Can I make a jump to avoid an obstacle and still charge?

Question

In a recent game, the situation came up where one of the players wanted to take a charge action. The path, however, was obstructed, and the player suggested that they jump as part of the charge. I don't have the specific charge rules on hand, but I believe that they state that you cannot make a charge action if there is any obstruction.

But the question remains: can you jump (or a similar type of movement) to charge through an obstacle or difficult terrain?

Answer 1

RAW, no - by the very technical SRD definition, anything in any square in the line blocks a charge. It doesn't say "unless you evade it somehow."

I personally take a lighter hand with that, as it's not very heroic. I prefer to give options and consequences. "You can charge and try the jump, but if you fail it you're not going to reach him, and if you fail by 5 or more you'll trip and fall. If you make it, kill away."

Answer 2

Short answer: dnd3.5 - yes, pathfinder - don't know.

While mxyzplk is right about charge being restricted by difficult terrain or obstacle, there is a feat named Leap Attack in Complete Adventurer (page 110), which allows to jump as a part of charge movement (and to ignore terrain on the squares you jumped over).

I'm not very familiar with pathfinder rules, but IMO you could adapt this feat for PF without much trouble.