Readying a partial charge

[starwed]

If you're restricted to a single standard action during your turn, you can make a "partial charge."

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.

The question is, if you're restricted this way, can you use your action to ready a partial charge? It seems to me like this is the RAW, although it seems a bit weird that being restricted this way gives you an extra combat option.

 

[GorTeX]

allows for charges during a suprise round as well as slowed. However, taking a ready action does not count as being restricted to taking a standard OR a move action in the turn. Readying is a standard action that allows you to prepare a Standard or Move action (or a free action)--but does not restrict you to only using a Standard or Move action during your turn (in fact, you could use a move action, then Ready in a turn).

So, you can't ready a partial charge.

 

[Legildur]

Yes, assuming it is during the surprise round (or you are restricted for some other reason to a standard action only each round). No, otherwise.

 

[Christian]

... although it seems a bit weird that being restricted this way gives you an extra combat option.

It doesn't, really, because if you aren't so restricted, you can make a regular charge if you want. It might help to think of it as: there's just one action, called 'Charge'. Under normal circumstances, this is a full-round action in which you can move up to twice your speed; when your action for the turn is restricted to either a standard or move-equivalent, it becomes a standard action in which you can move up to your speed.

Does that make it less puzzling?

 

[RangerWickett]

I think of it more as a balance issue -- is it unbalancing to let people make partial charges as well as another action in the same round? Probably not.

And what about as a realism issue -- is it unrealistic to let people make partial charges as well as another action in the same round? Well, you can charge 10 ft. in a straight line and get the bonus to attack, or you can charge 60 ft. in a straight line and get the bonus to attack, so why can't you move 10 ft., turn a corner, and charge 10 ft?

Rules as written, no, you can't ready a partial charge. But it makes sense that you ought to be able to.

 

[starwed]

Does that make it less puzzling?

The extra combat option I was referring to is the readying of a charge. Normally, this is impossible, as a charge is a full round action. But the penalty of being restricted to a standard action seems to open up this fairly potent tactical tool.

is it unbalancing to let people make partial charges as well as another action in the same round?

Just to be clear, this isn't what I'm talking about. Allowing it would certainly remove the weirdness, though. (Although perhaps that's what you were proposing?)

 

[Darklone]

To me, the abovementioned rule refers to the Ready situation as well. You can only ready a partial/standard action, therefore you're restricted for the action to a partial charge.

PHB2 has this cometary collision feat... or a similar name. It refers specifically to readying a partial charge.

 

[frankthedm]

PHB2 has this cometary collision feat... or a similar name. It refers specifically to readying a partial charge.

No, It allows the person with the feat to ready a standard action to use the feat. Using the feat does include a charge {notably not a 'move up to your normal speed and attack' partial charge]. But in no way does it validate readying a partial charge under the 3.5 ruleset.

To me, the abovementioned rule refers to the Ready situation as well. You can only ready a partial/standard action, therefore you're restricted for the action to a partial charge.

Sorry, readies happen when it is not your turn. They worded readies and the 'charge your speed' to prevent readying a partial charge.

READY
The ready action lets you prepare to take an action later, after your turn is over but before your next one has begun. Readying is a standard action. It does not provoke an attack of opportunity (though the action that you ready might do so).

Readying an Action: You can ready a standard action, a move action, or a free action. To do so, specify the action you will take and the conditions under which you will take it. Then, any time before your next action, you may take the readied action in response to that condition.

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.

It seems he window to do the partial charge in 3.5 is on your turn. Readies do not happen on your turn.

Rather than address how multiplying damage can be a Bad Idea with things like Spirited Charge and Power Attack's new 2 for 1 with two handed weapons, wotc tried to reduce how often one could charge. So Wotc decided in 3.5, allies blocked charging and anything that reduced speed negated charging. Readied charges were torn out of the ruleset and the one way to get past an ally while charging [overrun] was swiftly eratted.

 

[Artoomis]

...
READY
The ready action lets you prepare to take an action later, after your turn is over but before your next one has begun. Readying is a standard action. It does not provoke an attack of opportunity (though the action that you ready might do so).

Readying an Action: You can ready a standard action, a move action, or a free action. To do so, specify the action you will take and the conditions under which you will take it. Then, any time before your next action, you may take the readied action in response to that condition. It seems he window to do the partial charge in 3.5 is on your turn. Readies do not happen on your turn.
...

You left out:

..." Your initiative result changes. For the rest of the encounter, your initiative result is the count on which you took the readied action, and you act immediately ahead of the character whose action triggered your readied action. "

So, when you take you Readied Action, you have acted on what is NOW your NEW TURN. You do not still have a turn coming up when it would have happened before.

Anyway, no, you cannot ready a charge, though I think there is a good argument that supports it and I think it should be allowed. The designers seem to think charging got too powerful and so heaped restrictions upon it until it became rather difficult to pull one off.

 

[frankthedm]

You left out:

..." Your initiative result changes. For the rest of the encounter, your initiative result is the count on which you took the readied action, and you act immediately ahead of the character whose action triggered your readied action. "

So, when you take you Readied Action, you have acted on what is NOW your NEW TURN.

The initiative result has not yet changed during the readied action.

Readying an Action
You can ready a standard action, a move action, or a free action. To do so, specify the action you will take and the conditions under which you will take it. Then, any time before your next action, you may take the readied action in response to that condition. The action occurs just before the action that triggers it. If the triggered action is part of another character’s activities, you interrupt the other character. Assuming he is still capable of doing so, he continues his actions once you complete your readied action. Your initiative result changes. For the rest of the encounter, your initiative result is the count on which you took the readied action, and you act immediately ahead of the character whose action triggered your readied action.

You can take a 5-foot step as part of your readied action, but only if you don’t otherwise move any distance during the round.