Explain bracing for a charge to me

[Einan]

I've been playing D&D for almost 5 years now and one thing has always eluded me:

How does the bracing a weapon against a charging opponent work? Is it a free action? If a guy charges you and you're not braced, can you brace? What's the overall utility of this maneuver? Do PCs just randomly brace for a charge, hoping someone will charge them? Help!

Einan

 

[Infiniti2000]

I think the phrase you are looking for is readying (setting) for a charge, not bracing. The rules on what the character actually does are not defined. He merely takes the Ready standard action to Ready against a charge. The trigger and actual action of the Ready action are a huge source of debate.

 

[Primitive Screwhead]

Overall utility of the manuever is... you have a set defensive line and you are sure that the enemy will charge....

Of course, this tactical model does not happen often in normal play as one side has to set up the field, taking a defensive position with at least 45 feet of open ground and backup archers or spell casters to convince the enemy that rapid closing into a fence of spears/pikes is worth is.

Honestly, ever since the option became RAW I have not seen in used in play yet.

 

[Einan]

Yeah, it seemed like such a cool idea: I'll get double damage! And then we looked closer and thought, "How the deuce is this supposed to work?!?"

Maybe one day I'll play a game that features massive battles on an actual battlefield...

 

[Infiniti2000]

Well, if you have a spear and come across an animal in the woods and you win initiative, you can set your spear against a charge. If the animal attacks, most likely it will be with a charge (assuming the terrain allows for it in which case you don't set, or you move to where you can be charged). The problem I see is that people assume that when one character performs an action (readying for a charge) everyone else automatically knows that. That's not a given, however, and discerning someone's action is relatively undefined. It's definitely possible that you don't know when someone readies against the charge. It's even more possible when considering the intelligence (possibly animal) and tactical capabilities of your opponents. A raging barbarian might not (possibly should not) care about someone readying against his charge.

 

[Sejs]

Well, if you have a spear and come across an animal in the woods and you win initiative, you can set your spear against a charge. If the animal attacks, most likely it will be with a charge (assuming the terrain allows for it in which case you don't set, or you move to where you can be charged). The problem I see is that people assume that when one character performs an action (readying for a charge) everyone else automatically knows that. That's not a given, however, and discerning someone's action is relatively undefined. It's definitely possible that you don't know when someone readies against the charge. It's even more possible when considering the intelligence (possibly animal) and tactical capabilities of your opponents. A raging barbarian might not (possibly should not) care about someone readying against his charge.

Yup. As a player I've run into no end of frustration with this. If you're packing a spear-like weapon and you ready against a charge, lo and behold, all of a sudden the enemies become very disinclined to charge you. If you're not, or don't ready then they'll charge their little hearts out. It's happened under multiple DMs in multiple venues and just sets my teeth on edge every single time it happens.

It's at the point now where if I'm readying an action, I don't state what it is I'm doing if I ready. I'll write my action and the trigger down on a note card and tell the DM that I'm done with my turn. If it goes off, I show my hand, but I absolutly hate that I feel like I have to even resort to such measures.

Frankly, the whole charge issue was probably the best feature of the Steadfast Boots from the 3.0 AEG. You're always considdered to be set, period.

 

[Infiniti2000]

It's happened under multiple DMs in multiple venues and just sets my teeth on edge every single time it happens.

That would piss me off. I'd give the DM the whatfor and throw a pizza slice at him/her. When DM's metagame, the game probably sucks anyway. :\

Know that it wouldn't happen with me. I'd be happy to run animals onto your readied anti-charge weapons all day long. I got an infinite number of them anyways.

Just please please please don't tell me that the DM metagames the same way with zombies, who really have no choice but to charge to the attack.

 

[0-hr]

I have a house rule that the first round of combat is always a "partial" round, and only unsurprised characters can act during that round.

One result is that to attack in the first round, you often have to charge. This has lead to readying vs charge to be a not-uncommon thing in my games. I generally use Bluff vs Sense Motive if someone wants to determine if the enemy is waiting to skewer them. I assume that they don't actually move and brace the weapon until the charger is committed.

Another thing I do that might be a misinterpretation is to just let the characters "Ready to Attack if an enemy comes in range". If the enemy comes in range by charging, and the character is using a proper weapon for the attack, then they are welcome to get the double damage. If the enemy approaches by a "move and attack", then the character can still take the readies action, but without the "set" bonus damage.

 

[sydbar]

I guess i've been lucky that all my dm's haven't modified an enemy behavior, just because i have a spear set for a charge. I use it all the time against animals espcially bears and boars, since both like to charge.

 

[Legildur]

I have a house rule that the first round of combat is always a "partial" round, and only unsurprised characters can act during that round.

Our games use the same rule (I believe it was an optional rule in the 3.0e DMG) and it works a treat - stops one side completely dominating the other in the initial exchange - and I highly recommend it.

...I assume that they don't actually move and brace the weapon until the charger is committed.

Another thing I do that might be a misinterpretation is to just let the characters "Ready to Attack if an enemy comes in range". If the enemy comes in range by charging, and the character is using a proper weapon for the attack, then they are welcome to get the double damage. If the enemy approaches by a "move and attack", then the character can still take the readies action, but without the "set" bonus damage.

No one in our groups has ever tried this. Sure, they now use Readied Actions (after much badgering from me), but no one considers the 'set to receive charge' option or they don't use a weapon capable of doing so. Spears are generally only used if found and then only by 2nd rank characters.