Mounted Combat Questions

[Huppolitan]

I have read through a number of older threads on mounted combat, but I want to throw out a number of niggling questions in one place and see what wisdom I can gather from the community. Thanks in advance for any help!

For the record, my character is a PFS Halfling Cavalier 3 riding a wolf.

--If I take an immediate to use my mount for cover, does a miss on me constitute a hit on the wolf? On my next turn, when I use a move action to return to the saddle, does the wolf still have a move and a standard?

--I'm a lancer, so the wolf and I have different reaches. Typically, the wolf moves me into lance range (move) and readies a melee+trip to anyone coming into her reach (standard). I attack (standard). If the wolf's ready goes off, may I assume that as a unit the wolf and I relocate to the new initiative position at which the ready went off?

--Can a wolf wear Slippers of Spider Climb or Horseshoes of Speed? Any modifiers for cost for either item to make 'em wolf-ready? (I may have the names of the items wrong.) I expect I would have to push the wolf using Handle Animal to walk on a ceiling, even if the item is legal. Thoughts?

--This is not a rules question, but a play question. Generally, are folks who play small Cavs taking the wolf size increase at 7th level? Having a medium wolf allows rapid mount/dismount (good for flanking) and works well on a lot of maps, But there's a big strength bump if you go large.

Thanks again. This ridin' stuff is new to me, as you can tell.

[Starglim]

1a) Do you apply this rule for firing ranged weapons at a target covered by your ally? I'm not saying you would be wrong to do so, but it just seems unnecessarily complicated. The attacker missed his intended target. Move on.

1b) It doesn't affect the wolf's actions. You might consider that it's already encumbered by carrying you, so it doesn't take additional penalties if you slide around a bit.

2) edit: The wolf's initiative changes and is now after yours. I would simplify it by making the wolf delay on her next turn until her initiative matched yours again. Track it separately if you think it's worth the hassle.

3a) A wolf can't wear slippers and can't walk if you nail something to her foot. In a home game, you could ask your GM about designing a non-standard magic item.

3b) Sounds reasonable, though there's no rule to say so.

4) Interesting idea. You also get a small stat bump if you forego the 4th or 7th level gain (in this case, effectively exchanging a big STR increase for a smaller DEX increase).

[Huppolitan]

Thanks, Starglim. The initiative question, in particular, must come up a fair amount in mounted combat but has driven a number of experienced PFS GMs crazy.