Charging and the surprise round

[Thurbane]

Quick question: when you are restricted to a move action or standard action on your turn, you can make a charge, but only up to your base movement.

Does this also apply to the surprise round, or is a surprise round not considered your "turn"?

If you are able to take only a standard action or a move 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). You can’t use this option unless you are restricted to taking only a standard action or move action on your turn.

In initiative order (highest to lowest), combatants who started the battle aware of their opponents each take a standard action during the surprise round.

 

[irdeggman]

Rules Compendium pg 27

"If you're unable to take a full round's worth of actions on your turn, such as during a surprise round, you can charge as a standard action. In this case, you can move up to your speed rather than up to double your speed. All other rules for charging still apply."


Note that this is technically a rules change - but it is the current RAW (by definition of the Rules Compendium itself - and statements from WotC concerning the book's role).

 

[Infiniti2000]

I concur with irdeggman, but am I the only to just now realize that this allows you to attack in a move action? I don't recall any situation off hand that restricts you to a move action, but you can still attack with one!

 

[Thurbane]

Damn, I went out and bought the RC, and I forgot to check it!

 

[Hypersmurf]

I concur with irdeggman, but am I the only to just now realize that this allows you to attack in a move action?

No, it doesn't.

"Restricted to a standard action or move action" is what happens when, say, you're slowed. That's the condition under which you can make a restricted charge.

You can't make the restricted charge "if you're restricted to a standard action, and also if you're restricted to a move action". You can make the restricted charge if what you are restricted to is "a standard action or move action"... restricted to "a move action" (such as when you're nauseated) is a more restrictive condition than being restricted to "a standard action or move action", and doesn't permit the restricted charge.

Edit - Ah, I was using the old rule, not the RC rule - but there's a similar effect. If you're nauseated, you're prevented from taking a full round's worth of actions, so per the RC, you're permitted to charge as a standard action... but since you only have a move action available, you don't have a standard action with which to avail yourself of that option.

-Hyp.

 

[irdeggman]

I concur with irdeggman, but am I the only to just now realize that this allows you to attack in a move action? I don't recall any situation off hand that restricts you to a move action, but you can still attack with one!

As Hyp eventually got to - you can charge as a "standard" action when you have restricted activity and can't take a full round's worth of actions. But it is specific that you can only doit as a full round action (unrestricted activity) or a standard action (restricted activity). If you can't do a standard action - then you can't charge.


And that is why I pointed out it was a "rule change" and not errata since it is different than what ws originally written.

 

[Infiniti2000]

(RC aside for a moment)

You can make the restricted charge if what you are restricted to is "a standard action or move action"... restricted to "a move action" (such as when you're nauseated) is a more restrictive condition than being restricted to "a standard action or move action", and doesn't permit the restricted charge.

It's more restrictive than one half of the OR, but not the other half. Isn't that the purpose of the OR statement in the first place, however? Just ignore the part about standard action.

 

[RigaMortus2]

Taking the RC out of the equation for the moment...

You can’t use this option unless you are restricted to taking only a standard action or move action on your turn.

Because of this quote, technically you would never be able to charge unless you had a full round action. Because you still have Free/Swift/Immediate Actions as well. If I am Slowed, I am restricted to doing either a Standard or Move Action PLUS Free Action and a Swift or Immediate action. So, I am not really only restricted to Standard or Move Actions

 

[RangerWickett]

Uff da.

Star Wars Saga Edition: You can charge as a standard action, moving up to your base speed in a straight line and making a single attack. You get a +2 bonus to your attack roll, and a -2 penalty to your Reflex Defense.

Or in D&D, your AC. Much better rule. Doesn't help you if you're playing Organized, but I think all GMs should adopt the Star Wars version.

 

[irdeggman]

Taking the RC out of the equation for the moment...



Because of this quote, technically you would never be able to charge unless you had a full round action. Because you still have Free/Swift/Immediate Actions as well. If I am Slowed, I am restricted to doing either a Standard or Move Action PLUS Free Action and a Swift or Immediate action. So, I am not really only restricted to Standard or Move Actions

Well technically if slowed you can't take free/swift or immediate actions since you a limited to a single move or standard action each turn.

"A slowed creature can take only a single move action or standard action each turn, but not both (nor may it take full-round actions)."