Post/Author/DateTime	Post
StruckingFuggle 02-03-08, 12:08 AM	Exactly that, sort of. I can't quite figure out how to make my baddie's gimmick work within the existing framework of the rules. Hopefully someone can help me. The baddie is actually a team in my gestalt game: a sublime marshal // telepath / thrallherd and his thrall, a warblade // bard. The Telepath manifests a custom power that emulates low-level wildshape, basically a lesser version of Metamorph that only lets you turn into animals, and only medium, small, or tiny animals of low hit dice (though he keeps most of his stats).... and this is the sticky wicket. He's a cult leader whose mental presence is felt (somehow or another he's getting always-on Telepathy), and who can 'touch others', but he is rarely seen. Rather, all contact is through his Avatar Champion, the thrall. He is, of course, always present, as - a snake, I think, draped around the thrall's neck. Even in combat, the Snake merely manifests White Raven maneuvers and Auras (the 'story' is they come from his Divine Presence, channeled through the Avatar) and Psionic powers, rather than joining the fight directly. I'm just not quite sure how to model this. I know there's rules on the matter, but I'm not sure what. Help?
Sildatorak 02-03-08, 12:36 PM	I actually had party members that used the master-blaster technique. It was a warforged and a gnome, but since they weren't being subtle about it they eventually got a custom made military saddle to make it easy on the gnome. He'll need to make ride checks to be able to take actions in the same round his mount is fighting, and will need to make concentration checks to manifest while riding as well. IIRC, the penalty for bareback riding is -5 and I think the -5 penalty for using an animal ill-suited as a mount comes in as well. I would say that his mount counts as war-trained, so he's effectively looking at a DC 20 check (10 base before the penalties are figured in) every round as a free action. The concentration check will probably be easier for him. If the mount is moving/fighting, it would be DC 10. If the mount is running it goes up to DC 15.
Reyemile 02-03-08, 04:17 PM	Did you let the gnome use Mounted Combat to spare the Warforged from damage?
mvincent 02-03-08, 05:50 PM	I'm just not quite sure how to model this. I know there's rules on the matter, but I'm not sure what. Help?From the Rules of the Game (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/rg/20050125a): "Intelligent Mounts According to the Dungeon Master's Guide, a mount with an Intelligence score of 3 or higher acts like an NPC ally rather than a mount. Riding such an ally works much like riding an aggressive mount in battle (see Part Two), except that you don't have to make a Ride check to act while riding. (If your mount carries you willingly, the ride is smooth enough so your actions aren't restricted.) You also cannot make a Ride check to control the mount's actions, but you can make a Diplomacy (or possibly a Wild Empathy) check to get the mount to accept your direction. If you do, your mount acts just like a mount trained for combat riding. Even if you cannot (or do not choose to) direct your mount's actions, you still can ride along, making your own initiative roll and possibly delaying until after your mount acts, as noted in Part Two." From Part Two (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/rg/20050201a): "Riding Along with an Aggressive Mount: If your mount isn't trained for war but chooses to fight with you aboard, you can just give the mount its head. You and your mount make separate initiative rolls. Because there are some full-round actions you cannot perform while your mount moves (see Parts Three and Four), you must delay until after your mount's turn to use such actions if your mount's turn in the initiative order comes before your own turn comes. Even then your mount's movements could keep you from performing your intended action. When it's finally your turn to act, you must succeed on a DC 10 Ride check to adjust your actions to fit your mount's uncontrolled movements. The check is a move action for you, but it does not provoke attacks of opportunity. (You're looking after yourself, not your mount.) If you fail, your mount's movements keep you from taking any actions this round. If you succeed, you can use a standard action. Just remember that you're allowing your mount to take you where it will, so your options might prove limited."
StruckingFuggle 02-03-08, 06:11 PM	Outstanding. Thank you. I was expecting there to either be some sort of penalty for them sharing the same space, or maybe some sort of benefit on trying to attack the smaller guy, since his space is also occupied by the bigger guy.
Man in the Funny Hat 02-04-08, 11:29 AM	Exactly that, sort of. I can't quite figure out how to make my baddie's gimmick work within the existing framework of the rules. Hopefully someone can help me. The baddie is actually a team in my gestalt game: a sublime marshal // telepath / thrallherd and his thrall, a warblade // bard. The Telepath manifests a custom power that emulates low-level wildshape, basically a lesser version of Metamorph that only lets you turn into animals, and only medium, small, or tiny animals of low hit dice (though he keeps most of his stats).... and this is the sticky wicket. He's a cult leader whose mental presence is felt (somehow or another he's getting always-on Telepathy), and who can 'touch others', but he is rarely seen. Rather, all contact is through his Avatar Champion, the thrall. He is, of course, always present, as - a snake, I think, draped around the thrall's neck. Even in combat, the Snake merely manifests White Raven maneuvers and Auras (the 'story' is they come from his Divine Presence, channeled through the Avatar) and Psionic powers, rather than joining the fight directly. I'm just not quite sure how to model this. I know there's rules on the matter, but I'm not sure what. Help?I nearly understand that. Given that the details here are abilities and concepts from supplemental books that I do not own, have not read, and have little or no interest in, thus reducing much of the post to meaningless gibberish to me - I nonetheless get the vague outline of the problem. The solution? Make it up. I'm serious. If you're clever enough and ambitious enough to actually make D&D NEARLY incomprehensible to ME (a 30+ veteran of the game) you should have no problem deciding how to handle the situation properly without needing to have it spelled out for you.