Mounted Combat Question

[reanjr]

The Wizards article on Mounts got me thinking.

Is there anything (besides common sense and DM magic) that stops you from using whirlwind attack from atop a mount that takes up many spaces more than you to cover a lot more space (you threaten from any square you and your mount occupy)?

With a longsword you would normally threaten 8 squares.

On a horse, you are now 2x2 on the grid and would threaten 12 squares.

On an elephant, you are 3x3 and threaten 16 squares.

Roc: 4x4, 20 squares

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just curious

 

[hong]

I'd allow it. After all, the wiz could achieve the same thing with a fireball, without having to worry about threatening....

 

[Shin Okada]

AFAIK there is no written rule to prevent you from doing this.

And that will not be that much problematic. How often do you fight against massed opponents while riding on an elephant? Are you trying to siege Minas Tirith?

 

[reanjr]

It's not really a balance thing as much a nonsensical thing. Close your eyes and picture a man riding an elephant, surrounded by 16 orcs on all sides. He whips out his shortsword and... what? Pulls a Legolas and hangs from ropes and climbs all willy-nilly up and down the elephant slashing all the way? I don't know, I just thought it was kind of strange

And something entertaining to think about.

 

[Shin Okada]

Hmm. I agree. Not so realistic when a mount is really big. But this is not a problem of wirlwind attack, a problem of mounted combat rule. For example, a gnome fighter with speed of 15 can still hit an orc on the right side of his 6x6 space colossal mount, then hit another orc on the opposite side of the mount, in a same turn.

Its a trade-off. 3.0e "the rider is in the rear square" rule caused a lot of problems in the combat system without facing rules.

 

[hero4hire]

The Wizards article on Mounts got me thinking.

Is there anything (besides common sense and DM magic) that stops you from using whirlwind attack from atop a mount that takes up many spaces more than you to cover a lot more space (you threaten from any square you and your mount occupy)?

With a longsword you would normally threaten 8 squares.

On a horse, you are now 2x2 on the grid and would threaten 12 squares.

On an elephant, you are 3x3 and threaten 16 squares.

Roc: 4x4, 20 squares

---

just curious

The only thing that would stop me...is common sense.

Does being on a Mount really make you threaten an area as per your Mount? Seems a little silly realistically.

Now if the Elephant had Whirlwind Attack that would be something.

 

[FireLance]

Do you think the mount is standing still? Of course not. It's turning around in its space, just like a Medium or Small creature turns around in its space in combat. If you don't find it odd that a Medium creature can attack opponents in all the squares around him, why should you find it odd that he can make use of the extra maneuverability he gets when mounted to attack more?

 

[hero4hire]

Do you think the mount is standing still? Of course not. It's turning around in its space, just like a Medium or Small creature turns around in its space in combat. If you don't find it odd that a Medium creature can attack opponents in all the squares around him, why should you find it odd that he can make use of the extra maneuverability he gets when mounted to attack more?

I hardly am knowledgable of such things but...
I havent seen that many elephants twirl around in a 6 second span to give a mounted combatant the type of advantage you speak. Certainly mounted attackers benefit from higher ground and of course the mount itself can crush someone underfoot.

 

[Hypersmurf]

For example, a gnome fighter with speed of 15 can still hit an orc on the right side of his 6x6 space colossal mount, then hit another orc on the opposite side of the mount, in a same turn.

Hell, he can drop the first orc with a dagger, and Cleave into the second orc

-Hyp.

 

[Marimmar@Home]

Regardless of the Mounted Combat rules, I wouldn't allow a Medium creature mounted on a Huge creature to attack anything without a Reach weapon. Just place your miniature in the middle of the 3x3 squares occupied by the mount and be done with it. No attacks at you without reach, no attacks from you without reach. Anyone airborne could attack a rider mounted on an elephant but otherwise those riders are too far up on the mount and 'out of reach'.

Usually I would play by the book but this just sounds too far fetched and ridiculous to me.

~Marimmar