A rider on a really big mount

[Shin Okada]

The basic mounted combat rule is assuming that either medium-sized character is riding on a large mount (like horse) or a small sized character is riding on a medium-sized mount. So, for simplicity, it is assumed that the rider shares the mount's space.

So by RAW, if someone can attack a mount, he can attack the rider, right?

A foot man attack's a knight on a horse. OK, I can imagine.

But how about a human in howda on the back of elephant? Can a medium sized character with non-reach weapon attack him?

How about a goblin on the shoulder (or head) of huge giant? Or a human sorcerer on a huge dragon?

It seems that by current RAW, if an attacker can attack the mount's space, he can attack the rider no matter how big and tall the mount is. It seems rather .... strange.

Are there any official rule or rules to cover those situations? Or is this a "DM's discretion" kind of situation?

 

[blargney the second]

RAW, the rider is in all the mount's squares. However, it probably wouldn't be the end of the world to make the rider hang out in the mount's top layer of squares.

 

[Brace Cormaeril]

I apply a ruling which is divergent from RAW; primarily because I use a little Spelljamming in my Home-brew. When a character is on a vehicle, or on a mount, he occupies the appropriate space "on-top" (below, whatever) of the vehicle/mount.

3.5 was developed poorly for 3-D combat, IMHO.

 

[frankthedm]

Or is this a "DM's discretion" kind of situation?

The wording of the rules for charging from a mount require a bit of "DM's discretion" normally, so really, it is not that different of a situation.

 

[Shin Okada]

The wording of the rules for charging from a mount require a bit of "DM's discretion" normally, so really, it is not that different of a situation.

Yeah, that's right

 

[frankthedm]

I prefer the idea of a medium critter sitting in the center square of a huge mount, thus needing a reach weapon to engage foes. While I might only grumble about the rules streamlining that gives more battlefield coverage from being mounted on a critter one size larger than one's self, any more coverage than that is where I draw the line.