Charging Attack!

[Fear Factory]

Not sure if I want to ask TPTB yet...

When you charge do you have to move in a straight line (no turning) or has that changed?  I don't see any indication of that in the rules (TW).  The old rules (pre TW) states the attacker cannot turn.  Of course, TW would be the right way to do it, but I'm just wondering if this is something that has been changed or unintentionally left out.

[martian]

When you charge do you have to move in a straight line (no turning) or has that changed? 

You can change direction, just make sure you have enough MPs to enter the target hex.
As the TW says nothing about the straight line, I think it's not required for charging attack.

[A. Lurker]

You must be able to enter the target's hex with whatever MP you have left at the end of your movement (which technically hasn't stopped yet) and it must be right in front of you (no quick last-moment dodge and shoulder-check to the left or right) -- but that's it. There's no constraint on having to charge only in a straight line, or such a thing as only counting the last straight movement for damage purposes either, and in fact as far as I can tell there was no such rule in the Master Rules either. So if there indeed ever was a charge-in-a-straight-line-only rule, it must have changed years before Total Warfare ever came out.

[StuartYee]

Turning is not a factor when charging.

However like the movement defensive modifier, I believe you only count the number of spaces moved in a single direction for damage determination. In other words, if you move backwards 3 hexes, and then forward 9 hexes, your unit would be considered to have moved 9 hexes for both your defensive modifier and charge damage multiplier.

[garhkal]

Not sure if I want to ask TPTB yet...

When you charge do you have to move in a straight line (no turning) or has that changed?  I don't see any indication of that in the rules (TW).  The old rules (pre TW) states the attacker cannot turn.  Of course, TW would be the right way to do it, but I'm just wondering if this is something that has been changed or unintentionally left out.

My reading of the rules is you CAN make turn(s) during a charge, but damage is counted from a straight line to the target from your last turn.  So if your move was 6/9(12 masc) and you were running, you could move 3 hexes, turn one facing, then continue to move the 4 hexes TO the target and the last MP needed to get into the target hex.  But you would have only 4 hexes of straight line movement for the charge's damage.

[Spinosapper]

Looks like it's already been asked here. 

Charging distance is the number of hexes traveled regardless of turns.  Seems a bit counter-intuitive, but oh well. 

[StuartYee]

My reading of the rules is you CAN make turn(s) during a charge, but damage is counted from a straight line to the target from your last turn.  So if your move was 6/9(12 masc) and you were running, you could move 3 hexes, turn one facing, then continue to move the 4 hexes TO the target and the last MP needed to get into the target hex.  But you would have only 4 hexes of straight line movement for the charge's damage.

Given there seems to be disagreement on whether or not turns affect damage, this might be better posted in the official rules question forum

[Xotl]

My reading of the rules is you CAN make turn(s) during a charge, but damage is counted from a straight line to the target from your last turn.  So if your move was 6/9(12 masc) and you were running, you could move 3 hexes, turn one facing, then continue to move the 4 hexes TO the target and the last MP needed to get into the target hex.  But you would have only 4 hexes of straight line movement for the charge's damage.

I thought TW was pretty clear: it says "multiplied by the number of hexes moved by the attacker in the Movement Phase", with no other qualifier.

[Fear Factory]

I thought TW was pretty clear: it says "multiplied by the number of hexes moved by the attacker in the Movement Phase", with no other qualifier.

Which is why I asked.   :)

[StuartYee]

Which is why I asked.   :)

So my previous statement still stands.

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

Turning is not a factor when charging.

However like the movement defensive modifier, I believe you only count the number of spaces moved in a single direction for damage determination. In other words, if you move backwards 3 hexes, and then forward 9 hexes, your unit would be considered to have moved 9 hexes for both your defensive modifier and charge damage multiplier.

Charging requires you to use Running movement, so you can't move backwards in the same round that you execute a Charging attack in the first place.

[martian]

Charging requires you to use Running movement, so you can't move backwards in the same round that you execute a Charging attack in the first place.

Are you sure with that Running movement? The book doesn't say so. Was it in some Errata? I believe you can charge with Walking movement, if you wish.

[Weirdo]

Nothing requires running. All it requires is that you start in one hex, end up in another hex, and have no compunctions about invading the personal space of anyone in the latter hex.

[A. Lurker]

For that matter, while I seem to distinctly recall posing that very question some years back (may have been on an earlier version of the forums) and getting a reply in the negative, there still technically doesn't seem any explicit prohibition in either the book or any errata I can find at the moment against using jumping movement to charge... ;)

[Weirdo]

I... ???

Uh... :-\

Well, that's already...but... :o

Okay, you may be right. On the other hand, using jumping movement makes it just as difficult as an actual DFA, so why not go whole hog and get the punch chart hits?

Oh yeah, the LOS thing. Charging units still get cover, while DFAs are visible to just about everyone.

Time for some MW2-style jump-skating, it seems...

[A. Lurker]

...aaaand we finally got a "must not have jumped that turn" clause on charging in the latest errata release. Drat, but fair enough. :D

[Xotl]

For that matter, while I seem to distinctly recall posing that very question some years back (may have been on an earlier version of the forums) and getting a reply in the negative, there still technically doesn't seem any explicit prohibition in either the book or any errata I can find at the moment against using jumping movement to charge... ;)

It was actually your question posted years ago that prompted me to add that note in the latest errata. :)