Sidewind Charging, driving me nuts.

[OakwoodDM]

If charging does not need to be in a straight line, then the OP's point is valid.

Except, as has been pointed out by others, the charging person gets a basic attack, then on the enemy's turn, is flanked by two people who can both use powers, because they didn't charge. That's not what I'd call an exploit or terribliy advantageous to the charger.

 

[Cirex]

Not being able to use a power seems enough drawback in my opinion.

 

[Mostlyjoe]

Ah, but then you add a Warlord into the mix...

Iron Dragon Charge Warlord Attack 9
Like a rampaging iron dragon, you hurl yourself at your adversary, landing a terrific blow that inspires your allies to charge as well.
Daily
Martial, Weapon
Standard Action
Melee weapon
Target: One creature
Attack: Strength vs. AC
Special: You must charge as part of this attack.
Hit: 3[W] + Strength modifier damage.
Effect: Until the end of the encounter, as an immediate reaction, an ally of your choice within 5 squares of you can charge a target that you charge.

Sidewinder eh? D&D 4th's version of Mario Kart snaking?

 

[DeusExMachina]

Yeah, but I don't see that warlord ability giving people a whole round of actions, just a single charge action. So with that it doesn't give them the ability to shift and then charge, just a simple charge, which would cause an OA if they did it away from one enemy and into another...

 

[Mostlyjoe]

Yeah, but I don't see that warlord ability giving people a whole round of actions, just a single charge action. So with that it doesn't give them the ability to shift and then charge, just a simple charge, which would cause an OA if they did it away from one enemy and into another...

Not if you time it right.

 

[Vempyre]

Not if you time it right.

If we start using "if", we can do anything.

 

[DMMo]

Funny, my group just played Star Wars Saga edition the other night, and a similar charge issue came up. The concern was that you could disengage from melee and then charge the enemy you were just fighting. The next day the GM asked the group by e-mail whether he should house-rule it. Here was my input:

Quick thoughts on Charge: I think it works fine as is. The GM is absolutely right to point out the AoO provoked by the abusive example. Plus, I can think of a few cinematic ways the rule might work out. For example, take a Jedi with trained acrobatics skill and quick draw feat. Now assume an enemy gets the drop on her, and she's right next to the enemy. She can tumble away from an adjacent opponent without drawing the AoO if she rolls acrobatics check against a DC 15, draw and fire up her lightsaber before she hits the ground a few spaces away, and then charge back into the fray. In cinematic terms I'd probably describe it like this: E'anna Syne's lithe form arced away from the Devaronian bounty hunter, performing a backflip and tumbling several meters away. As she rolled, her lightsaber appeared in her hand as if plucked from the ether. She ended her move in a crouch and her lightsaber blazed to life. Before her attacker's jaw had time to drop, E'anna charged, her saber striking the horned foe down.

In football terms, how many times have we seen a striker (fast defensive end or outside linebacker) speed rush around the edge of the brute defender (offensive tackle) and blindside the squishy leader (quarterback)? Except in football, that's when the whistle blows. In D&D, no whistle to stop the action ... and now the big, very angry defender is behind you. Payback.

 

[Derren]

So the rogue (melee striker) can charge past the frontline to hit an enemy and then use his move action to backtrack to a save position?

That sounds, and when imagined, looks strange. More like a japenese console RPG where everyone attacks once and then goes back to where he was before the attack.

 

[Charwoman Gene]

So the rogue (melee striker) can charge past the frontline to hit an enemy and then use his move action to backtrack to a save position?

No. Unless he spends an action point which hey thats pretty awesome idea. You are really coming arouing to the 4e way of life, bro.

More like a japenese

Racist. We know where that leads.

console RPG where everyone attacks once and then goes back to where he was before the attack.

No, that is the effect of playing without a grid.

This is more realistic,, and the person who does it gets MUNCHED by the enemies the next round. I saw someone do this in boffer fighting this weekend.

 

[JesterOC]

So the rogue (melee striker) can charge past the frontline to hit an enemy and then use his move action to backtrack to a save position?

Yes and no.

Yes it is possible and no because you failed to mention the Opportunaty Attack that the rogue gives to the opponent it charged.

Sounds very risky to me.