centaurs and charge/spears and lances [Archive] - Wizards Community

centaurs and charge/spears and lances [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
True_Raistlin
05-05-06, 05:00 PM Cetaurs have no mount... so they can愒 benefit from those feats that have Mounted Combat for prerequisite, right?

Are the longspear and the lance so different? (please ignore illustrations from PHB, they're not acurate and besides those guys invented the orc double-axe and the dire flail 洵). I think they can be treated according to the situation. But i'd like to read opinions about it.
Narthon
05-05-06, 05:25 PM I'd let them take those feats, maybe let them take weapon focus first.
tarkin
05-05-06, 05:47 PM There are some rulings that they can take 'mounted' feats.

Frankly for almost all those things, I don't like this idea. They rarely apply or make sense.

Consider:

Using a Lance: They are not mounted, so they should not get double damage just for using a reach weapon. Normally, it makes sense because you use the Lance to convert the MOUNT'S energy for your own use. But here you are the "mount" so you are already using your own energy. I feel that saying Centaurs using a Lance get double damage is a Power Gamer rule. It is negating an intended balancing factor.

Mounted Combat - They have neither a mount to protect, nor should they have a ride skill. This feat is useless.

Mounted Archery - the penalties don't apply as they are not mounted. You could use this as a re-write of Shot-On-The-Run, but it is still wierd. This feat is useless.

Ride- by attack - This one works, but the pre-reqs are useless. Take Spring Attack instead, sure it takes one more feet, but it makes FAR more sense.

Spirited Charge - this one makes ZERO logical sense and negates the major disadvantage that is taken by PC's - I.E. The PC's have to take a creature larger then them into the area. Allowing it to work by itself is a Power Gamer rule.

Trample - This does make some sense, and I would allow, keeping in mind the wasted rank in Ride and the wasted feat in Mounted Combat.
Raven Dark
05-05-06, 06:22 PM Standard D&D RAW (as opposed to other settings like Forgotten Realms) does not allow Centaurs to qualify for mounted feats jsut for being half-horse.

But I'm assuming you knew that already.

My opinion (since that is what you asked for) is very similar to Tarkin's. Normal feats can duplicate the effects of mounted feats quite easily. Take those instead.

Ride-By Attack = Spring Attack
Spirited Charge = Power Attack, Powerful Charge, or any of a number of feats
Trample = Improved Overrun

Just a few examples.
Molitor
05-05-06, 10:40 PM Well in the book Savage species(don't know if YOU consider it 3.0 or 3.5) on page 109 they write about exactly this.
Rulebook
05-05-06, 11:18 PM From the SRD
A centaur employing a lance deals double damage when it charges, just as a rider on a mount does.

we house rule that centaurs do qualify for the mounted feats except where nonapplicable (they cant use the free 1/round uber ac of mounted combat, but they do qualify for rideby attack etc)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
True_Raistlin 05-05-06, 05:00 PM	Cetaurs have no mount... so they can愒 benefit from those feats that have Mounted Combat for prerequisite, right? Are the longspear and the lance so different? (please ignore illustrations from PHB, they're not acurate and besides those guys invented the orc double-axe and the dire flail 洵). I think they can be treated according to the situation. But i'd like to read opinions about it.
Narthon 05-05-06, 05:25 PM	I'd let them take those feats, maybe let them take weapon focus first.
tarkin 05-05-06, 05:47 PM	There are some rulings that they can take 'mounted' feats. Frankly for almost all those things, I don't like this idea. They rarely apply or make sense. Consider: Using a Lance: They are not mounted, so they should not get double damage just for using a reach weapon. Normally, it makes sense because you use the Lance to convert the MOUNT'S energy for your own use. But here you are the "mount" so you are already using your own energy. I feel that saying Centaurs using a Lance get double damage is a Power Gamer rule. It is negating an intended balancing factor. Mounted Combat - They have neither a mount to protect, nor should they have a ride skill. This feat is useless. Mounted Archery - the penalties don't apply as they are not mounted. You could use this as a re-write of Shot-On-The-Run, but it is still wierd. This feat is useless. Ride- by attack - This one works, but the pre-reqs are useless. Take Spring Attack instead, sure it takes one more feet, but it makes FAR more sense. Spirited Charge - this one makes ZERO logical sense and negates the major disadvantage that is taken by PC's - I.E. The PC's have to take a creature larger then them into the area. Allowing it to work by itself is a Power Gamer rule. Trample - This does make some sense, and I would allow, keeping in mind the wasted rank in Ride and the wasted feat in Mounted Combat.
Raven Dark 05-05-06, 06:22 PM	Standard D&D RAW (as opposed to other settings like Forgotten Realms) does not allow Centaurs to qualify for mounted feats jsut for being half-horse. But I'm assuming you knew that already. My opinion (since that is what you asked for) is very similar to Tarkin's. Normal feats can duplicate the effects of mounted feats quite easily. Take those instead. Ride-By Attack = Spring Attack Spirited Charge = Power Attack, Powerful Charge, or any of a number of feats Trample = Improved Overrun Just a few examples.
Molitor 05-05-06, 10:40 PM	Well in the book Savage species(don't know if YOU consider it 3.0 or 3.5) on page 109 they write about exactly this.
Rulebook 05-05-06, 11:18 PM	From the SRD A centaur employing a lance deals double damage when it charges, just as a rider on a mount does. we house rule that centaurs do qualify for the mounted feats except where nonapplicable (they cant use the free 1/round uber ac of mounted combat, but they do qualify for rideby attack etc)