Charge!

[Scribble]

Ok So last session one of my PCs and I were debating a rules issue about charge. In particular this part:

No Further Actions: After you resolve a charge attack, you can’t take any further actions this turn, unless you spend an action point to take an extra action.

Her stance was that you can take extra actions BEFORE you take the charge action. You just can't take any other actions afterwards. (IE you could move, then charge, or take a minor, then charge, etc...)

I felt that it was just badly worded, and that it meant you can only make a charge if you decide to do it that round.

I see her idea is reasonable based on the wording, so I told her even though we went by my ruling at the table, I'd look into it.

So fellow enworld 4e players... what are your thoughts?

I can see her reading of the rules as

 

[Obryn]

I'd say she's 100% right in her interpretation. IIRC, it's also how the Charge action worked in SWSE.

Yes, you can take a move and a minor before you Charge. The charge just ends your turn once it's resolved.

-O

 

[Mengu]

She is correct. You can move, then charge. You can use a minor action, then move, then charge. These are all legal.

Charging is a standard action and the only restriction is you can't take any actions after it, unless you use an action point.

 

[Black Knight Irios]

She is correct. You can move, then charge. You can use a minor action, then move, then charge. These are all legal.

Charging is a standard action and the only restriction is you can't take any actions after it, unless you use an action point.

This.

Some DM are allowing free actions even after the charge.

And some people here think that, you should be able to take free actions after a charge and that the restriction of no actions applies only to standard, move, and minor actions.

We had another thread about this a few weeks ago.

 

[Markn]

I agree with Obryn and Mengu. That is the correct interpretation as I see it.

 

[DracoSuave]

Agreed. One of the keys to understanding this is the words 'After you resolve a charge attack....'

This is a clear timestamp, as you cannot resolve a charge attack before you've made a charge attack. If they'd meant it any other way, it might read 'You may not take any other actions on the turn you charge. If you've already taken an action, you may not charge.' Fourth Edition rules tend to be direct and to the point on things like that.

 

[Scribble]

Cool. I will admit that I am wrong then. (Well, I am right, but the world dissagrees for some reason. )

What's the drawback of charging then? (In that it seems like it essentially gives you a free move action followed by a +1 to attack. So why wouldn't someone charge in to attack every time?)

 

[shieldknight01]

In the AV there is the Bestial armor that allows you to make a MBA as a free action after a successful charge. Going off of this, I would allow free actions after a charge, but not move, minor, or standard unless as a part of an action point.

 

[Saeviomagy]

Cool. I will admit that I am wrong then. (Well, I am right, but the world dissagrees for some reason. )

What's the drawback of charging then?

Take a look at the difference between a basic attack and an attack that uses an at-will attack power. With one or two exceptions (that are generally agreed to be in need of a fix for the power), a basic attack is inferior. You only get a basic attack at the end of a charge.

Oh, and you can't charge and then shift away from your opponent, while some "move X squares and attack" powers DO let you charge and then shift away.

You need a minimum of 10 feet to charge.

So it would seem clear that a charge must only be a standard action (ie - you do get other actions) because otherwise why would you ever charge when you could simply move and use an attack power otherwise?

 

[Black Knight Irios]

Cool. I will admit that I am wrong then. (Well, I am right, but the world dissagrees for some reason. )

What's the drawback of charging then? (In that it seems like it essentially gives you a free move action followed by a +1 to attack. So why wouldn't someone charge in to attack every time?)

You can only make a melee basic attack at the end of a charge. And a melee basic attack is defined in the PHB.

Therefore, you can't use most of your at-will/encounter/daily powers at the end of a charge.

The very same is true for monsters as well.