What would be the advantage or disadvantage of doing a jumping attack? Let’s say you run 20 feet then leap at your enemy to attack. What would be the mechanics? Would you get an attack of opportunity against you? Would you get a plus to attack? Would your enemy lose their dex bonus? Could you sneak attack? Is there any advantages besides looking extremely cool? Not to say looking cool while killing orcs isn’t important I’m just wondering if there is anything else to it.
Fizz
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Aside from the Leap Attack feat (which most people seem to regard as grossly overpowered), the only benefit I can see is giving the attacker a +1 to hit for attacking from higher ground. The jump is part of the movement (as stated in the PHB) and the charge action is otherwise unchanged.
What would be the advantage or disadvantage of doing a jumping attack?
Fizz, this is an unofficial answer (partly). There are two benefits and one disadvantage to a leap attack other than the kind made with the actual feat of the same name.
1-While making the leap, you gain a +1 to your attack roll for being higher than your opponent prior to landing in the adjacent square as your enemy.
2-This can also be considered a charge, so it's reasonable to also get the +2 bonus to your attack which you can add to the bonus for "higher ground".
The disadvantage is that you also have the -2 penalty to your AC until your next turn.
It's really not a bad tactic and makes for exciting combats. I actually encourage this kind of thing in my own games. Other than it being cool, there's not much benefit.
Edit: I see that Fatespinner pretty much beat me to the punch. Our answers are basically the same.
Let’s say you run 20 feet then leap at your enemy to attack. What would be the mechanics?
A simple Jump check should do it. If there are things between the PC and his opponent, you could add a +5 to the DC to simulate the difficulty of clearing the obstacles (this may be covered under a running high jump, though).
Would you get an attack of opportunity against you?
You would if you left threatened squares between you and your opponent during your movment per normal or possibly if your opponent has reach (and ouch! if the opponent has a weapon that can be readied to set for a charge).
Would you get a plus to attack?
See above.
Would your enemy lose their dex bonus?
Not from your leaping jump attack unless you were acting before them in the round or otherwise caught them flat-footed or denied their Dexterity to AC.
Could you sneak attack?
Yes, but see the previous answer.
Is there any advantages besides looking extremely cool? Not to say looking cool while killing orcs isn’t important I’m just wondering if there is anything else to it.
None that I can think of, but there are a variety of situations in which this may have other advantages I'm missing. Hard to say.