Horses-- Fireballs- and ride checks.

[Fisk]

Simple question.

Will a fireball exploding amongst a group of riders precipitate the need for those riders to make "ride check"

What if Hell hounds are added to the mix?



I realize that if the rider takes damage he has to perform a ride check... but what would be some causes for the mount to "bolt" and thus need a ride check in other cases.

lets assume we are talking about riders on warhorses.

What about a fireball goin off close to a mount?

 

[Lord Pendragon]

Will a fireball exploding amongst a group of riders precipitate the need for those riders to make "ride check"

It's up to the DM. If the DM rules that the mounts are spooked by the Fireball, then

Stay in Saddle: You can react instantly to try to avoid falling when your mount rears or bolts unexpectedly or when you take damage. This usage does not take an action.

What if Hell hounds are added to the mix?

Again, it depends on whether the DM rules that the mounts are spooked enough to rear and possibly throw the rider.

As a DM, I'd depend on the mount, for me. A riding horse or green warhorse would require the check. A seasoned warhorse or paladin's mount would not.

I realize that if the rider takes damage he has to perform a ride check... but what would be some causes for the mount to "bolt" and thus need a ride check in other cases.

Whatever would spook the mount. As I mentioned above, it largely depends on the type of mount. Some mounts are going to be more skittish than others. Some are going to be rock solid even when spurred into a charge against a Pit Fiend.

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

DM judgement. I agree with Lord Pendragon.

Considering that D&D does not have a lot of morale check mechanics from its stodgy mass combat roots, I would be a little hesitant in invoking a Ride Check too easily. After all, the monsters do not seem to panic and scatter when I hit them with a Fireball.

I would never apply this penalty to a Special Mount or Animal Companion. A normal horse that fails its Reflex save probably should force a check.

 

[Hypersmurf]

[grumble grumble] Bad memory of a DM ruling I couldn't use Evasion 'cos I was riding a horse.

-Hyp.

 

[shilsen]

[grumble grumble] Bad memory of a DM ruling I couldn't use Evasion 'cos I was riding a horse.

-Hyp.

Reminds me of a paladin in an earlier campaign of mine, who would always blow his Ref saves and whose mount would always save and take no damage due to evasion. I came up with some very creative descriptions for those cases, which often involved the mount swinging the rider into the way of the blast to protect himself. Somehow the paladin's player never appreciated my descriptions as much as the other players

 

[Hypersmurf]

Somehow the paladin's player never appreciated my descriptions as much as the other players

[giggle] I've heard you tell that story before, but it's still funny

-Hyp.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

I came up with some very creative descriptions for those cases, which often involved the mount swinging the rider into the way of the blast to protect himself. Somehow the paladin's player never appreciated my descriptions as much as the other players

Hah. I suppose that's one paladin who didn't have to worry about unseemly arrogance...