Druid Horse Companion [Archive] - Wizards Community

Druid Horse Companion [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Ingtar17
01-14-08, 12:39 AM I'm trying to understand exactly what our lvl 1 Druid's horse can do. The Monster Manual says that a heavy horse does not normally use its hooves to attack, but then again a druidic animal companion isn't really a normal situation for a horse. Can our Druid choose the 'attack' trick or 'defend' trick in order for his horse to constantly get the hoofs out, or is an untrained horse simply not going to get mixed up in battle? Can the druid ride the horse into battle, or does he have to constantly make ride checks to make sure the horse doesn't start to run away?

Thanks!
Ingtar
Andrew
01-14-08, 01:42 AM What this druid needs to do is to use handle animal to "train for a purpose," for "combat riding." All the details are listed under the Handle Animal skill. Normally, heavy horses are trained for heavy labor. The combat riding training will take up all the normal tricks available to a horse, but as an animal companion, the horse will be able to take one additional trick. With the combat riding package, it should have no trouble attacking with its hooves or bearing a rider in combat.

With just the "attack" or "defend" tricks and without the full training, you could have some kind of "attack horse" that follows you around while you're both on foot and mauls people on command, but not a companion capable of serving as a mount in combat.
Ingtar17
01-14-08, 07:41 AM Would it be reasonable to assume the druid has already trained the horse for this before the game starts, or would I usually have to make the druid go through the weeks of training?
Andrew
01-14-08, 08:51 AM A Small druid can get a Riding Dog implicit with the training. Normal horses are weaker that warhorses, so should be fine - it seems to be strength of the animal not strength of the training that keeps warhorses off the list.
Marcus Majarra
01-14-08, 01:20 PM Well, a druid's horse's primary purpose is basically serving as a mount, not as a combat participant. The druid still does all the attacking, he's just getting a better speed out of it.
Ingtar17
01-15-08, 08:55 AM I would argue that another benefit is that the horse will draw some fire, especially at level 1 where the horse has the most hit points.
eamon
01-18-08, 05:42 PM You can also use a mount as cover, which can be quite useful. Since you can use your ride check to negate attacks once per round, a well trained mount can definitely increase survivability. A heavy warhorse (which is what a heavy horse trained for war is) won't be dealing out heavy hits, however.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Ingtar17 01-14-08, 12:39 AM	I'm trying to understand exactly what our lvl 1 Druid's horse can do. The Monster Manual says that a heavy horse does not normally use its hooves to attack, but then again a druidic animal companion isn't really a normal situation for a horse. Can our Druid choose the 'attack' trick or 'defend' trick in order for his horse to constantly get the hoofs out, or is an untrained horse simply not going to get mixed up in battle? Can the druid ride the horse into battle, or does he have to constantly make ride checks to make sure the horse doesn't start to run away? Thanks! Ingtar
Andrew 01-14-08, 01:42 AM	What this druid needs to do is to use handle animal to "train for a purpose," for "combat riding." All the details are listed under the Handle Animal skill. Normally, heavy horses are trained for heavy labor. The combat riding training will take up all the normal tricks available to a horse, but as an animal companion, the horse will be able to take one additional trick. With the combat riding package, it should have no trouble attacking with its hooves or bearing a rider in combat. With just the "attack" or "defend" tricks and without the full training, you could have some kind of "attack horse" that follows you around while you're both on foot and mauls people on command, but not a companion capable of serving as a mount in combat.
Ingtar17 01-14-08, 07:41 AM	Would it be reasonable to assume the druid has already trained the horse for this before the game starts, or would I usually have to make the druid go through the weeks of training?
Andrew 01-14-08, 08:51 AM	A Small druid can get a Riding Dog implicit with the training. Normal horses are weaker that warhorses, so should be fine - it seems to be strength of the animal not strength of the training that keeps warhorses off the list.
Marcus Majarra 01-14-08, 01:20 PM	Well, a druid's horse's primary purpose is basically serving as a mount, not as a combat participant. The druid still does all the attacking, he's just getting a better speed out of it.
Ingtar17 01-15-08, 08:55 AM	I would argue that another benefit is that the horse will draw some fire, especially at level 1 where the horse has the most hit points.
eamon 01-18-08, 05:42 PM	You can also use a mount as cover, which can be quite useful. Since you can use your ride check to negate attacks once per round, a well trained mount can definitely increase survivability. A heavy warhorse (which is what a heavy horse trained for war is) won't be dealing out heavy hits, however.