It seems like mounted combat is still not getting the attention it deserves. It's a huge part of the history that modern fantasy is based on and everyone loved the knight charging with a lance as a kid, so where is he in 3.x and PFRPG?
It definitely seems like there need to be more feats for mounted combat, so here are a few ideas.
UNSEAT (Combat)
You are skilled at unseating your mounted opponents.
Prerequisites: Mounted Combat, Power Attack, Improved Bull Rush
Benefits: When charging an opponent while mounted and wielding a lance, resolve the attack as normal. If it hits the character may immediately make a bull rush attempt in addition to the normal damage. Resolve the bull rush as normal, with two exceptions: the enemy may only be pushed back to the first square behind his mount, and the enemy always falls prone in this space.
SHOVE THAT IN YOUR PIKE AND SMOKE IT (Combat) (Yes, it needs a better name)
You are skilled at wielding a larger lance than normal.
Prerequisites: Mounted Combat, Martial Weapon Proficiency (lance), STR 13
Benefits: You may wield a lance one size category larger than normal. You take a -2 penalty to attack with this weapon. In addition, you gain reach as though of a creature of that size category while wielding this oversized lance. (For example, a Medium human with a Large lance will have a 15 ft. reach)
On the other hand, to combat this new menace you'll need a fair amount of flexibility with polearms (and they need a lot of work as it is). So I propose the following feats:
POINTY END GOES IN OTHER GUY (Combat) (Please give me a better name)
You are more skilled at dealing with charging opponents than most.
Prerequisites: -
Benefits: When you set a weapon against a charge, you deal triple damage instead of double.
UNHORSE (Combat)
You know how to drag a man from the saddle.
Prerequisites: Combat Expertise, Improved Trip
Benefits: When you ready an action to set against a charge, if that attack hits and the opponent is mounted you may make a free trip attack against him.
NO, THIS IS A PIKE (Combat) (Names, please, I'm dying up here)
You are skilled in the use of oversized polearms.
Prerequisites: STR 13
Benefits: You may wield a polearm with reach up to one size category larger than you normally could. You take a -2 to attack with this weapon. In addition, you gain reach with this weapon as though you were one size category larger than you are. (For example, a Medium human with a longspear has a 15 ft. reach)
If anyone else has any ideas about mounted feats or critiques about the feats above, please let me know.
There absolutely should be rules for unseating someone in a joust (other than the Mickey Mouse DC 5 Ride check). Some sort of combat maneuver, applied at the moment of impact, seems just the thing... but I'm not sure I'd make it require a separate feat. I can easily envision a whole series of feats that apply combat maneuvers upon successful attacks (like the 3.5e Knockdown feat)... ooh, I like it!
I like the feat about setting a polearm against a charge, too, and the one allowing you to use your polearm to unhorse the guy (although I'm not sure I'd require a separate feat, or whether Improved Trip should be enough)...
In general, however, I'm always very much against the "I use giant humongous anime weapons because it's much cooler than using normal weapons" feats. Monkey Grip, plus all of these oversized lance feats and oversize polearm feats, just don't sit well with me. Yes, I know all the art shows people wielding Huge weapons... but I don't care for that, either.
Dragon #299 =)
In general, however, I'm always very much against the "I use giant humongous anime weapons because it's much cooler than using normal weapons" feats. Monkey Grip, plus all of these oversized lance feats and oversize polearm feats, just don't sit well with me. Yes, I know all the art shows people wielding Huge weapons... but I don't care for that, either.
Actually, this wasn't inspired in my mind by anime, but rather by the effective tactics of the Polish Hussars, who proved cavalry was still an effective unit type long after the rest of Europe had given up on it. They used lances up to 5 meters in length or more to overreach pikemen.
Actually, this wasn't inspired in my mind by anime, but rather by the effective tactics of the Polish Hussars, who proved cavalry was still an effective unit type long after the rest of Europe had given up on it. They used lances up to 5 meters in length or more to overreach pikemen.
I'd be OK with longer pikes and lances, just not with people swinging around Huge halberds and greataxes. So, instead of feats for weapons 1 size larger than normal, I'd prefer to make new exotic weapons: Hussar's Lance and Awl Pike, with greater reaches. The feat requirements would be the same as in your scenario, but the potential for silliness would be a lot less.