I am starting a new campaign set in the Lands of the Linnorm Kings and I would really like to try my hand at running mounted combats this time round. I have never run a mounted combat in 3.5e and really want to spice up the combats this time with mounts.
The party is currently Level 2 and are all warrior-types.
Am I reading the rules correctly in the following instances?
1 - The mount moves/attacks on the same initiative segment as its rider
2 - On a character's turn, they use the movement rate of their mount
3 - A character can still take an action that is during their personal movement phase before or after their mount has moved, separate from their mount's action during their joint movement phase
4 - When a character takes damage, they make a Ride check to Stay In Saddle; do they also do this when the mount takes damage?
5 - Can a range-based character's mount move and the ranged attacker still get multiple attacks, or does this fall under the ruling of movement = single ranged attack/round?
6 - Military saddle + armour for mount = Good Things
7 - Amour penalties apply to Ride checks
8 - Can an opponent on foot and without a reach or brace weapon reach someone on a mount? [Assuming: rider is Medium, opponent is Medium; mount is Large; both are on adjacent squares]
9 - Does an opponent on foot with a reach or brace weapon choose whether they are attacking the mount or rider? Or is it automatically assumed they are attacking the mount and it is a "Called Shot" to attack the rider?
10 - Can a rider reach an opponent on foot if they do not have a reach weapon? [Assuming: melee weapon, rider is Medium, opponent is Medium, mount is Large, both are on adjacent squares]
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These are my immediate questions.
Thanks in advance!
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I want to add another question. If your mount has an attack of its' own. Can it get an attack when you use the feat ride by attack? What about on a regular charge? Specifically, I was thinking of a summoner riding an eidolon. Give the summoner a lance(maybe the errata heirloom weapon is still good for something[or the 1/2elf racial variant trait for weapon proficientcy]), it has reach, give the eidolon reach as well. Now can the summoner and eidolon both attack on a charge, ride by attack, charging pounce? From reach?
1 - The mount moves/attacks on the same initiative segment as its rider
Yes.
2 - On a character's turn, they use the movement rate of their mount
Yes.
3 - A character can still take an action that is during their personal movement phase before or after their mount has moved, separate from their mount's action during their joint movement phase
Yes; however, there are some feats and such that allow this to change.
4 - When a character takes damage, they make a Ride check to Stay In Saddle; do they also do this when the mount takes damage?
No, only when the character takes damage.
5 - Can a range-based character's mount move and the ranged attacker still get multiple attacks, or does this fall under the ruling of movement = single ranged attack/round?
They can in fact get multiple attacks. This is what's so cool about mounted ranged attackers. However, notice that it's a bit different from regular mounted combat, as the character must take all of his attacks at the mid-point of the mount's movement when using ranged attacks.
Also, there are penalties associated with using a ranged weapon while mounted. If the mount moves its move speed or less, there is no penalty. If it double moves, there is a -4 penalty. When the mount is running, there is a -8 penalty.
6 - Military saddle + armour for mount = Good Things
Definitely, but keep in mind how armor reduces speed.
7 - Amour penalties apply to Ride checks
Yep.
8 - Can an opponent on foot and without a reach or brace weapon reach someone on a mount? [Assuming: rider is Medium, opponent is Medium; mount is Large; both are on adjacent squares]
Yes, they can. For the intent of targeting (this is going to sound silly), a mounted character counts as being in ALL FOUR squares of a mount's space. If anything (melee attack, area effect of spell) hits any one square of the mount's space, the character is affected.
9 - Does an opponent on foot with a reach or brace weapon choose whether they are attacking the mount or rider? Or is it automatically assumed they are attacking the mount and it is a "Called Shot" to attack the rider?
This question is different based on the answer for 8, but yes anyone can choose to attack either the rider or the mount. Intelligent opponents often target the mount due to its lower HP.
10 - Can a rider reach an opponent on foot if they do not have a reach weapon? [Assuming: melee weapon, rider is Medium, opponent is Medium, mount is Large, both are on adjacent squares]
Yes. In addition, the rider gets a +1 on the attack roll for attacking an opponent from higher ground. (This higher ground bonus also applies while standing on a table, etc)
In answer to Raymond, your mount does get its attack any time you do not use it to double move. If you charge someone and the total movement your mount has taken is less or equal to its move speed, then it does in fact get an attack with the +2 from charge. Don't forget that your mount takes a -2 to its AC like normal on a charge.
As for Ride-By Attack, here's how it works basically. You (the rider) must have the Ride-By Attack feat to get the attack as you ride by. Your mount must have the Spring Attack feat to get its attack as it moves by.
Thanks so much, Elfgasm! Can you please point out the reference for the mid-movement mentioned in #5?
Never mind, found it; core rules page 201 -- MOUNTED COMBAT -- duh!
Thanks so much!!
Thanks for the assistance; I feel fairly confident I can run a mounted combat in tonight's session!
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I also thank you. I feel silly for not recognizing the eidolon would need spring attack, that is what it would be doing. Having to give the eidolon spring attack would be very feat intensive. Maybe I should still consider it if I follow through with taking mounted combat to protect the eidolon and spirited charge to do some damage with the summoner itself.