I plan to play a Cavalier soon and will be taking full advantage of my mount during combat. However, I don't understand how to go about everything during combat. Here's a few questions I had:
1. Would my mount and I go on different initiative counts? I.E. Would we each roll for initiative?
2. Would my mount and I each have a set of actions every turn? E.G. Standard, Move, Swift, etc.
3. How do I properly attack with a reach weapon while mounted?
4. What checks, if any, do I have to make every turn just to move, to attack, and to charge?
5. Could I do a Combat Manuever, specifically a drag, from atop my mount? (I want to be able to drag fleeing enemies back into the fray.)
Any insight on these would be much appreciated.
|
I too am going through this with my cavalier. It will be a good exercise to see if I can answer your questions.
1. Would my mount and I go on different initiative counts? I.E. Would we each roll for initiative?
Only if you are dismounted. The moment you mount your mount (redundant eh?) it goes on your initiative (per the rules "Your mount acts on your initiative count as you direct it. You move at its speed, but the mount uses its action to move.").
2. Would my mount and I each have a set of actions every turn? E.G. Standard, Move, Swift, etc.
Yes, only if you are using a non-combat trained mount do you have to expend a move action to control it, otherwise it's a free action. Don't forget if your mount moves more than a 5 foot step, you can only make a single melee attack (this does means you can do "other" full round actions though that aren't attacks). Your mount gets the same, so it could double move, it could move and attack, or it could full attack on your direction. I suppose it could just stand there dumbly as well.
3. How do I properly attack with a reach weapon while mounted?
You make an attack (at a +1 bonus for higher ground) and you fight your target at range (no different than standard combat). Note, fighting at range means your mount likely isn't attacking as its standard action.
4. What checks, if any, do I have to make every turn just to move, to attack, and to charge?
You need to succeed on a DC 5 ride check to control your mount with your knees so you can fight (free action). You may need to make other checks as appropriate (falling from a dying mount, being dismounted, etc.).
5. Could I do a Combat Manuever, specifically a drag, from atop my mount? (I want to be able to drag fleeing enemies back into the fray.)
As a GM I wouldn't see why not. If you have a net and want to drag somebody, that Combat Maneuver would exist. That's actually a really cool concept.
Any insight on these would be much appreciated.
I've been getting a lot of my answers from here so this reference that as well.
|
Question 1, 2, and 4 can all be answered by reading this. But I'll give the short answers down the list.
1. No.
2. Sort of. You mount uses its move action to move but you still can make more than a single melee attack unless the mount moves 5 feet or less. You can make full attacks with a ranged weapon at a penalty.
3. As I understand it you are considered to share the space of your mount. So you would be treated essentially the same if you are small and on a medium mount. On a large mount you've got 10 foot space and 10 foot reach though you can't attack adjacent to your space.
4. Read me.
5. While not explicitly stated, I assume this would be no different from making a normal combat maneuver.
|
|
A minor but useful point to know- you can choose either square of your two-square horse to determine where your striking from with your lance etc.
At least, you could in 3.5. I don't believe this was changed.
This is false.
A horse (not a pony) is a Large creature and thus takes up a space 10 feet (2 squares) across. For simplicity, assume that you share your mount's space during combat.
You occupy the entire space of the mount.
Thank you for all the help everyone. The only other question I have is that when I charge, whose actions would be used up to make the charge?
When performing that drag maneuver, as a GM I would probably make some allowance for the Mount's CMB. At the very least, make it an Aid Another action +2 to the actual CMB roll.
Maneuvers are meant to represent attack-like actions where size is a benefit to the attacker rather than a hindrance (as it is in a normal attack). Horses are big, and relevant to such a maneuver. Failing to account for the horse's strength in the maneuver would be an injustice to the player.
Seconded.Thank you for all the help everyone. The only other question I have is that when I charge, whose actions would be used up to make the charge?Both of you. So you'd both suffer the AC penalty as well...
--Vrocking Horse!
Except for the Cavalier's ability to ignore the AC penalty on a mounted charge, of course.
At any rate, prepare to inflict hilarious amounts of damage against your foes.
|
|
When performing that drag maneuver, as a GM I would probably make some allowance for the Mount's CMB. At the very least, make it an Aid Another action +2 to the actual CMB roll.
Maneuvers are meant to represent attack-like actions where size is a benefit to the attacker rather than a hindrance (as it is in a normal attack). Horses are big, and relevant to such a maneuver. Failing to account for the horse's strength in the maneuver would be an injustice to the player.
I've been thinking about this and I think I might allow it slightly differently. I would allow a +2 "Aid Other" bonus by the mount to perform the drag, but if successful, from that point forward I'd likely let the player decide who was doing the dragging. If the player wants to hold onto the net, I'd let him, but if the horse did it, I'd use that CMD/CMB.
Basically I'm imagining tying off the net to the saddle in the case of letting the horse perform the maneuver.
|
When performing that drag maneuver, as a GM I would probably make some allowance for the Mount's CMB. At the very least, make it an Aid Another action +2 to the actual CMB roll.
Maneuvers are meant to represent attack-like actions where size is a benefit to the attacker rather than a hindrance (as it is in a normal attack). Horses are big, and relevant to such a maneuver. Failing to account for the horse's strength in the maneuver would be an injustice to the player.
Actually the more appropriate way to involve the Mount is already included. The +1 to attack creatures smaller than your mount should be added to your CMB as an additional modifier and it's the same as a large mounts size bonus.
--Vrocking Horse
When performing that drag maneuver, as a GM I would probably make some allowance for the Mount's CMB. At the very least, make it an Aid Another action +2 to the actual CMB roll.
Maneuvers are meant to represent attack-like actions where size is a benefit to the attacker rather than a hindrance (as it is in a normal attack). Horses are big, and relevant to such a maneuver. Failing to account for the horse's strength in the maneuver would be an injustice to the player.
Actually the more appropriate way to involve the Mount is already included. The +1 to attack creatures smaller than your mount should be added to your CMB as an additional modifier and it's the same as a large mounts size bonus.
--Vrocking Horse
It's a tough call.
The +1 seems too small to reflect the importance of a mount when it comes to dragging someone or putting them off balance.
Even a larger bonus doesn't really capture potential situations like being pulled off your horse, so there should probably be a ride check involved.
It's an interesting scenario that could be applied to lassoing and other ride tricks.