Rhino Charge + Pummeling Charge

[Mike Schneider]

Rhino Charge: "You may ready a charge, though you may only move up to your speed on the charge."

Pummeling Charge: "You can charge and make a full attack or flurry of blows at the end of your charge as part of the charge action."

...and what happens is that our clever player swifts a spell, move-chugs a potion (accelerated drinker trait) or just moves, then readies a charge...which he then takes, getting a complete full-attack even though he's effectively had two move actions mixed in there as well.

By the RAW of the moment, that seems legal, if liable to lift the eyebrow.

(FAQ away)

[Bob Bob Bob]

Why? This seems pretty clear-cut. Rhino Charge is very explicitly "a charge" (with a restriction on movement distance). The part of Pummeling Charge you quoted can be rewritten as "When charging, you may make a full attack or flurry of blows at the end of your charge". It's not a new kind of action, it's just referring to a regular charge. For your example, replace Pummeling Charge with pounce and there's absolutely no ambiguity and it's absolutely allowed. I don't see why Pummeling Charge would be any different.

[Melkiador]

It's really not that powerful. It's not something you'll be able to use every combat. Because you're not always going to have a clear charge lane. And the enemy isn't always going to be within range of the reduced distance charge.

[Claxon]

It's legal and not especially worrying since Pummeling Charge is limited to unarmed strikes only.

The other reason why it's not so great is that most characters aren't going to have a spell to swift action cast or be able to use a move action to do much besides move.

On a non-casting class which doesn't have a good use for swift actions they're going to do what? Drink a potion (if they have it in hand) and then ready a charge?

Assuming they use a move action to move, and then ready the charge it basically works out like they had just charged (double normal move speed).

The real thing is, don't let them ready on metagame constructs like "When my turn ends". Make them ready based on something in game characters could observe.

[Melkiador]

You can just ready for when anyone else does anything. That's basically the same effect as readying for the end of your own turn.

[Claxon]

Yeah, and I also suggest not allowing such a broad action to be readied either.

Really, if your readied action doesn't have a chance of not being triggered, you probably shouldn't be allowed to use it as a trigger.

[Cavall]

"When anyone does anything"

You charge your cleric. He's unhappy.

[pad300]

Follow up question about Rhino Charge. Does it work with a mount? Do both the rider and mount need Rhino Charge as well? If it's only one, I assume the rider and not the mount...

[Claxon]

That's an interesting question.

The mounted combat rules are really poorly written...so the answer is...I don't know.

[Cavall]

According to the rules both gain the bonus to hit and both suffer the a.c. penalty and both are moving.

So yeah should work