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I'm a relatively new GM and i was wondering if there were any rules out there for a small sized character (such as a halfling or gnome) sitting on a medium or large sized characters shoulders in combat? i know that there's a rule about characters not ending there turns in each others spaces, but i feel this would be reasonable, with maybe some sort of penalty or feat needed, thanks for the feedback.
There are no rules for it since it is not a normal part of combat.
Technically a smaller creature can use a larger creature as a mount, but you might need a harness to make it a believable to any degree. It really depends on how much immersion matters to you. In a real fight both of them would be fairly inhibited.
When using a larger creature as a mount, it's usually implied that the rider has control over the movement of the mount (due training and ride skill checks etc)
If the "mount" is a PC however thats not the case anymore, so I would say most mount-related feats, skills and tricks don't really work.
If you want to build something like MasterBlaster, with the Blaster-mount being an NPC cohort or something... then maybe. Discuss it with the GM then.
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The characters could be considered "squeezed"
If the "mount" doesn't hang on to rider, than you'll need some kind of apparatus - or a really high acrobatics skill to continually balance.
I once did this with my gnome when being carried across high water - then we attacked by ghouls in the water. My gnome took one swing, but mainly inspired courage.
So, I'd say it's interesting and fun for a short encounter - a one-time thing, but it's kinda broken for a campaign.
If you were small, and the other was large, then you could ride in a backpack and cast spells from there. I'd say you couldn't melee, though.
I understand the RAI about riding as "you can ride a quadruped creature one size larger than you" (with exceptions for riding something like a giant worm, a roc or a final fantasy chocobo) - riding on the shoulders of humanoid should slow down that one (I mean, take a sword or bow in hand and try to use it effectively while having a baby on your shoulders - that's just ridiculous)
[...]If you were small, and the other was large, then you could ride in a backpack and cast spells from there. I'd say you couldn't melee, though.
The concentration checks might be awful, though.
I understand the RAI about riding as "you can ride a quadruped creature one size larger than you" (with exceptions for riding something like a giant worm, a roc or a final fantasy chocobo) - riding on the shoulders of humanoid should slow down that one (I mean, take a sword or bow in hand and try to use it effectively while having a baby on your shoulders - that's just ridiculous)
Your position is that you can only ride quadrupeds, except for non-quadrupeds that you think should be ridable? So you're saying it's arbitrary.
If you want to get technical:
Ending Your Movement: You can't end your movement in the same square as another creature unless it is helpless.
Edit:
If you want to treat the character as mounted, then I'd treat the mount as "trained" as long as you can communicate with the character. Also:
Your mount acts on your initiative count as you direct it. You move at its speed, but the mount uses its action to move.
You'd then take all of the penalties/bonuses for mounted combat.
If the carrying creature decides not to do what the rider suggests, I'd treat it as a failed DC 5 Ride check for guiding the mount, which means:
Guide with Knees: You can guide your mount with your knees so you can use both hands in combat. Make your Ride check at the start of your turn. If you fail, you can use only one hand this round because you need to use the other to control your mount. This does not take an action.
Basically, you expect him to run left, and he runs right instead, which upsets your balance.
As part of every day travel, I don't think it's an issue. Like giving a kid a piggy back ride or whatever. Just make sure the appropriate encumberance is taken into account. If you get moved from a light to a medium load because of it, you're going to be slowed down.
In combat is another issue entirely. I would say that the 'rider' should be making a Climb check to hang on, probably DC15 or so. This also of course means they don't get their Dex to AC, and only have one hand free for other actions. If the 'rider' isn't able to hang on by himself, then the larger PC should be able to spend a Move action to help keep him up. Squeezing penalties might also apply since you're sharing your space.
Having a small child clinging to your back, shoulders or neck should be a significant hinderance in combat. If I were DM, I'd allow a custom teamwork feat of some sort to let it happen without penalty, but BOTH characters would need to make that investment.
Your position is that you can only ride quadrupeds, except for non-quadrupeds that you think should be ridable? So you're saying it's arbitrary.
The DM can ALWAYS accept exceptions. The quadruped rule is basically working as long as no one wants to ride some exotic stuff like rocs or chocobos. Basically I'm saying: Use your common sense to determine what one can ride. Most of what you can will be a quadruped.
In 3.5 you could ride a biped that was two categories larger than you.
But other than that bit of trivia, I agree that counting both as crowded and observing encumbrance should occur.