Who's in Charge?

[Scharlata]

Hello!

So: Is there anything that impedes or contradicts the combination of the two feats Flying Kick [Complete Warrior, p. 99] and Powerful Charge [Miniatures Handbook, p. 27] when making an unarmed melee attack while charging?

Flying Kick [General]
Benefit: When fighting unarmed and using the charge action, you deal an extra 1d12 points of damage with your unarmed attack.

Powerful Charge [General]
Benefit: When you charge, if your melee attack hits, it deals an extra 1d8 points of damage (if you're Medium) [...] This feat works only when you make a charge. It does not work when you're mounted. If you have the ability to make multiple attacks on a charge, you may apply this extra damage to only one of those attacks in a round.

Is it right to assume that by the rules a 3rd level Medium monk does 1d6 + 1d8 + 1d12 [14.5] + strength modifier points of damage when she hits an opponent with her unarmed strike after a successful charge attack?

Gosh! This is stunning.......

Kind regards

 

[kwiqsilver]

I don't see why not. After all, you had to spend two feats to get it, and it only happens on a charge. I personally wouldn't take either feat, since at most I'd charge once in a battle, maybe twice if it's a large battle. I'd focus on feats that are useful every round.
For "charging", my favorite feat is (Superior) Combat Expertise, because when you close with an enemy, you get a single attack, but then he gets all of his attacks. By pumping your AC, you turn that first round in your favor, then you can attack more powerfully in the next round.

 

[drnuncheon]

Is it right to assume that by the rules a 3rd level Medium monk does 1d6 + 1d8 + 1d12 [14.5] + strength modifier points of damage when she hits an opponent with her unarmed strike after a successful charge attack?

Gosh! This is stunning.......

You think that's bad...in its original form, flying kick used to inflict double damage. Combine that with a high level monk and you have deep hurting.

J

 

[Thanee]

For "charging", my favorite feat is (Superior) Combat Expertise, because when you close with an enemy, you get a single attack, but then he gets all of his attacks. By pumping your AC, you turn that first round in your favor, then you can attack more powerfully in the next round.

I don't get this logic. How is "giving your opponent free attacks" (even tho against a higher AC) an advantage for you? And why would someone charge and use Combat Expertise anyways? You charge, if you are in the better position (or desperate ), otherwise you wait for your opponent to make the first step.

Improved Trip - however - is a very good feat to combine with charging.

Anyways... I don't see a problem in combining those two feats either. It's somewhat like Spirited Charge, a powerful charge attack for sure, but still limited in application.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Scharlata]

Hi!

Thank you all for your consideration.

If I guess right, it is possible that the monk in question will be able and willing to take Greater Powerful Charge at 6th level, just in time as she has a BAB of +4 needed as prerequisite for that feat. If she'll do that, the monk character will be charging a 50 feet and dealing -- after a successful hit -- 1d8 + 2d6 + 1d12 [18.0] plus strength modifier points of damage. If she reduces her attack modifier by - let's say - 2 points for using the Power Attack feat (which is a prerequisite for Flying Kick and cancels the +2 bonus for the charge) she deals 1d8 +2d6 +1d12 +1 (from Strength 13 [Power Attack prerquisite]) + 2 points of damage [21.0]. Not too bad, and I don't want to think about a Critical hit [2d8 + 3d6 + 2d12 + 2 + 4 = 38.5]

Greater Powerful Charge [General] (Miniatures Handbook, p. 27)
Benefit: As Powerful Charge, but treat yourself as one size category larger than you are. [...]

By the way, Thanee: Thanx for your inspiration about the Trip attack.....

Kind regards

 

[heliopolix]

One nitpick: A monk's unarmed strike is a Light Weapon. Power attack does jack squat for light weapons.

 

[shilsen]

One nitpick: A monk's unarmed strike is a Light Weapon. Power attack does jack squat for light weapons.

Correct, but it's not a problem for the monk since the Power Attack feat explicitly says that it is usable with unarmed strikes and natural weapons.

 

[kwiqsilver]

I don't get this logic. How is "giving your opponent free attacks" (even tho against a higher AC) an advantage for you? And why would someone charge and use Combat Expertise anyways? You charge, if you are in the better position (or desperate ), otherwise you wait for your opponent to make the first step.

If you charge normally (+2 attack -2AC), you get one attack. Then your opponent gets a full round of attacks against your weaker AC. But if you move in with a +15 AC bonus, you'll both probably miss on your attacks. Then on your next turn, you're both at your normal full attacks, but you have initiative, which is what I meant by the advantage.

 

[James McMurray]

Yeah, but after the expertise makes your first attack miss, your opponent says "Aha!" and then disarms or sunders.

 

[kwiqsilver]

Yeah, but after the expertise makes your first attack miss, your opponent says "Aha!" and then disarms or sunders.

Hmmm...I've never seen an NPC attempt either, but that could be bad.
Technically, the Expertise would count against your resisted attack roll (assuming the AoO missed, or the bad guy had the feat to avoid one), which is one of those rule combinations they didn't think out very well. If I was running the game, I wouldn't penalize the Expertise user (I might even give him a bonus for being defensive), and I could probably talk my DM into the same (it's good to have a logical DM ).
If you did play it by the book, Combat/Superior Expertise would be a horrible feat to take: as soon as you use it in melee, you lose your weapon...same with power attack.