Can you do this on a Charge...? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Can you do this on a Charge...? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Razz
11-14-05, 01:38 PM I've read both the PHB and all the Sage Advice articles pertaining to how the Charge action works. But it still leaves me with one more question about the Charge action.

It's been stated that on can make a long jump to continue charging should obstacles or debris hamper movement for the charge to work. But what about Tumble and Balance checks? Can one use the Tumble action to charge? I remember reading it somewhere in an official D&D book, something like a -20 penalty to the Tumble check (but it was for running only).

As for Balance checks, the PHB states that a character can make a Balance check to charge across narrow surfaces, even slippery or debris-filled ones (with the appropriate DC adjustment). But a character is not allowed to charge across similar surfaces on a much wider surface? It doesn't make any sense, so the question is can a character make a Balance check to charge across any surface (not just precarious, narrow surfaces) as long as they succeed at the skill check?

Anyone know the official ruling from this or could anyone contact The Sage about this? Seems everytime I send him a question I never receive a reply answer. :(
Kord's Boon
11-14-05, 01:43 PM To answer your question directly, you can’t charge unless you have an unobstructed path

However there is a class feature some prestige classes have called acrobatic charge, which allows you to make a jump/tumble/balance check to bypass terrain in a charge.
00_Whupass
11-14-05, 03:21 PM First to reiterate what Kord's Boon said you can’t charge unless you have an unobstructed pathNow to expound on this your path is obstructed if you cannot move in a straight line from your position at the start of the round into melee with the target.

In regards to the use of Balance: When charging over narrow, slippery or debris strewn areas, your path is not obstructed. There is no obstacle on a slippery, narrow, or debris strewn area that prevents movement through those squares in a striaght line, what balance does here is allow you to move accross what would normally be difficult terrain at your normal movement.

As for tumble as Kord's Boon stated, normally no you cannot use tumble to make a charge, however there is a PrC that recieves the acrobatic charge feature that allows you to make tumbling charges, if memory serves the PrC in question is the Thief Acrobat, though I could be mistaken and there might be others.
q'afuu
11-14-05, 03:48 PM In regards to the use of Balance: When charging over narrow, slippery or debris strewn areas, your path is not obstructed. However, your movement is still hampered and you normally can't charge if that's the case.

Anyway, Balance can be used to charge over any kind of surface that's otherwise too precarious to allow for that, just like it's used to move over such surfaces normally, without charging. It's not just for narrow ledges. It's for ledges, for slippery pathways, for precarious footing over loose gravel, etc.
00_Whupass
11-14-05, 03:53 PM However, your movement is still hampered and you normally can't charge if that's the case.Right which is what I meant by allowing you to move over difficult terrain at normal movement. I guess I should have been more explict that without balance you can't charge over difficult terrain, thanks for clarifying.
Razz
11-15-05, 12:27 AM So, in essence, you really don't need Acrobatic Charge class feature to charge over difficult terrain, just a really high Balance check correct? :confused:
q'afuu
11-15-05, 07:29 AM So, in essence, you really don't need Acrobatic Charge class feature to charge over difficult terrain, just a really high Balance check correct? :confused: Generally correct, but not entirely. Acrobatic Charge allows you to (try to) charge regardless of terrain, including blocked paths. You might still need a skill check to actually succeed, but with that ability you can try.

Balance allows you to charge over terrain where your movement is hampered, but not over terrain where your path is blocked.
00_Whupass
11-15-05, 12:50 PM So, in essence, you really don't need Acrobatic Charge class feature to charge over difficult terrain, just a really high Balance check correct? :confused: For example, if you wanted to charge up some slimy slippery muck covered stairs, this would be difficult terrian and you could only charge if you made a balance check of the requisite DC, if however there is a crate, an orc, or an ally standing on the stairs your path is obstructed and you will require the acrobatic charge feature to attempt the charge.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Razz 11-14-05, 01:38 PM	I've read both the PHB and all the Sage Advice articles pertaining to how the Charge action works. But it still leaves me with one more question about the Charge action. It's been stated that on can make a long jump to continue charging should obstacles or debris hamper movement for the charge to work. But what about Tumble and Balance checks? Can one use the Tumble action to charge? I remember reading it somewhere in an official D&D book, something like a -20 penalty to the Tumble check (but it was for running only). As for Balance checks, the PHB states that a character can make a Balance check to charge across narrow surfaces, even slippery or debris-filled ones (with the appropriate DC adjustment). But a character is not allowed to charge across similar surfaces on a much wider surface? It doesn't make any sense, so the question is can a character make a Balance check to charge across any surface (not just precarious, narrow surfaces) as long as they succeed at the skill check? Anyone know the official ruling from this or could anyone contact The Sage about this? Seems everytime I send him a question I never receive a reply answer. :(
Kord's Boon 11-14-05, 01:43 PM	To answer your question directly, you can’t charge unless you have an unobstructed path However there is a class feature some prestige classes have called acrobatic charge, which allows you to make a jump/tumble/balance check to bypass terrain in a charge.
00_Whupass 11-14-05, 03:21 PM	First to reiterate what Kord's Boon said you can’t charge unless you have an unobstructed pathNow to expound on this your path is obstructed if you cannot move in a straight line from your position at the start of the round into melee with the target. In regards to the use of Balance: When charging over narrow, slippery or debris strewn areas, your path is not obstructed. There is no obstacle on a slippery, narrow, or debris strewn area that prevents movement through those squares in a striaght line, what balance does here is allow you to move accross what would normally be difficult terrain at your normal movement. As for tumble as Kord's Boon stated, normally no you cannot use tumble to make a charge, however there is a PrC that recieves the acrobatic charge feature that allows you to make tumbling charges, if memory serves the PrC in question is the Thief Acrobat, though I could be mistaken and there might be others.
q'afuu 11-14-05, 03:48 PM	In regards to the use of Balance: When charging over narrow, slippery or debris strewn areas, your path is not obstructed. However, your movement is still hampered and you normally can't charge if that's the case. Anyway, Balance can be used to charge over any kind of surface that's otherwise too precarious to allow for that, just like it's used to move over such surfaces normally, without charging. It's not just for narrow ledges. It's for ledges, for slippery pathways, for precarious footing over loose gravel, etc.
00_Whupass 11-14-05, 03:53 PM	However, your movement is still hampered and you normally can't charge if that's the case.Right which is what I meant by allowing you to move over difficult terrain at normal movement. I guess I should have been more explict that without balance you can't charge over difficult terrain, thanks for clarifying.
Razz 11-15-05, 12:27 AM	So, in essence, you really don't need Acrobatic Charge class feature to charge over difficult terrain, just a really high Balance check correct? :confused:
q'afuu 11-15-05, 07:29 AM	So, in essence, you really don't need Acrobatic Charge class feature to charge over difficult terrain, just a really high Balance check correct? :confused: Generally correct, but not entirely. Acrobatic Charge allows you to (try to) charge regardless of terrain, including blocked paths. You might still need a skill check to actually succeed, but with that ability you can try. Balance allows you to charge over terrain where your movement is hampered, but not over terrain where your path is blocked.
00_Whupass 11-15-05, 12:50 PM	So, in essence, you really don't need Acrobatic Charge class feature to charge over difficult terrain, just a really high Balance check correct? :confused: For example, if you wanted to charge up some slimy slippery muck covered stairs, this would be difficult terrian and you could only charge if you made a balance check of the requisite DC, if however there is a crate, an orc, or an ally standing on the stairs your path is obstructed and you will require the acrobatic charge feature to attempt the charge.