I'm preparing to DM for a group, and one of them wishes to be a Dragonrider http://paizo.com/store/byCompany/s/superGeniusGames/pathfinderRPG/geniusGui des/classes/v5748btpy8bia
This particular character wishes to charge while mounted with a lance for their weapon.
The nature of the Focus mechanic for Dragonriders is puzzling, would this tactic only work if the Focus required less than a move action to perform?
Furthermore, the lance only requires the mount to be charging to gain double damage (And here's where a disconect happens, since even in a standard mount the creature has its own set of actions too yes?), could this character then use say, a move action to focus their dragon, then have the dragon charge, at the end of the charge could they take their remaining standard action to double damage lance? Or does the Rider have to be the one to Charge, something that is quite confusing when dealing with the Dragon Steed.
In the case of a normal creature like a horse, how does charging work?
You use a full action to engage a charge, your horse moves where you point it and you roll an attack against someone when your horse stops moving? How does Ride by charge interact with this, or the above dragon rider as well?
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When you attack a creature smaller than your mount that is on foot, you get the +1 bonus on melee attacks for being on higher ground. If your mount moves more than 5 feet, you can only make a single melee attack. Essentially, you have to wait until the mount gets to your enemy before attacking, so you can't make a full attack. Even at your mount's full speed, you don't take any penalty on melee attacks while mounted.
If your mount charges, you also take the AC penalty associated with a charge. If you make an attack at the end of the charge, you receive the bonus gained from the charge.
The dragon can only make a move action as directed without focus. So, the dragon could not charge. If focus is made, then the dragon can make a full action, including a charge. If the focus is made with a move action or less, the dragon can make a full charge, and then the character can attack with the charge bonus and AC penalty. The dragon and character act at the same initiative- the player can make actions for both in the same turn, so the focus can be made, then dragon can charge, then the player can attack. The character only makes an attack action to benefit from the charge, not full action to charge themselves. A trained horse works the same way, minus the focus.
Mounts charge at a target just like a character would, though a dragon can make an attack themselves for the dragonrider. The dragonrider uses Ride-by attack as any other would- one can move past the target up to the maximum charge distance without provoking an AoO from that target while making an attack. Both the dragon and the dragonrider get to attack.