Dex Bonus to AC while Riding? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Dex Bonus to AC while Riding? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Teop
02-29-08, 08:51 AM Hello all.
We had a situation in our last game where an 8th lvl rogue/fighter was fighting while mounted on a warhorse. This character has a high AC due in part to his really good Dex bonus. The player claimed that since he was on horseback he is on higher ground with regard to medium creatures, so he gets a +1 to his melee attacks. This seems fine to me and makes sense.
What I have a question about is using his Dex bonus while on horseback. The DM did not require him to make ride checks when fighting from horseback while his mount was fighting (normally a DC 10 Ride check) and his Ride skill is pretty low.
The DM did feel that a mounted rider was not able to make full and adequate use of any Dex bonus since sitting on a saddle limited movement. I cannot find any rules stating a rider should lose Dex bonus while mounted, except the Armor Class Modifier for a kneeling or sitting individual taking a -2 to AC.
Is there a rule somewhere on this, or is it situational?

I was just looking for some feedback or a ruling with regard to this question.
Thanks,
-Teop
Merestil Haye
02-29-08, 09:41 AM If a character has a benefit, that benefit is (by default) something he has in all situations. If circumstances remove the benefit, then the rules conferring the benefit or the rules imposing the condition that denies the benefit will explicitly state the benefit is denied by that circumstance. In the absence of such rules, the benefit is applicable.

I'm not aware of any rule that denies a mounted character their Dex bonus to AC, thus I conclude that a mounted character does get their Dex bonus to AC unless another circumstance denies it - for example, if the rider is struck by an invisible attacker.
Slimgauge
02-29-08, 09:50 AM The player claimed that since he was on horseback he is on higher ground with regard to medium creatures, so he gets a +1 to his melee attacks.

This is true: From "Rules of the Game: All About Mounts, Part One (Basics of Mounts) (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/rg/20050125a)

A mount can give you an advantage in melee.

If you're mounted and you make a melee attack against a foe that is on foot (that is, not mounted itself) and who is one or more size categories smaller than your mount, you get a +1 bonus on your attack roll for being on higher ground. If the creature you attack is on higher ground than you and your mount, you don't get a bonus on your melee attack.

Next question

The DM did not require him to make ride checks when fighting from horseback while his mount was fighting (normally a DC 10 Ride check) and his Ride skill is pretty low.

This is incorrect: From the SRD Ride Skill (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/skills/ride.htm), you need a "Guide with Knees" DC5 check to use both hands and a "Fight with Warhorse" DC10 check to get your own attacks if your mount attacks.

The DM did feel that a mounted rider was not able to make full and adequate use of any Dex bonus since sitting on a saddle limited movement. I cannot find any rules stating a rider should lose Dex bonus while mounted,

To my knowledge, there is no such rule in v3.5

except the Armor Class Modifier for a kneeling or sitting individual taking a -2 to AC. Is there a rule somewhere on this, or is it situational?

You got that -2 from the Table: Armor Class Modifiers (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/combat/combatModifiers.htm) ? I've never seen that applied to riders. Nowhere in the entire "All About Mounts" series of articles is it mentioned. That modifier is for sitting or kneeling on something stationary, like a chair or the floor, not something moving around.

I was just looking for some feedback or a ruling with regard to this question.
Thanks,
-Teop

edit:Ninja'd
Kouk
02-29-08, 12:11 PM Since it is a Warhorse, a mount trained for battle, you don't have to make Ride checks to control it during a fight -- it won't get scared.

The only time you need to make a "Guide with Knees" DC 5 check is when you want to use BOTH hands for your own attacks, for instance if you are fighting with a sword and shield, or two-weapon fighting, or a two-handed weapon.

You make a DC 10 check in order to make your own attacks in addition to ordering the Mount to make an attack.

As long as the character only tries to attack with one hand, he need make no checks on a warhorse.

This is all in the skill description for Ride.

There is no penalty to Dex bonus for riding.
Teop
03-01-08, 08:31 AM Thanks for the help, everyone!

-Teop

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Teop 02-29-08, 08:51 AM	Hello all. We had a situation in our last game where an 8th lvl rogue/fighter was fighting while mounted on a warhorse. This character has a high AC due in part to his really good Dex bonus. The player claimed that since he was on horseback he is on higher ground with regard to medium creatures, so he gets a +1 to his melee attacks. This seems fine to me and makes sense. What I have a question about is using his Dex bonus while on horseback. The DM did not require him to make ride checks when fighting from horseback while his mount was fighting (normally a DC 10 Ride check) and his Ride skill is pretty low. The DM did feel that a mounted rider was not able to make full and adequate use of any Dex bonus since sitting on a saddle limited movement. I cannot find any rules stating a rider should lose Dex bonus while mounted, except the Armor Class Modifier for a kneeling or sitting individual taking a -2 to AC. Is there a rule somewhere on this, or is it situational? I was just looking for some feedback or a ruling with regard to this question. Thanks, -Teop
Merestil Haye 02-29-08, 09:41 AM	If a character has a benefit, that benefit is (by default) something he has in all situations. If circumstances remove the benefit, then the rules conferring the benefit or the rules imposing the condition that denies the benefit will explicitly state the benefit is denied by that circumstance. In the absence of such rules, the benefit is applicable. I'm not aware of any rule that denies a mounted character their Dex bonus to AC, thus I conclude that a mounted character does get their Dex bonus to AC unless another circumstance denies it - for example, if the rider is struck by an invisible attacker.
Slimgauge 02-29-08, 09:50 AM	The player claimed that since he was on horseback he is on higher ground with regard to medium creatures, so he gets a +1 to his melee attacks. This is true: From "Rules of the Game: All About Mounts, Part One (Basics of Mounts) (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/rg/20050125a) A mount can give you an advantage in melee. If you're mounted and you make a melee attack against a foe that is on foot (that is, not mounted itself) and who is one or more size categories smaller than your mount, you get a +1 bonus on your attack roll for being on higher ground. If the creature you attack is on higher ground than you and your mount, you don't get a bonus on your melee attack. Next question The DM did not require him to make ride checks when fighting from horseback while his mount was fighting (normally a DC 10 Ride check) and his Ride skill is pretty low. This is incorrect: From the SRD Ride Skill (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/skills/ride.htm), you need a "Guide with Knees" DC5 check to use both hands and a "Fight with Warhorse" DC10 check to get your own attacks if your mount attacks. The DM did feel that a mounted rider was not able to make full and adequate use of any Dex bonus since sitting on a saddle limited movement. I cannot find any rules stating a rider should lose Dex bonus while mounted, To my knowledge, there is no such rule in v3.5 except the Armor Class Modifier for a kneeling or sitting individual taking a -2 to AC. Is there a rule somewhere on this, or is it situational? You got that -2 from the Table: Armor Class Modifiers (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/combat/combatModifiers.htm) ? I've never seen that applied to riders. Nowhere in the entire "All About Mounts" series of articles is it mentioned. That modifier is for sitting or kneeling on something stationary, like a chair or the floor, not something moving around. I was just looking for some feedback or a ruling with regard to this question. Thanks, -Teop edit:Ninja'd
Kouk 02-29-08, 12:11 PM	Since it is a Warhorse, a mount trained for battle, you don't have to make Ride checks to control it during a fight -- it won't get scared. The only time you need to make a "Guide with Knees" DC 5 check is when you want to use BOTH hands for your own attacks, for instance if you are fighting with a sword and shield, or two-weapon fighting, or a two-handed weapon. You make a DC 10 check in order to make your own attacks in addition to ordering the Mount to make an attack. As long as the character only tries to attack with one hand, he need make no checks on a warhorse. This is all in the skill description for Ride. There is no penalty to Dex bonus for riding.
Teop 03-01-08, 08:31 AM	Thanks for the help, everyone! -Teop