D&D 5E Can a Phantom Steed pull a wagon?

[Rya.Reisender]

The spell's descriptions says that:
1. The steed has the statistics for a riding horse
2. Only the person the steed was summoned for can ride it

That leaves room for interpretation whether the steed can only be used to ride it or it behaves just like a normal riding horse for anything other than riding it.

I couldn't really find a clear reply on this on the internet and I'm having a hard time to decide, so wanted to get some input.

Would you allow one or more Phantom Steeds to pull a wagon?

 

[jaelis]

Would you allow one or more Phantom Steeds to pull a wagon?

I reckon that I would. I'd even give you the 100 ft speed, but maybe call for some ability checks to avoid crashing.

Ooh and while you're riding in the cart, you could start casting the ritual again. Aside from the time required to harness the steed, you could keep up a pretty good pace that way. I like it! Pair it with a level 6 creation spell to create the cart itself, and you have a magical conveyance in style

 

[Leatherhead]

Would you allow one or more Phantom Steeds to pull a wagon?

No. But not for the reason you are thinking of:
An unladen Wagon is 400lbs, the carry capacity of a riding horse is 480. For reference, A nude hafling weighs about 40 lbs.
This means there is basically no way for a single steed to pull a wagon, it's rider, and all of the junk you are going to put into it.
Two steeds maybe, but who is really going to sit around for two+ hours while the illusionist hitches a wagon?

 

[jaelis]

No. But not for the reason you are thinking of:
An unladen Wagon is 400lbs, the carry capacity of a riding horse is 480. For reference, A nude hafling weighs about 40 lbs.
This means there is basically no way for a single steed to pull a wagon, it's rider, and all of the junk you are going to put into it.
Two steeds maybe, but who is really going to sit around for two+ hours while the illusionist hitches a wagon?

Actually, it says

An animal pulling a carriage, cart, chariot, sled, or wagon can move weight up to five times its base carrying capacity, including the weight of the vehicle. If multiple animals pull the same vehicle, they can add their carrying capacity together.

But I will admit I have no sense for how long it would take to hitch up a wagon or other vehicle.

 

[ExploderWizard]

I would say that a phantom steed could pull only a phantom wagon. The reason that only the person the steed was summoned for can ride it is that, except for that person, the steed isn't real or actually present.

This interpretation can lead to some hilarious situations. Suppose someone on a phantom steed was being chased by other riders. One of the pursuers leaps from their horse onto the phantom steed behind the rider.......and falls straight to the ground.

 

[touc]

I'd rule with Exploder's post that the Steed isn't real and only has relative substance for the chosen creature. Since AD&D, Phantom Steed has been an Illusion/Shadow spell that states it's a quasi-real creation, versus a Summoning spell that gets you an actual flesh & blood creature. For any other situation than supporting the chosen creature, it's not real. Because it's shadow, it can last just slightly longer than contact illusions, but not much insofar as 1 damage will ruin the spell.

They took away the original Mount spell (1st level) in this edition, which previously Conjured a solid horse for the duration, which could pull the wagon. As a side beef, they took away the special movement qualities Phantom Steed would get such as walking over water, making this spell in some ways a Mount with built-in anti-theft device so no one else can drive it.

 

[jaelis]

I'd rule with Exploder's post that the Steed isn't real and only has relative substance for the chosen creature. Since AD&D, Phantom Steed has been an Illusion/Shadow spell that states it's a quasi-real creation, versus a Summoning spell that gets you an actual flesh & blood creature. For any other situation than supporting the chosen creature, it's not real. Because it's shadow, it can last just slightly longer than contact illusions, but not much insofar as 1 damage will ruin the spell.

They took away the original Mount spell (1st level) in this edition, which previously Conjured a solid horse for the duration, which could pull the wagon. As a side beef, they took away the special movement qualities Phantom Steed would get such as walking over water, making this spell in some ways a Mount with built-in anti-theft device so no one else can drive it.

Would you allow a phantom steed to carry gear then? Like, serving as a pack animal? Could you put barding on it?

 

[Dausuul]

By the book, I see nothing that would disallow it.

My inclination would be to rule that you can do this, but if you do, the wagon must be the "designated rider." In other words, a given phantom steed can serve as a mount or as a draft animal, not both.

 

[Oofta]

Based on the wording of the spell, I wouldn't allow it since it can only support it's designated rider. Anything attached to it, anything put on it other than the rider is simply not supported.

If you had an incredibly strong rider that could pull the wagon (think girdle of giant strength strong) then yes, a wagon could be pulled. However, there's going to be a limit to how fast a wagon can go without being shaken to pieces. After all, we're talking relatively rough roads, wooden wheels and minimal, if any, suspension.

If I ever hit that situation I'll figure it out at that point.

 

[Draegn]

I would have a higher spell level version that gives a steed and conveyance.