Kaibutsu's page

Actually, you don't have to end up face to face. The whole tactic with mounted combat and a lance is to just keep on riding by and hitting up for damage. Mobility is the big advantage of mounted combat.

With Ride by Attack you will not take an AoO from your target, though others could take them on you. You may wish to consider the Mobility feat if that is a big concern.

Keep in mind that when you charge with a lance, even if you do not ride by you do not have to stop adjacent to the target, just within reach with your lance. If he moves in closer, then on your turn have your mount make a 5ft adjustment away from him and attack with the lance (which is how realistic mounted combat works). Or you can drop the lance, have your mount attack, and draw another weapon for your own attack. Whatever works best by the situation.

A Klar or a regular old spiked shield would work fine if you want to have a close weapon and not drop your lance. As long as you only attack with one and not the other you do not take two-weapon penalties.

Now, an important thing to remember about letting your mount attack and still being able to get reach with your lance is that you can make the 5ft adjustment in the middle of your turn. Direct your mount to bite then retreat 5ft. Then you can attack with your lance. In theory I suppose you could even attack with your klar then adjust and attack with the lance if you were a two-weapon fighter, but I'm not sure a lance can be used for two-weapon combat given that it is listed as a two-handed weapon even if you only need one hand while mounted.

Wow, totally missed how I can do a Ride by and keep with reach to ensure I'm not right up on him. Also, great idea with the mount attack move and then Lance attack. Thanks!

Yea I think I'll run this way and then just adjust more as needed if I wish to get in a different theme.

Yes I can do a "Ride by Attack", however, eventually i'm going to end up face to face.

At that point am I just ridding off to get far enough to turn and charge back again?

And doesn't that open up an AOO if I do?

Wont I eventually end up having to have a face to face fight? I supposed with the shield attack my mount can bite. If I'm backing up it cannot as it doesn't have reach, unless i get one that does eventually.

Thoughts?

Have you considered having your mount step back five feet so you can attack with the lance?

Yes, but then I'm just backing up + attack, backing up + attack, etc... which I suppose is fine.

I've also thought perhaps just using a Klar shield and using it to attack. It's once less dice dmg but that ins't so bad. I just wanted to ensure I understood the rules correctly.

Sorry if this has been covered, couldn't quite find my question in the search but just similar ones...therefore...

I'm trying to learn how to Play Pathfinder and am struggling to understand a few points regarding the Cavalier. This is for a Level 1 Halfling Gendarme Cavalier with Mounted Combat & Ride by Attack

Charge with lance and attack results in creature now 5’ away standing in front of me. Next turn, cannot attack with Lance due to creature being closer than 10', therefore which of these are viable?

A)Pass Lance to left arm with light shield and free hand, Draw weapon, Attack keeping shield on arm. Will shield still defend holding Lance?

B) Drop Lance (Free Action), Draw weapon (Move Action), Attack (Std action)
C)Drop Lance & Shield (Free action at same time for both?), Draw 2H Axe (Move action), Attack (Std action)

Do any of those options work? I would prefer not to drop the lance because if I do then I have to use a Full Rnd action to dismount, pick up lance, then my next turn Move to mount, then Standard action to attack.

Can anyone clarify if I"m on the right track? Would being small effect any choices?