15 Second House Rule: Charging Lances

[Kynn]

Quickie rule:

When you make a mounted charge using a lance, you use your mount's Strength bonus instead of your own on the attack.

Discuss.

 

[Anabstercorian]

At low levels it's an advantage for most knights because horses are strong. At higher levels it becomes a weakness because you have to get your mount magical items to boost it's strength, or find newer, more powerful mounts. ultimately I don't think it's worth it.

 

[JimAde]

This is the rule GURPS uses, but in that system horses have MUCH higher strengths than humans. I don't think it's worth it in D&D.

 

[smootrk]

It may not be worth it, but it certainly seems to make more sense IMO.

 

[Aus_Snow]

It may not be worth it, but it certainly seems to make more sense IMO.

Quite.

I also tend to favour 'realism' (plausibility?) in gaming, regardless of the amount of fantasy/magic/etc. that is inherent in the universe/multiverse in question. The term 'realism' - or 'plausibility' - might get stretched almost beyond recognition, but hey, it's a better way of doing things as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Baragos]

It doesn't break the game, so go ahead and use it...I might use it as well, but people almost never charge with lances in my games, so...

 

[Thia Halmades]

Running a hybrid fantasy/tactical campaign where this is a real issue, I have to say that if the rule is going to apply, it's far more important for the cav units who aren't PCs than for the PCs themselves. And if you want plausibility, then the STR score doesn't factor into it nearly as much as raw velocity. F = V * M. It's the size & speed of the horse which is punishing the rider, and in D&D that counts as a STR check.

You may consider, instead of just using the STR score, calculating the Size in as well. Horses are ... Large creatures? You could conceivably add a bonus for that as well which may resolve your issue.

 

[Nifft]

F = V * M

*ahem* F = M*A.

You're probably thinking of momentum, which is indeed V * M.

[/sidebar]

-- N

 

[Borlon]

Is a weakling (STR 8 or so) an effective in a lance charge as a strong knight? (STR 18+)? If so, use the horse's stats. But if this scenario offends your sensibilities, maybe this house rule isn't such a good idea.

 

[isoChron]

I think along E(kin)=1/2*m*v^2
Used to determine the energy of moving object if I'm not completly mistaken.

So you use the horse strength modifier but all you need is the speed of the horse and your (rider) strength to hold the lance at the time of impact. It's worth nothing if you have a superheavy-dragon-mega-strength mount if you can't hold the lance fast and not give away like a collapsible zone of a modern car. The stirrups are there to keep you on the mount, not the lance in first place.

So it makes sense to do double damage on a charging mount and use your own strength bonus.
Just all in my little world.

Greetings