godsDMit wrote:
The real question is if the rider gets to make a Ride check against the CMB to keep the mount from being Grappled. I think it does. Conditions apply to CMB/CMD in most cases, so I think the rider should get the check just the same as if the guy was swinging a sword at his mount.\
Just my 2cp, though. :)
PS. Tarma, I told you this would get moved. :P
Hmm, looking at the rules:
Mounted Combat wrote:
Mounted Combat (Combat)
You are adept at guiding your mount through combat.
Prerequisite: Ride 1 rank.
Benefit: Once per round when your mount is hit in combat, you may attempt a Ride check (as an immediate action) to negate the hit. The hit is negated if your Ride check result is greater than the opponent's attack roll.
Grapple wrote:
Grapple
As a standard action, you can attempt to grapple a foe, hindering his combat options. If you do not have Improved Grapple, grab, or a similar ability, attempting to grapple a foe provokes an attack of opportunity from the target of your maneuver. Humanoid creatures without two free hands attempting to grapple a foe take a –4 penalty on the combat maneuver roll. If successful, both you and the target gain the grappled condition (see the Appendices). If you successfully grapple a creature that is not adjacent to you, move that creature to an adjacent open space (if no space is available, your grapple fails). ...
Combat Maneuvers wrote:
Combat Maneuvers
...
Performing a Combat Maneuver: When performing a combat maneuver, you must use an action appropriate to the maneuver you are attempting to perform. While many combat maneuvers can be performed as part of an attack action, full-attack action, or attack of opportunity (in place of a melee attack), others require a specific action. Unless otherwise noted, performing a combat maneuver provokes an attack of opportunity from the target of the maneuver. If you are hit by the target, you take the damage normally and apply that amount as a penalty to the attack roll to perform the maneuver. If your target is immobilized, unconscious, or otherwise incapacitated, your maneuver automatically succeeds (treat as if you rolled a natural 20 on the attack roll). If your target is stunned, you receive a +4 bonus on your attack roll to perform a combat maneuver against it.
When you attempt to perform a combat maneuver, make an attack roll and add your CMB in place of your normal attack bonus. Add any bonuses you currently have on attack rolls due to spells, feats, and other effects. These bonuses must be applicable to the weapon or attack used to perform the maneuver. The DC of this maneuver is your target's Combat Maneuver Defense. Combat maneuvers are attack rolls, so you must roll for concealment and take any other penalties that would normally apply to an attack roll.
...
Determine Success: If your attack roll equals or exceeds the CMD of the target, your maneuver is a success and has the listed effect. Some maneuvers, such as bull rush, have varying levels of success depending on how much your attack roll exceeds the target's CMD. Rolling a natural 20 while attempting a combat maneuver is always a success (except when attempting to escape from bonds), while rolling a natural 1 is always a failure.
Combat maneuvers use attack rolls, and the mounted combat feat compares your ride check to the enemy's attack roll, so that sounds like it would be applicable. It would be cut and dry if the feat said "when your mount is successfully attacked," but it specifically says "hit" and combat maneuvers don't "hit," they are "successful." I would personally rule that someone with the Mounted Combat feat could make a ride check to avoid the grapple, but I'm a fan of cavaliers and wouldn't argue if the GM ruled otherwise.
Also note that you can only use the Mounted Combat ride check once per round. So if you failed to avoid an attack by a creature with the grab or trip special ability, you won't get a chance to avoid the following combat maneuver. If the player could give me a reason why they weren't using out of character knowledge, I would probably let them take the initial hit but then try to avoid the followup combat maneuver: "The wizard said wolves try to trip, so I had my horse stop his run when I saw that shaggy beast aiming at him."
