Charging Rules???HELP???

[Grunk]

Hey all
OK. So I'm running my PCs through the adventure path and I came across a rule I wasn't sure of. The PCs opened a door(silently) looked into a big room, saw the BBEG there, and tried to think of a tactic. So they end up all charging 30' down the hallway, having an NPC open the door so that they could charge up to the BBEG in the next room catching him Flat Footed.

Now i ruled that since they ran (Charged noisily even) across a room, initiative progressed as normal and he wasn't flat footed. However, I did allow them to complete the move action before initiative started. I also didn't let them do the attack part of the charge since they ran up to them and gave him plenty of time to react/start the initiative. I dunno. How would you rule this?
Grunk

 

[dvvega]

First off, charging is a combat option. Since they were not in combat they could only run down the corridor.

Secondly, the BBEG should have had to make a Listen check (remember its DC+5 for a door, and +1 for every 10 feet of distance). I would make them the equivalent of people talking DC 0 to start with. So its 30' away to the door. The NPC is waiting (readying) to open the door when they get to it.

1. BBEG is passively listening - does he hear the NPC?
2. BBEG is passively listening - does he hear them running (DC 8 to start then 7,6,5)
3. BBEG is passively listening - does he hear the door open (DC 0 now)

Assuming of course he is behind the door. Add +1 for each 10 feet away from the door he is.

The minute he hears them he can do something like hide. But let us assume he doesn't hear them at all until after the door opens. Then they can partial charge him and get in a free attack since he will be surprised.

Essentially you ruled okay as long as the BBEG heard them

D

 

[Sithobi1]

You can't charge during a surprise round, only a move or standard action.

 

[Grunk]

thanks for your help!

 

[dvvega]

I thought you could partial charge, however.

From SRD
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. [/qupte]

So they could charge on the surprise round.

D

 

[Hypersmurf]

So they could charge on the surprise round.

Right.

You can't charge as a full round action, because you're restricted to only a move or standard action in the surprise round.

But because you're restricted to only a move or standard action, you can charge as a standard action.

-Hyp.

 

[kjenks]

"...they all charged..."

The tight restrictions on the Charge maneuver usually don't allow more than two or maybe three people to charge the same opponent from roughly the same direction.

Let's pretend we have four fighters wielding longswords bunched up in squares A1,A2,B1 and B2. They all want to charge an opponent in E2 who, for some strange reason, is surprised. During the surprise round, they're limited to a standard action which means they can make a "partial charge."

First, they've all gotta roll initiative, even the surprised guy in E2, but only the four fighters get to take a standard action in the surprise round. Pretend the initiative order is A1, B1, E2, A2, B2.

Since the fighter in A1 has a higher initiative than the fighter in B1, Mr. A1 must delay until he has a clear path for charging.

Now B1 goes. He must charge to the closest square from which he can attact E2. That's either D1 or D2 -- under the D&D movement rules, both of these squares are 10 ft. from B1. Let's say he chooses D1. He moves and makes his single melee attack at +2.

Now A1 has a clear path, so he stops delaying and goes back in the initiative order. He can charge to either D1 or D2 (both 15 ft. away), but D1 is now occupied, so he charges to D2 and attacks.

Now it would be E2's turn, but he's surprised.

On A2's turn, he too must delay because the fighter at B2 is blocking his path.

Now the guy at B2 charges the guy at E2. He can charge to any of D1,D2 or D3 (all 10 ft. away), but D1 and D2 are now occupied so he can only choose D3. He makes his "partial charge" and attacks.

Finally, the surprise round ends with the guy in A2 ceasing his useless procrastination. He can't charge E2 because D1, D2 and D3 are all occupied. He goes back into initiative order and takes some other standard action.

If A1,B1,A2,B2 and E2 were all in a 10 ft.-wide corridor, only two of the fighters could charge.

See how it works?