Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Ironxxx Mar 30, 2015 4:31:25	Under the mounted combat rules regarding riding a controlled mount (PHB p198) it states: "It moves as you direct it, and it has only three action options; Dash, Disengage, and Dodge. A controlled mount can move and act even on the turn that you mount it."   If I'm riding it I obviously gain the benefits of the Dash but do I gain the benefits of the Dodge and Disengage too? If the mount disengages does the rider? If the mount dodges, does the rider?   Other text to consider is the description of mounted combat: "A knight charging into battle on a warhorse, a wizard casting spells from the back of a griffon, or a cleric soaring through the sky on a pegasus all enjoy the benefits of speed and mobility that a mount can provide."   How would you rule it?
#2 RPGBG Mar 30, 2015 5:45:37	You don't get the benefit of disengage, but don't really need it, since you don't move (the mount does) by yourself and don't provoke AoO. You don't get the benefit of dodge.
#3 Macv12 Mar 30, 2015 5:45:55	I could go either way.   The rider isn't moving when the mount moves. They're just sitting there, telling it where to go. If a mount moves in such a way as to not leave an obvious opening for counterattack (by disengaging), that means the rider has done so as well.   On the other hand, I could envision a horse rearing up and stepping back before turning and running as the in-universe description of their Disengage action. It follows that the rider might be especially preoccupied with handling the horse and not falling off in such a case, and might be focusing on another specific enemy and couching their lance in preparation of the Attack action. Therefore enemies might have an opportunity to take an easy shot at them, when the horse itself isn't so vulnerable. Same with Dodge.   Also, the mount rarely needs to take actions in combat. This means that most turns, they could just use their otherwise-wasted action Dodging, giving the rider a semi-permanent defensive boost. I definitely wouldn't allow that specifically.   For simplicity's sake, I'd say that Disengage works on rider and mount both, though.
#4 AaronOfBarbaria Mar 30, 2015 6:43:38	My thoughts on the matter:   Disengage: It's entirely irrelevant if the mount taking the disengage action counts for the rider since the rider is not moving despite being moved - the rules clearly state "You also don't provoke an opportunity attack when you teleport or when someone or something moves you without using your movement, action, or reaction."   There is no opportunity attack being provoked for the disengage action to prevent from being provoked... at least not unless the rider is moving independently of the mount - which would mean dismounting, and thus clearly have no reason to benefit from that your mount headed off the other way is doing so carefully.   Dodge: If allowed to benefit the rider, being mounted would mean an increase in movement speed and also always having the benefit of the Dodge action while still getting to do whatever you wanted to, such as attack - since your mount can move and take an action, and you still have your action to use as you please.   To me, that makes for too strong of an advantage for being mounted - the increased movement is benefit enough to make using a mount seem like a reasonable idea.
(Reply to #4) Ironxxx	AaronOfBarbaria wrote: