D&D General Mounted Archers

[Indagare Nogitsune]

I was watching this and was reminded that there were a great many mounted archers through history. In fact, I seem to recall Egyptians had chariot archers. I can't recall, off hand, any sort of mounted archer in either 5e or Level Up. Part of the problem, of course, is that mounts are not easy to take into dungeons generally, much less ride. However, from a world-building perspective they ought to exist.

Has anyone had mounted archers or chariot archers? To go with, for those who like Westerns, it's quite common for riders to be shooting at one another with guns and gangsters are rather famous for shooting from cars. So, more broadly, has anyone had folks with ranged attacks on mounts or vehicles?

 

[TwoSix]

I've had centaur archers (classical!), but rarely use mounted combatants in 5e. The rules around using a mount are a bit "handwavey" and loose for an option that should be prevalent and quite strong, so easier to just not get involved with it.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

I have a Halfling in Eberron who rides a dino and uses a bow from it, benefiting from its speed and we discussed making a subclass for a mounted ranger but never did.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

A feat that isnt specific to melee combat on a mount would help.

 

[Horwath]

tried it once in 3.5e, wasted 3 feats to be good mounted archer, 1 out of 5 sessions could utilize it.
waste of design space, unless DM heavy handout towards that style.
and OFC there are dungeons. in Dungeons and Dragons.

that is why paladins at 5th level should get option to use one 2nd level smite instead of casting faithful steed.

just mount up, use your mount speed instead of your and gtg.

 

[Misanthrope Prime]

Mounted combat for PCs is wonky but it can work for enemy mounted archers. A good way is that if the creature moves up to a portion of its speed towards an enemy (maybe 20 out of 60 feet per sec), give it a damage bonus (increase a die size maybe?) and have it ignore the long range disadvantage.

IIRC there's a chariot item in the Theros book that just gives your PC half cover for riding behind it, and that seems cromulent to me.

 

[Li Shenron]

Basically never... I tend to run urban and dungeon adventures, and mounts are used for travelling but that happens most often between adventures. Would be a nice idea however to have mounted foes or an ambush against the PCs while mounted, for a change.

 

[GMMichael]

Shooting from the hip here
but mounted archery depends on lightly armored, close-quarters-battle (CQB) foes. Like deer or footmen. Mounted archers aren't taking the type of shots that are going to penetrate armor; their focus is just getting an arrowhead in to start bleeding and break morale.

In D&D:

• Bows benefit from a lack of armor-vs-weapon-type rules.
• Enemies are rarely un- or lightly-armored.
• Opponents often have ranged capabilities as well.
• Many encounters aren't mount-friendly (but dragon fights should be).
• A mount's mobility is less useful due to the shield rules and lack of flanking rules.

Pros and cons in there, but I fully support staying outside the nearest enemy's dash range and shooting before moving further away. I'd say "movement range" but if an enemy dashes up to you, then it effectively gets a charge attack once you move out of its range for your own attack.

 

[Tonguez]

The two important things is 1. Mounts give better mobility and 2. Mounts are bonus HP.

I've played a Gnome mounted on a giant hamster.
The important thing to remember is mounts can disengage, so its all about Mobility, get close enough, shoot and then disengage and move out of enemy range.
That is also their limitation however, since they need to have spaces big enough to dash that 80ft, which is hard inside dungeons. Oh and the Mounted Combat feat is brilliant as it gives you advantage and save resistance.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Shooting from the hip here
but mounted archery depends on lightly armored, close-quarters-battle (CQB) foes. Like deer or footmen. Mounted archers aren't taking the type of shots that are going to penetrate armor; their focus is just getting an arrowhead in to start bleeding and break morale.

This isnt true, actually. Mounted archers historically were using full powered war bows at full draw.

In D&D:

• Bows benefit from a lack of armor-vs-weapon-type rules.
• Enemies are rarely un- or lightly-armored.
• Opponents often have ranged capabilities as well.
• Many encounters aren't mount-friendly (but dragon fights should be).
• A mount's mobility is less useful due to the shield rules and lack of flanking rules.

Pros and cons in there, but I fully support staying outside the nearest enemy's dash range and shooting before moving further away. I'd say "movement range" but if an enemy dashes up to you, then it effectively gets a charge attack once you move out of its range for your own attack.

Mount should benefit from your movement and defense features, like the speedie feats disad on OA against you.