Powerfull Charge - Pointless?

[Beautiful Decay]

Hello everyone.

I'm playing a Minotaur character.

I've taken Natural Weapon Focus: Horns two times. which mean they deal 3d6 damage.

On a Powerfull Charge I deal 4d6 (which isn't slightly good at this level) but anyway... Does the feats increase the Powerfull Charge's damage (since it both dealed with the horns or do the static damage from Powerfull Charge stay unchanged.)

and another side question is: Do I only get to deal the horns damage (4d6) or can I make a succeful melee attack aswell.
- I'm a bit confused since a Charge allows me to deal a melee attack and Powerfull Charge just makes a static damage (If I'm right.)

So is Powerfull Charge THAT useless? :s I mean comeon 4d6? on my next feat bonus point (Natural Weapon Focus) I deal more damage without Chargeing with the feat but just by chargeing normal?

 

[Mentat55]

First off, you can't take Improved Natural Attack twice for the same natural attack. Each time you take the feat, it applies to a different natural weapon. So at best your gore can do 2d6 damage.

Second, if you take Improved Natural Attack (gore), Powerful Charge states you can make a gore attack that deals 4d6+6 (1.5x Str mod) damage. Since it says "gore attack", you could argue that IMA (gore) should increase the damage of your Powerful Charge attack by one step, from 4d6 to 6d6.

And I am not sure I understand what you mean by low damage. 4d6 + 1.5x Str mod is high damage for any character, even one that wields large weapons. By comparison, the same minotaur could wield a greataxe or greatsword that does 3d6 damage. What you miss out on are the enhancement bonuses (unless you have the ridiculously overpriced amulet of mighty fists) and especially special qualities like flaming, frost, and the like.

 

[Verdande]

Isn't this the wrong part of the forum for 4e-specific character building advice?

 

[Piratecat]

Yes, but this is a 3e question! Moved.

 

[frankthedm]

Hello everyone.

I'm playing a Minotaur character.

http://www.enworld.org/forum/general-rpg-discussion/189914-minotaur-legs.html

http://www.enworld.org/forum/d-d-le...-do-minotaurs-need-track-feat-track-foes.html

but anyway... Does the feats increase the Powerful Charge's damage (since it both dealed with the horns or do the static damage from Powerfull Charge stay unchanged.)

It certainly would be more intuitive to assume the powerful charge damage scales in some way if the horns improve. But there is not much specific in the rules text to back up that reasonable notion.

So is Powerfull Charge THAT useless?

3e minotaurs' powerful charge is a devious trap to lure players into melee range. The horn charge ability encouraged players to close to the minotaur allowing it to get off it's full attack routine, and possibly an AoO too.

And since the minotaur is the first base critter to get multiple BAB attacks with a large weapon, it can be a rude awakening . Especially for a player trying to give the minotaur a taste of its own medicine by charging it first.

AoO with great axe +9. "Hi!"
great axe +9 "How are you doing?"
Horns +4 "I'm doing fine"
great axe +4 "Good-bye!"

And I am not sure I understand what you mean by low damage. 4d6 + 1.5x Str mod is high damage for any character, even one that wields large weapons.

Not once power attack's 2 handed two for one trade off comes in.

 

[Eloi]

I think I can see what Beautiful Decay is working towards. Playing a Minotaur, you had three racial feats at the start. Presuming you took Improved Natural Attack (once, to enhance your Horns), and may have erroneously taken INA again, you might want to talk to your GM about reassigning that feat.

Since it sounds like you're working towards a big front-end wallop, BD, may I suggest taking either Greater Powerful Charge, (which increases your damage die as if you were one size larger on a charge), or setting yourself up to take Pounce somewhere in your character's future? Making a full attack at the end of a Charge would be something that would make a Minotaur happy all over.

You didn't indicate what other racial feat you took, but Combat Reflexes work pretty well to amplify the deadliness of your Greataxe's reach (more AoO = more chances for free hits). This is useful on those occasions where multiple someones get the chance to charge you first.. and wade through your threatened area. You just need to make sure you have the Dex to take CR - you did put in an improved array of stats, right?

Good luck, Beautiful Decay.