There is a lot of talk about who can do the
"set spear vs charge"
maneuvre at which time and circumstance.
But there is no "charge" maneuvre!
It is clear, that one can only move OR attack (except for the five foot step), but what good is "set spear vs charge", when there is no charge?
I could think that the movement next to the spear-holder would count as "charge", but what makes my mind boggle is this line:
QuoteNormally, the character makes his atack on
the monster's movement phase, when the monster first moves within range of the weapon. If his attack hits and kills the monster, the monster cannot hit him in return. If his atack fails to kill the monster, the monster will be able to attack on its own hand-to-hand combat phase of the combat sequence.
So monsters can usually move AND fight?
We always let everybody move and fight in the same round. Combat flows faster that way.
I'm pretty sure that certain monsters did have charging attacks that did extra damage, though. It just wasn't a maneuver that PC could do.
I could be wrong, though. I don't have my copy in front of me.
It is assumed in D&D that you can move and fight in a round; if all you do is move you can run, going at 4x (IIRC) your normal rate.
If someone moves into melee combat with you on any round after you "set spear vs. charge" you do an automatic attack against them, BEFORE they attack, and if you hit you do double damage. If they survive, they attack you.
Think of it as an ancestory of the "ready" maneuvre.
RPGPundit
QuoteIt is assumed in D&D that you can move and fight in a round; if all you do is move you can run, going at 4x (IIRC) your normal rate.
As much as I would like that, the rules state otherwise:
From the RC, page 101
Quote4 c mbat round is ten seconds of game time.
During a round, chacwers,can do one thing:
move, attack, cast a spell. drink a potion, or any
other single action that a penon can normally do
in ten seconds. A character cannot do two things
in a single round, such as run 20 feet and then
attack. He would have to run 20 feet in one
round, then attack in the next round
Wow, I never realized that was in there. I'm not sure what the rule is in Basic D&D, anyhow.
We always had it so that people could generally "run up and attack" on their turn as long as it wasn't too far.
My guess, though. If monsters run up to you (in order to attack next round), and you have a set spear, then maybe you get a free attack on them?
If there is no move&attack-charge everybody gets a strike before the monster may attack anyway.
Quote from: SettembriniIf there is no move&attack-charge everybody gets a strike before the monster may attack anyway.
Right. This is how I see it:
Gonzo the barbarian has a set spear, and the monster moves up to attack. Gonzo gets a free attack as soon as the monster closes.
Then it's Gonzo's turn- and he takes his normal attack.
Note- I don't have the rules cyclopedia handy and I can't confirm this is how it really works, but thats how I'd interpret it.
The two previous boxed booklet incarnations had a specific charge maneuver. It was a special fighter-only ability, usable only when mounted. I don't have an Expert rulebook handy to quote the text.
I guess I always houseruled (and I think most people did) that you could move PLUS do one other thing in a round.
But that said, I think the only thing significant about "set spear vs. charge" is that you do double damage if you hit. That's what matters.
RPGpundit