Move Action before Charge Attack

[Mengu]

..E...
...o..
....o.
.EEE.o
....o.
...o..
..F...

With this movement, I'd say the fighter is not moving directly, and would not be able to make a charge attack

..E...
..o...
..o...
.EEE..
..o...
..o...
..F...

This would be direct movement, and I would say a charge attack could be made, provided the fighter has a way to get across the enemy line such as an athletics check to jump over them (and would of course suffer 3 attacks of opportunity).

So I think the word "directly" still implies a straight line, though the word "nearest" still implies there will be options as to which square you may choose to move directly to.

 

[Danceofmasks]

Well, it looks obvious when you go along the gridline, but what if the fighter is one square to the right?
At what point along your upwards movement do you take the diagonal? If you're talking straight line, there'd only be one spot that straightest.

I reckon it's subjective, too difficult to adjudicate (without complaints anyway), and inconsistent with such movement modes as push/pull that allow you to zigzag your victim away or towards you.

I'm inclined to go with the first diagram being direct, because in 4e both diagrams = 5 squares of movement = same distance.

 

[Mengu]

I reckon it's subjective, too difficult to adjudicate

The only stipulation I would use is that the direct path may not deviate away from the destination in either the X or the Y coordinate. So all of the below would be moving directly from 1 to 2, where 1 is the starting point and 2 is the ending point.

.2...  .2...  .2...  .2... 
..o..  .o...  ..o..  .o... 
...o.  .o...  ...o.  .o... 
...o.  ..o..  ....o  .o... 
...o.  ...o.  ....o  ..o.. 
...o.  ....o  ....o  ...o. 
....1  ....1  ....1  ....1

I can see the argument for either interpretation really. I do like consistency too. It is unfortunate that pull and push don't have the "directly towards" or "directly away from" wording.

 

[RigaMortus2]

Can't you also Charge (Standard Action) then Move or Shift (Move Action) away after the charge as well?

 

[garyh]

Can't you also Charge (Standard Action) then Move or Shift (Move Action) away after the charge as well?

Only if you spend an Action Point. The Charge ends your regular turn, and any remaining Move or Minor actions are lost.

 

[RigaMortus2]

Only if you spend an Action Point. The Charge ends your regular turn, and any remaining Move or Minor actions are lost.

Ok, I wasn't sure about that (no book infront of me)

 

[Orcus Porkus]

I'm sorry, but I'm a little confused now.
Can someone post an interpretation that summarizes the issue of "direct" movement? I need something to present to the DM...

My interpretation right now is:

Directly means, you need to take the shortest available route, measured in number of squares. Thus it's possible to charge in a curve, since diagonal movement counts as one square.

..E...
...o..
....o.
.EEE.o
....o.
...o..
..F...

.2...  .2...  .2...  .2... 
..o..  .o...  ..o..  .o... 
...o.  .o...  ...o.  .o... 
...o.  ..o..  ....o  .o... 
...o.  ...o.  ....o  ..o.. 
...o.  ....o  ....o  ...o. 
....1  ....1  ....1  ....1

Movement during a charge that would require a step away from the target or in a 90 degree angle, for example because of obstacles or enemies in the way, is not allowed:

.......
...E...
....o..
.....o.
..EEE[COLOR=Red]x[/COLOR].
...F[COLOR=Red]x[/COLOR]..

In the above example the direct path would have on square less. The character can either try to jump over the enemy, or shift/move before the charge:

.......
...E...
....o..
.....o.
..EEEo.
...Fs..

It's allowed to spend a move action before the charge takes place, but not after.

 

[Prism]

how about...

a character readies a move or one of the many powers that let you attack and shift - condition charger moves adjacent. The character moves 90 degrees away from the chargers line or possibly even behind the charger or round a corner. Can the charger follow assuming they still have enough movement and still move directly. This would also affect the usefulness of the ranger weave through the fray power

 

[Mengu]

My interpretation right now is:

Directly means, you need to take the shortest available route, measured in number of squares.

Yes, I think this will be the easiest interpretation to use, despite what I've said earlier.

how about...

a character readies a move or one of the many powers that let you attack and shift - condition charger moves adjacent. The character moves 90 degrees away from the chargers line or possibly even behind the charger or round a corner. Can the charger follow assuming they still have enough movement and still move directly.

I woud say yes, much like the ruling on Kobold Dragonshield Tactics.

 

[eamon]

I'm sorry, but I'm a little confused now.
Can someone post an interpretation that summarizes the issue of "direct" movement? I need something to present to the DM...

My interpretation right now is:

Directly means, you need to take the shortest available route, measured in number of squares. Thus it's possible to charge in a curve, since diagonal movement counts as one square.

Maybe it's obvious, but this is the same as ruling that each square of movement must bring you closer - i.e. you must charge as if your enemy were pulling you.

This alternate interpretation makes adjudicating readied actions easy - if the charge target moves or your path somehow needs to change, you can, but each square must still be closer than the last (i.e. in the new, post-interruption situation, you must again charge via a shortest path).

Incidentally, I was wondering whether this was intentional, and asked customer service whether you could charge in a zig-zag fashion, and they said that it's OK - you don't need to take a straight line, just a shortest one.