martryn |
I see in the Core Rulebook under mounts in the equipment section that a horse is fine for the medium sized creature, and that a pony works well for small sized creatures, but it doesn't give any penalties to a 3' tall halfling riding a clydesdale, for example.
The closest rule I can find is under the Ride skill where it says you take a -5 penalty when riding a creature that is ill-suited to serving as a mount, which isn't necessarily true about horses in general, but probably is true about a halfling riding on a horse.
Can a halfling ride a horse?
Can he do it without a penalty?
Are there certain checks he just can't make while on a horse?
Does he take a -5 penalty on ride checks while mounted on a horse?
etc etc
steelhead |
A very good question, and one I am interested in seeing what others think as I just made a halfling windrider (from 3E). Although he will initially be using a riding dog, there is the possibility that I may have to ride a horse at some point. It seems like a -5 penalty is reasonable for a small creature riding a large mount. Anybody else want to weigh in on this one?
lucesque |
Well, -5 makes sense, since the Ride skill says this:
If you attempt to ride a creature that is ill suited as a mount, you take a –5 penalty on your Ride checks.
Personally, I wouldn't include a penalty, as long as the saddle and barding is custom fit, so to speak, to fit a horse with a Halfling rider. The way I see it, if a Medium creature can ride Megafauna without penalty, why would a halfling suffer penalties for riding a typical horse?
That's my two cents, anyways.
Jay the Madman |
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As far as I know, there is only one issue for a small mount on a large (or larger) mount. That is their ability to fast mount/dismount. If your mount is one size category larger than you can mount or dismount as a free action, with a ride check. If e mount is too big, you always need a move action to mount or dismount.
lucesque |
Try putting a midget or a eight year old child on a full size horse. No matter how bright and gifted they are... they've got a major problem without some serious modifications. One of them is simply getting on the darned thing.
How does that explain someone mounting a brachiosaurus, then? Do they just Fred Flinstone along the tail, yelling "yabba-dabba-dooo" with expert dexterity? xD
I do still think it merits a custom saddle, since it's a creature two size categories larger.
LazarX |
LazarX wrote:Try putting a midget or a eight year old child on a full size horse. No matter how bright and gifted they are... they've got a major problem without some serious modifications. One of them is simply getting on the darned thing.How does that explain someone mounting a brachiosaurus, then? Do they just Fred Flinstone along the tail, yelling "yabba-dabba-dooo" with expert dexterity? xD
As I understand it they're using something that's the equivalent of a reptilian Choco-bo, not a full size brachiosaurus.
Otherwise yes... that's exactly what they are doing. A Druid's animal companion with it's bond may be able to compensate for the lack of normal physical control options, like not having legs long enough to control it conventionally.
lucesque |
lucesque wrote:LazarX wrote:Try putting a midget or a eight year old child on a full size horse. No matter how bright and gifted they are... they've got a major problem without some serious modifications. One of them is simply getting on the darned thing.How does that explain someone mounting a brachiosaurus, then? Do they just Fred Flinstone along the tail, yelling "yabba-dabba-dooo" with expert dexterity? xD
As I understand it they're using something that's the equivalent of a reptilian Choco-bo, not a full size brachiosaurus.
Otherwise yes... that's exactly what they are doing. A Druid's animal companion with it's bond may be able to compensate for the lack of normal physical control options, like not having legs long enough to control it conventionally.
Sure, it's one thing if it's a druid's companion, since they limit the size. But if your Joe Schmoe the Fighter Guy buying a giant brachiosaurus, it doesn't shrink from Gargantuan to Large, right?
I dunno, I still think a -5 for a mount that is two size categories larger is fair. Maybe nix the ability to fast-mount all together in those scenarios?