Action (in fact, for your entire round) is the Charge, and that must be in a straight line.
You charge down a hallway to an open door, there is an opponent hiding on the jail wall (line of sight but cover) opposite you where you moved and passed.
You end up making an attack diagonally back from your movement direction.
Convoluted but legal.
You charge down a hallway to an open door, there is an opponent hiding on the jail wall (line of sight but cover) opposite you where you moved and passed.
You end up making an attack diagonally back from your movement direction.
Convoluted but legal.
Sorry, I still don't get it.
If the opponent is behind cover, you don't get to charge to a square where he doesn't have cover towards you. You may charge the first square you can attack him, cover or not.
If he's hidden, you can't charge him.
Do not forget that Charge is a Full Round Action so there is no way to move 20' then charge.
You could try saying, "I move here as a move action, then I ready an action to make a standard-action charge as soon as anything happens." But I wouldn't count on the average GM allowing it.
You charge down a hallway to an open door, there is an opponent hiding on the jail wall (line of sight but cover) opposite you where you moved and passed.
You end up making an attack diagonally back from your movement direction.
Convoluted but legal.
Sorry, I still don't get it.
If the opponent is behind cover, you don't get to charge to a square where he doesn't have cover towards you. You may charge the first square you can attack him, cover or not.
If he's hidden, you can't charge him.
I tried to make a diagram but the forum removes excess "spaces" so it didn't come out. I guess you'll have to figure it out on your own if you care to.
"The closest space you can attack from" doesn't remove choices from attack options. It doesn't force you to make crappy attacks either (meaning forcing you to attack through cover or concealment) if you have other options.
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I can't imagine a situation where you can charge past someone...
If you are the attacker (A), your opponent (O) is in the hallway (x) possible places to charge (C) is usually 1 but can at maximum be 2 or if the GM is generous 3 squares (G): (some examples, formatting isn't easy)
xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx
xxAxx xAxxx Axxxx
xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx
xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx
xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx
xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx
xGCGx xCGxx xCxxx
xxOxx xxOxx xxOxx
xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx
You need a feat to Ready a Charge.
(Searches the internet...) Ah, you mean Rhino Charge.
You charge down a hallway to an open door, there is an opponent hiding on the jail wall (line of sight but cover) opposite you where you moved and passed.
You end up making an attack diagonally back from your movement direction.
Convoluted but legal.
As long as you see the opponent hiding on the jail wall at the start of your turn before you charge, then yes. If you cannot see him at the start but see him later on as you "charge" into the room, then no.
It is really a straight forward game mechanic. Can I see my opponent and is anything in the way? If the answers are yes and no, then charge away in a direct, ie straight not zig-zag, path to attack the opponent.
Do not forget that Charge is a Full Round Action so there is no way to move 20' then charge.You could try saying, "I move here as a move action, then I ready an action to make a standard-action charge as soon as anything happens." But I wouldn't count on the average GM allowing it.
Except that you cannot ready Full-Round actions and Charge is a Full-Round action therefore it cannot be readied.
The only time you can use Charge as a Standard action is when you are specifically restricted to ONLY have a Standard action (like in the surprise round, or if you're a Zombie). The idea of "I use my Move action to move and my Standard action to ready a Standard action for later" automatically REQUIRES you to HAVE a Move action and a Standard action which means you are already ineligible for the Standard-action charge this round.
So any GM that does allow it is making house rules (or just plain not understanding the RAW in the first place).
Thanks for the help, everyone. That clears it up for me.
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Do not forget that Charge is a Full Round Action so there is no way to move 20' then charge.You could try saying, "I move here as a move action, then I ready an action to make a standard-action charge as soon as anything happens." But I wouldn't count on the average GM allowing it.Except that you cannot ready Full-Round actions and Charge is a Full-Round action therefore it cannot be readied.
The only time you can use Charge as a Standard action is when you are specifically restricted to ONLY have a Standard action (like in the surprise round, or if you're a Zombie). The idea of "I use my Move action to move and my Standard action to ready a Standard action for later" automatically REQUIRES you to HAVE a Move action and a Standard action which means you are already ineligible for the Standard-action charge this round.
So any GM that does allow it is making house rules (or just plain not understanding the RAW in the first place).
You can if you have the before-mentioned Rhino Charge feat.