Level Up (A5E) How is Bounding Strike combat maneuver supposed to work?

[Tessarael]

Bounding Strike and other combat maneuvers don't specify how they deal with each possible condition that they could occur in. There's no exception specified in Bounding Strike, so it would make sense for it to follow the standard rules, that the attack is at disadvantage because you are blind. I would certainly rule that way as DM. I might allow it to mitigate other situations that would impose disadvantage - for example, you wouldn't be at disadvantage from attacking from lower ground, as you jumped.

 

[guachi]

I'm not a native speaker, but if this is how it's supposed to work I find the spelling really poor for this one.
A way clearer statement IMO would be "You jump 15ft. If there's an enemy within reach where you land, you can make a melee attack on it using the result of an Athletics or acrobatics check".

Also I agree that the usefulness of this maneuver tapers off quickly as soon as one gets extra attack.

Yes, it does taper off. Luckily, you can replace a maneuver with another of the same Degree when you gain more maneuvers. Berserker's gain an additional maneuver at 5th level so they can swap it out when they get an additional attack.

Heck, I'd be tempted to allow a PC to spend 2 points and take both of his attacks with his second attack like a normal attack. You can use Striding Swings to also move 15 feet but that allows your full Attack action and that only costs one point, though you don't get the extra attack roll.

 

[Distracted DM]

I assumed that you get extra movement out of the maneuver, sort of like the Charge maneuver

 

[lichmaster]

Yes, it does taper off. Luckily, you can replace a maneuver with another of the same Degree when you gain more maneuvers. Berserker's gain an additional maneuver at 5th level so they can swap it out when they get an additional attack.

Heck, I'd be tempted to allow a PC to spend 2 points and take both of his attacks with his second attack like a normal attack. You can use Striding Swings to also move 15 feet but that allows your full Attack action and that only costs one point, though you don't get the extra attack roll.

Yes that's also a very viable option.
Maybe if I were to redesign the system (not that I was involved in any way nor that I'm complaining), I'd have maneuvers scale by using more exertion, kinda like spells do. That would also make the fighter's maneuver mastery more interesting, since the final cost is floored at 1. That would mean that a fighter who mastered a maneuver that has a base cost of 1 could "upcast" it and still pay 1, making him straight better/more efficient than anybody else using the same maneuver but without the mastery

 

[lichmaster]

so it would make sense for it to follow the standard rules, that the attack is at disadvantage because you are blind.

Hmm... The description of the maneuver states "you can make a melee weapon attack against it using the result of your check instead of an attack roll".

I think RAW that means you don't apply the circumstance boni/mali of attacks but of skill checks, so in that case being blinded doesn't impose disadvantage (although skill checks that require sight fail automatically). As I said in a previous reply, I'd require a perception check to figure out (if possible) where the enemy is, and interpreting the result (as suggested by a follow up) as "giving in to ones' animal instinct" which is the spirit of the combat tradition.

 

[Tessarael]

I assumed that you get extra movement out of the maneuver, sort of like the Charge maneuver

Agreed. You can not normally move 15' as part of your action, unless you use your action to Dash. So I assume the additional movement in combat maneuvers is not subtracted from the rest of your movement that you can do during a turn - that would zero the benefit of several maneuvers if so.