Charging, Lance and Cleave

[Saladrex]

Hi,

If a fighter:
- charges a bunch of enemies
- on his horse
- with his lance
- Kills one enemy
- Has the cleave feat

Can he attack the enemy behind the first with the cleave feat? Or one that is in his attack range?

 

[Pax]

Yes, he can, but in this case I would specify the enemy had ot be in line, or close to it, with the fighter's charge.

The imagery associated with this would be, a shishkabob -- multiple baddies impaled on the once lance.

However, I woudl NOT give charge bonusses to the additional attack -- that added force woudl be taken up with the first impact.

 

[Numion]

However, I woudl NOT give charge bonusses to the additional attack -- that added force woudl be taken up with the first impact.

Doesn't the feat state that the extra attack be done with the same attack bonuses than the first? I'm not sure, but if that is the case the charge bonus should apply to the cleave attack.

The paladin get's even better with dire charge from ELHB and dual-wielded lances.

 

[dcollins]

Can he attack the enemy behind the first with the cleave feat? Or one that is in his attack range?

By the rules: absolutely, yes.
Technically, anyone in his attack range is a legitimate cleave target.

(Obviously, a sensible a house ruling is to only allow the cleave in the same line as the charge.)

 

[Vaxalon]

Historically, lances were not just used point-first. A battle-lance (as opposed to a blunt tilting lance) could have a broad, leaf-blade head, and some knights were known for riding along a line of foes holding his lance like a boat-oar, whacking one foe after another as he rode by. This was particularly effective against peasant levies.

 

[Dr. Zoom]

He would have to have Ride-by Attack to keep moving after the initial charge attack.

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

From my reading of the rules, he could Cleave with the full benefits of charging against the next target but he doesn't get to move between these attacks. Position that charge carefully so you can reach 2 (or more) targets at the moment of "impact".

It would be "realistic" to allow him to keep moving and keep making attacks. You would need Ride By attack to do that. Maybe a custom new feat instead? Mounted Cleave, perhaps?

 

[Saladrex]

He would have to have Ride-by Attack to keep moving after the initial charge attack.

From my point of view the Horse is moving, not the attacker. I think he can do that without ride-by-attack (of course he still has to kill the first target to get to the second)
Does it make sense?

 

[Xarlen]

The paladin get's even better with dire charge from ELHB and dual-wielded lances.

Epic Centaur using dual wielded lances.

 

[Dr. Zoom]

From my point of view the Horse is moving, not the attacker. I think he can do that without ride-by-attack (of course he still has to kill the first target to get to the second)
Does it make sense?

Without the Ride-by Attack feat, he stops when he attacks. Of course the horse is moving, but it is the rider controlling the actions. He needs this mounted combat feat to charge, attack, and keep moving all in one round. It is very similar to Spring Attack for mounted combatants.