Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Xeviat-DM 09-22-07, 08:02 PM	I've been having new ideas for mounted combat and animal companions. Characters who use mounts are archetypal, but mounted characters face a problem when they have to dismount; much of their character abilities are devoted to their mount. Mounts can't be taken everywhere either. I think I've come upon a solution to the problem. First of all, the issue of fragile mounts. Paladins, Druids, and to a lesser extent Rangers, make the best mounted combatants, because they get/can get a mount that grows with them. Other characters can utilize the Leadership feat this way. But it seems that there is a more simple solution. The Monster Manual has rules for advancing creatures, and most animals have an advancement rating. Thus, I propose using the Handle Animal skill to add hit dice to a mount. This would take time, and couldn't allow the mount's HD to exceed the trainer's, but this would allow a fighter, for instance, to keep their trusty horse around through much of the game. Second, eliminate the majority of the mounted combat feats, and replace them with feats the trainer trains the mount to have. Rather than a character having Ride by Attack, their mount has Spring Attack, for instance. This means that many of the special mounted tricks a mounted combatant has are based on their mount, so the only resources they've devoted are ranks in Handle Animal (or the cash spent to buy a trained mount), and their Ride ranks. Other mounted combat feats could be made into abilities triggered with Ride Checks. I haven't pieced it all together, but I wanted to see what the consensus is on it before I put time into it.
kjenks 09-22-07, 10:14 PM	Druid / Hospitalier makes a dandy mounted cavalry character. Buy a wooden lance (or make one with a Wood Shape spell). Cast Brambles (at levels 3-4) or Spikes (at levels 5+) and hold the charge on the touch spell, waiting for a few hours until combat begins. On your first turn, shift your grip on your lance from one-handed to two-handed, discharging the touch spell. Make a mounted lance charge. Feats you'll need: Mounted Combat, Ride-by Attack, Spirited Charge Power Attack, Improved Bull Rush, Shock Trooper Lion's Pounce, Extra Wild Shape Craft Wondrous Item You may want a level or two of fighter to get all of your feats rapidly. That cuts back on your caster level and animal companion advancement, but it boosts your BAB, which helps your Shock Trooper/Heedless Charge. Craft yourself some Riding Boots (DMG2) for the Ride-by Attack feat. Craft a Belt of Giant Strength +4, upgrade to +6 when you can afford it. You'll be doing about 10 HP/level per hit in damage, and much more when the Lion's Pounce works. That's a lot of damage. Ride your dire bat animal companion. Use Traveler's Mount to boost his fly speed. Use the Ride skill/Spur Mount task for even more speed. Keep your Spot skill maxed out and cast Raptor's Sight (Races of the Wild spell, level 1, 1 hour/level, +5 to Spot).
Xeviat-DM 09-23-07, 02:25 PM	Not to be rude, but that wasn't what I was asking for. I'm seeking to rewrite the way mounted combat feats are handled, so that a character who wants to be mounted doesn't have to put all their permanent resources into it (some skill points are fine, and some cash to buy/train a mount is fine too).
Malchius 09-23-07, 02:31 PM	I can see your point, and a fine one it is, but that would encourage mounted combatants too much, everyone would want a mount because they're only losing a couple of skill points and then you effectively double the amount of character's in the party. I prefer keeping the system the way it is and you are only useless or incapacited off horseback if you spend all your feats on mounted combat's tree of feats, I would recommend branching out into other styles, as you can't expect to be always on horseback.
Ogiwan 09-23-07, 04:55 PM	Right, but what if I want to play a heavy charger? Sure, I'll blow 21,000 gold for adamantine plate barding on my mount. Sure, I'll blow all my feats on my mount. Why can't I have an effective charger? And before you accuse me of creating an unplayable character for the campaign, what about the DMs responsibility to fit characters in and make the game fun for his players?
Malchius 09-23-07, 05:02 PM	I understand what you mean, and for the majority of the time I'd allow this but when you're going on a dungeon crawl, you should atleast buy some other things, I don't agre with All your feats being on mounted combat but if you want to be a cavalier then the majority of feats should be.
kjenks 09-23-07, 09:10 PM	Mounts are great even if you have no feats and no skills related to combat riding. You can get a +4 cover bonus to AC from an easy DC 15 Ride check. Depending on your DM, this cover also prevents AoOs. This is easier than a DC 15 Tumble check because anybody can make it untrained. You can move and still take a full round of actions, like making a full attack with ranged combat, casting a spell (a Concentration check may be needed if your mount moves more than a single move), loading and firing a light crossbow or whatever. The only way the rules say you can be unseated from your mount is by a Trip attack (or by failing the DC 5 Ride check to Stay in Saddle after taking damage). This apparently prevents you from getting grappled or Improved Grabbed, and that's an enormous bonus. (Gray area: Ask your DM.) You threaten more squares (since you share squares with your mount). The downside is that there are many more squares from which other creatures can attack you. You even get +1 to melee attacks when your mount is larger than your opponent. There are also more targets for the enemies to attack. And you get all of this without feats or skill ranks.