Ride rolls to pick up an ally

[Prawn]

What would the DC be to ride by and pick up a willing ally? It seems to happen in every western movie, whenever someone's horse gets shot. Would it require feats? How much harder would it be if the guy you were picking up didn't have a readied action to help?

What about to ride by and pick an unconscious ally up off the ground? Like at 2:06 of this video, where Rambo picks up the goat:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p68eNRLb8cU

I wanted to do that in last night's game to a halfling that was knocked out and was in danger, but I couldn't figure it how it would work, rules-wise.

[DeltaOneG]

As with all rules not spelled out it would be up to the DM. I think the question would really be what kind of action it requires to pick up the person. If I were DM I'd rule it thus:

Spoiler:

Move action (or multiple depending on distance) to get to fallen ally

Move or Free action (depending on skill check) to dismount (if required)

Move action (as move heavy object) to put ally on steed.

Move or Free action to mount.

Move action to escape.

Potentially requiring several rounds. If they are at a height that dismount is not required (or your ride skill is sufficient to dismount/mount as a free action) it would still take a full turn to get to them and get them on your mount. Should probably throw a strength check in there too.

If they ready an action I would allow them to attempt a mount themselves, probably with a DC 20 ride check.

This is barring any feats that could be argued to help such as spring attack or whatever equivalent riding feats there may be.

[Prawn]

So you are talking three or four rounds for an unconscious ally. I might agree if I were picking up someone heavy. In the video, the guy leans over from his horse and scoops the goat up off the ground and rides off with it. It it clearly possible in real life, and my character has 16 in ride. Seems like there out to be a DC that would let me attempt it in one round, even if the DC is high. I am a strong human, picking up a 35 halfling. Should be possible for an expert rider, or in game terms, someone with the right ranks and feats.

[Diodric]

A quick rule just off the top of my head would go:

Picking up a willing, ready ally:
-DC 10 Ride check to properly lean in the saddle without falling off. Trick Riding feats negates check.
-Ally makes a DC 15 Reflex, with a +2 bonus if mounted character succeeds with a DC 10 Dex "Aid Another" check.
-DC ?? Str check for mounted character to pull ally onto back of the horse with +2 bonus for the jumping momentum of ally. DC based off weight of the ally, up to GM.

Picking up an unwilling target:
-DC 10 Ride check to properly lean in the saddle without falling off. Trick Riding feats negates check.
-Mounted character makes attack roll vs. target's touch AC.
-DC ?? Str check for mounted character to target onto back of the horse with no bonus. DC based off weight of the target, up to GM.

Picking up a low lying ally, target, or object:
-DC 20 Ride check to properly drop down in the saddle without falling off.
-Mounted character makes attack roll vs. target's touch AC.
-DC ?? Str check for mounted character to target onto back of the horse with no bonus. DC based off weight of the target, up to GM.

All three are actions are made as part of a Move action.

Again these are just fast rules off the top of my head. Change to taste.

[Prawn]

I like the touch attack vs the object. DC 20 seems about right. Thanks for the input. If it comes up again, I might suggest this to the DM.

[Diodric]

Sure thing. Another thing I might add is when picking up objects, I personally as a GM would consider mounted archery penalties.
When you think about it a small object has AC 4. Attempting an attack roll to pick up such small target on the back of a galloping horse should be harder.
For reference, you suffer a -4 penalty if the horse is taking a double move, -8 if galloping. The Mounted Archery feat would not apply.

[Prawn]

That makes sense. Seems like you could handle it with the AC of the object or the DC of the ride roll, but either way, something small should be harder to grab. But check out this trick rider, in this 17 sec video, she's picking something up while hanging upside down by one leg from her moving horse! It's called the Cossak drag.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aY7GtisOoE

[GeneticDrift]

The guy/gal on the ground readies an action to mount when the horse gets close. If you want to be mean make it a quick mount check (dc20)with +2 or more from the rider/horse.

Edit: I don't see why picking up an unwilling target at high speeds isn't a grapple. It's hard to get multiple grapple checks to grab and reposition though. I guess you'll need to see the action as taking place over more than one round. Move grapple, grapple move.

[Diodric]

Yeah, wow. I'd say that counts as a decently high Ride check. That could also be another thing to throw into the rule. Take an optionally higher Ride DC to lower the object's AC. Maybe a DC 30 Ride check to reduce the penalties in half like the Mounted Archery feat. You have to declare before you roll if you're going to up the DC since that's a specific trick and if you fail the DC 30 you fall even if you make the DC 20. Again, that's just me as a GM.

[Prawn]

I didn't ask about an unwilling target, I asked about an unconscious subject. Grapple isn't what we are looking for here.