Mounted combat

[nycdan]

I'm DMing a campaign (my first in many, many years) and I'm concerned about balance in mounted combat. I have 2 fighters using warhorses (party is level 3) and it effectively seems to give them 4 attacks per round. Each horse gets a full attack of hoof/hoof/bite and they get their weapon attack.

Is this correct or am I missing some aspect of the rules? They aren't moving much as there are a band of orcs swarming between the horses, but the concept of 4 attacks per round disturbs me as they are racking up more damage by far than they would on foot. It makes a warhorse the best investment money can by for any character with ride skill.

Advice? Comments? Thanks for all your help.

-dan

 

[Lord Pendragon]

At low levels, a warhorse is definitely a great buy. This changes as you get into the mid- to high-levels and a single well-placed fireball can take out every beast in the party that doesn't have some kind of powerup going for it (Paladin's Mount, Animal Companion, etc. And even the Animal Companion's only treading water.)

The only thing to do is impose the proper checks (Ride check for the rider to get his attack in any round the mount attacks,) and have intelligent foes start targetting the mounts after a few rounds of beatings by the warhorse. At low-levels, a mount is going to have horrible AC, since plate barding isn't exactly cheap. Fairly easy pickings for a swarm of orcs to take down, really.

 

[nycdan]

Aye, I considered having the orcs target the mounts, but reasoned that the orcs were better served to dismount the riders and steal the horses if possible. As it was the first encounter of the campaign, I didn't want to start out by slaughtering the horses, but I suspect the next encounter may turn out different. I may even send mounted warriors.

The problem with ride checks is that for trained horses, it's almost trivial for anyone with ranks in Ride. Basically, it takes a natural 1 to screw up since the DC to control the mount is only 5. Is the DC to attack when the mount attacks a 10?

In order to spice things up, I modded a rule so that if a mounted combatant takes 25% of his hit points in a single round, they have to take a penalty of -2 to their ride checks the next round, and will fall on a natural 1 or 2, taking 1d6 damage on a 1. The situation arose once when a fighter with 30 hps took a 14 point blow from a great axe. He stayed on, but said he was sweating when he made his Ride check. I count that a win for the DM.

Anyone do something similar, or have any feedback on that?

 

[Stalker0]

Wow I miss I could get my players to use mounted combat more often.

In outdoor settings, horsemen are king. They should be so let your players have their fun. Just change it up. Town settings and dungeons will nulify their mounted combat, allowing the other players to have the spotlight for a time.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

Aye, I considered having the orcs target the mounts, but reasoned that the orcs were better served to dismount the riders and steal the horses if possible. As it was the first encounter of the campaign, I didn't want to start out by slaughtering the horses, but I suspect the next encounter may turn out different. I may even send mounted warriors.

You did it exactly right. Foes are naturally going to be surprised by new tactics. But if you're fighting a group, they're going to learn from their mistakes. Better to claim the PCs' gear and throw the horses into the stewpot, rather than lose half of your raiding party or more to a flurry of hoof attacks!

The problem with ride checks is that for trained horses, it's almost trivial for anyone with ranks in Ride. Basically, it takes a natural 1 to screw up since the DC to control the mount is only 5. Is the DC to attack when the mount attacks a 10?

The check you're looking for is Fight with Warhorse which is indeed a DC10. Eventually this too is trivial for a dedicated rider, but by that point, again, killing the mounts becomes very easy. Mounts are also great targets for fear spells. Take out the mount and the rider (at least for a round or two)!

In order to spice things up, I modded a rule so that if a mounted combatant takes 25% of his hit points in a single round, they have to take a penalty of -2 to their ride checks the next round, and will fall on a natural 1 or 2, taking 1d6 damage on a 1. The situation arose once when a fighter with 30 hps took a 14 point blow from a great axe. He stayed on, but said he was sweating when he made his Ride check. I count that a win for the DM.

Cool. I haven't encountered the need for such a House Rule, but it sounds like yours did exactly what you wanted.

 

[Legildur]

Never mind, got interrupted during the reply and I see that all my points have been addressed by others.

 

[isoChron]

We use a harsh houserule like a ride check DC = damage taken or drop from saddle. Wait till the first giant hits you with his club or an orc scores a crit...

But by the RAW the orcs can try to bull rush or trip the rider.
To kill the horse may seem very easy, but with "mounted combat" the rider can make a ride check to substitute the AC of the horse. Don't know if your PC have this feat.

In our campaign it's very hard to make use of the warhorse in battle. At mid levels there are to many area spells that kill the horses outright. Let them have fun with fighting from warhorse. It won't last that long.

I forgot: try using more mobile enemies. If the PC have to move more than 5 feet they will lose 2 attacks. Try using pole arms, the best weapon to counter mounted attacks.
Ah, and you know that the PC fight from higher ground, granting them a +1 to hit ?
Ambush them from above in small valley. So your orcs get a bonus to hit.

 

[Primitive Screwhead]

Comment from someone who enjoys a mounted focused character..


Please enforce the rules!!!
I was in a game with my mounted archer.. all the feats, skill focus on ride, you name it.. hand feed and trained the horse himself... all out horse lover.
Got into combat while riding down a path. The DM did not use any of the mounted combat rules... so the Mage with 0 ride skill on a 'skittish' riding horse {thats how it was described when bought} fought right alongside my character with no problem.

IIRC, there is a ride check required for when the rider or mount is damaged.. but agreed with everyone upthread. Don't go hunting horses all the time, but at least one of those Orcs should have been smart enough to realize that the Horses needed to die.

For some real entertainment, have one Bad guy be a Ranger or Druid.. force opposed Handle Animal vs Ride checks as the bad guy uses thier Animal Empathy to get the Horse to stand still