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Jan 4, 2012 -- 10:14AM, nb_nmare wrote:

I don't see an issue with it myself. There are several official at-wills that also reduce damage based on a secondary ability modifier, e.g. the artificer's static shock, the cleric's sonnlinor's hammer and tenebrous blessing, and the runepriest's word of diminshment (with Rune of Protection). Even if you start off with 18 CHA, at epic level this power is going to be reducing damage by 13 points, which isn't really all that much at epic.

Oh it's damage roll.  I misread it.  It's fine.

 The charging rules have been updated as of Essentials - you're no longer required to charge directly to the nearest square you can attack from. The only requirement is that each square of movement takes you closer to the opponent.

 Excerpted from the current charge rules in the Compendium:

     Action: Standard action. When a creature takes this action, it chooses a target. Determine the distance between the creature and the target, even counting through squares of blocking terrain, and then follow these steps.
1.    Move: The creature moves up to its speed toward the target. Each square of movement must bring the creature closer to the target, and the creature must end the move at least 2 squares away from its starting position.

   T = target
   E = enemy between you and target
   V = valid square to attack from
   X = character
                                        T
                                      VeV
                                   ^   ^   ^
                                  ^    ^    ^
                                 ^     ^     ^
                                  ^    ^    ^
                                    ^  ^  ^
                                       X

 All of these are valid charge routes under the current rules - you can go straight up the middle and then move diagonally one square to get to either side of (e), or you can move diagonally out to the side and then angle back in, since each square of diagonal movement also moved you one square closer to the target. You could even zigzag back and forth as long as you kept moving diagonally forward.

 Note that the charging rules changed greatly between 3.5 and 4E, and even the original 4E charge rules didn't actually require you to move in a completely straight line.

 In any event, the second half of your Acrobatic Charge feature is now meaningless. I'd suggest possibly giving them an upgrade to the feature at maybe third or fourth level - there's a 2nd level magic item called the boots of adept charging with the property, "After charging, you can shift 1 square before your turn ends." This seems like a useful and not particularly overpowered ability to give them at 3rd or 4th level since by then they'd probably have either bought or found a pair of the boots anyway.