mounted combat question

[pvandyck]

Hey, I need your thoughts on this rules question.

The following text is quoted from the PHB, page 138:

"Combat while Mounted: With a successful Ride check (DC 5), you can
guide
your mount with your knees so as to use both hands to attack or defend
yourself while mounted. If your mount moves more than 5 feet, you can
only
make a partial melee attack. Essentially, you have to wait until the
mount
gets to your enemy before attacking, so you can’t make a full attack.
When
you attack a Medium-size or smaller creature that is on foot, you get
the +1
bonus on melee attacks for being on higher ground.

When charging on horseback, you deal double damage with a lance.

You can use ranged weapons while your mount is taking a double move,
but at
a –4 penalty on the attack roll. You can use ranged weapons while your
mount
is running (quadruple speed), at a –8 penalty. In either case, you make
the
attack roll when your mount has completed half its movement.

You can even exercise the full attack action while your mount is
moving.
Likewise, you can take move-equivalent actions normally (you are not
using
your personal move for much else), so that, for instance, you can load
and
fire a light crossbow in a round while your mount is moving."


So, it's saying you can do a full attack while the mount is moving.
It's
also saying you can't do that when the animal moves more than 5 feet.

Are they only talking about charging? I checked the ERRATA and FAQ
from
WoTC, and there is nothing.

I get the impression I am missing something obvious or this rule is
poorly
written. Any ideas?


Gedvondur
DM--Legion of the Red Paw

 

[Ranger REG]

When making a melee attack, you can only do it as a partial action, preferably within melee reach of your opponent. Hence the mount has to move your character closer to the intended enemy to make a melee attack.

When making a ranged attack, you can do it as a full attack action, taking advantage of your multiple attacks (due to BAB and/or Rapid Shot). Since you do not need to make melee contact with your opponent, just fire off your ranged weapons and take account of range penalty and whatever modifiers for ranged attacks, including the mount's movement.

 

[Stalker0]

Just to clarify, you do get your full round when charging on a horse, even with a melee weapon.

For example, you can pull out a sword, or ready a shield. But once you get to your enemy you only can make a single melee attack, if you still have an attack action available.

Here's kind of a stupid example, but works.

I'm charging towards me enemy with sword in hand, I draw my shield as a move equivalent. I get to the oponnent and make a single attack.

Same scenario, except for whatever reason, I decide the shield is not a good idea, so I drop it as a free action and pull out a flask of alchemist fire as a move equivalent. I've now used my full round action, so I woulnd't get an attack this round.


Also, remember that you can get a single melee attack, even if your horse RUNS!! But your horse loses its dex bonus to AC for doing so.