I'm trying to understand what should happen if a charge action is interrupted for some reason, e.g. by triggering an AOO from a monster with grab. There's quite a few possible stations, here's a few I'd like to discuss:
Situation 1: Equip a two handed weapon and charge a monster with 10ft reach and grab
Player exists a square that is 10ft from the monster. Since the monster threatens that square it gets an AOO which (for sake of argument) hits, grab is triggered (assume successfully), player is adjacent to the monster but is grappled and can't attack with the 2h weapon.
What would happen if the player had quick draw, could they still make an attack? Presumably not with the +2 to hit from charge if an attack was somehow possible. (This situation came up recently in a home game and our DM was kind enough to give a 50% chance for the attack to land anyway. I quite like this house rule.)
Situation 2: Equip a one handed weapon and charge a monster with 10ft reach and grab
Player exists a square that is 10ft from the monster. Since the monster threatens that square it gets an AOO which (for sake of argument) hits, grab is triggered (assume successfully), player is now adjacent to the monster and grappled. The player can attack, but do they still get the +2 to hit from charge? (If so that would cancel out the -2 from grapple)
Situation 3: Equip a one handed weapon and charge a monster with 15ft reach and grab
Player exists a square that is 15ft from the monster. Since the monster threatens that square it gets an AOO which (for sake of argument) hits, grab is triggered (assume successfully), player is 10 ft from the monster and can't make a melee attack since they don't have range. (Presumably the monster is holding them with some appendage, so perhaps they can still attack?)
What happens if the player has Lunge? Presumably they'd have to declare they where using that before charging for it to kick in.
What happens if they where charging with a 1h weapon that could be thrown (e.g. a dagger) can they decide to throw it instead of using a melee attack? If they are able to throw it, they can't get a +2 to hit without Charging Hurler.
Situation 4: Equip a one handed weapon and charge a at some other target, but through a square threatened by monster with reach and grab
The player never reaches the intended target, can they make at attack on the third party that intercepted them? Presumably if this was possible they don't get the +2 to hit. Presumably in all these situations they suffer the -2 to AC for the round.
Thanks!
alright, charging can be fun, so for the sake of argument:
Editor's Note: Charge + Vital Strike?
Can Vital Strike be used on a charge?
No. Vital Strike can only be used as part of an attack action, which is a specific kind of standard action. Charging is a special kind of full-round action that includes the ability to make one melee attack, not one attack action.
[Source]
Charging is a special full-round action that allows you to move up to twice your speed and attack during the action. Charging, however, carries tight restrictions on how you can move.
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.
You can't take a 5-foot step in the same round as a charge.
If you are able to take only a standard action on your turn, you can still charge, but you are only allowed to move up to your speed (instead of up to double your speed) and you cannot draw a weapon unless you possess the Quick Draw feat. You can't use this option unless you are restricted to taking only a standard action on your turn.
Attacking on a Charge
After moving, you may make a single melee attack. You get a +2 bonus on the attack roll and take a –2 penalty to your AC until the start of your next turn.
A charging character gets a +2 bonus on combat maneuver attack rolls made to bull rush an opponent.
Even if you have extra attacks, such as from having a high enough base attack bonus or from using multiple weapons, you only get to make one attack during a charge.
Lances and Charge Attacks: A lance deals double damage if employed by a mounted character in a charge.
Weapons Readied against a Charge: Spears, tridents, and other weapons with the brace feature deal double damage when readied (set) and used against a charging character.
the -2 AC is from start of charge, so that always applies, i think to CMD too.
So... Grab = grapple, move adjacent and yadda yadda yadda...
1) 2H weapon, right out.
2)I'd say a GM call, if they moved the requisite 10' prior to grab, I'd say sure they get their attack. probably balancing bonuses, but *shrug*
3)Grappling says it pulls adjacent to, so... unless mob had something specifying otherwise...
Lunge (Combat)
You can strike foes that would normally be out of reach.
Prerequisites: Base attack bonus +6.
Benefit: You can increase the reach of your melee attacks by 5 feet until the end of your turn by taking a –2 penalty to your AC until your next turn. You must decide to use this ability before any attacks are made.
Seems legit...
4)You were charging what became an illegal target. Same with spell, whoops...
3)Grappling says it pulls adjacent to, so... unless mob had something specifying otherwise...
Ah good point, I'd overlooked that.
|
I guess an important question is whether or not being grappled prevents a character from performing a task. Being grappled doesn't prevent you from performing a full-attack, but it obviously hinders free movement.
Regarding a charge, it is pretty clear that the charger has to have a clear, unobstructed, path from start to target. The question becomes: does being grappled present enough of an obstruction to the target to stop a charge? This is clearly the case in example 4, as the grappler wasn't even the target of the charge, but it is much more questionable in the preceding examples.
A grappler moves a non-adjacent target to an empty adjacent space: what if the charger is moved to a space that was not along his original path. Is it reasonable to assume, then, that the charge is no longer valid? What if the charger is moved to the intended spot; is the charge still legal even though the grappler moved the charger to that spot rather than the charger moving under his own power?
A grappler moves a non-adjacent target to an empty adjacent space: what if the charger is moved to a space that was not along his original path. Is it reasonable to assume, then, that the charge is no longer valid?
I believe it is reasonable to assume that. I'd still allow a standard attack since they should be adjacent.