Question: Raging while mounted?

[Yoric Steele]

Hello,

I am running a game and a question came up last session.

1) The Halfling Barbarian in the group, who was riding his newly purchased "riding dog" wanted to rage while mounted. Is this allowed per the rules? I can't find anything that specifically states Barbarians cannot rage while mounted.

And the followup...

2) He also wanted to use his riding skill to control the dog with his knees per the riding rules and still rage and attack normally. This seems to be stretching it since the guidelines under the Barbarian class state nothing requiring concentration or patience.

Any thoughts or clarification is welcomed.

Many thanks,

Yoric Steele

 

[VixenofVenus]

I'd personally say this is a gray area ...

As a person who does ride horses from time to time, I know it isn't that hard to control a well trained horse with just your knees, and it doesn't really require much concentration unless you are jumping the horse or you want quick turns (which require the reigns anyway) ... so I would allow both ...

But I can understand why someone wouldn't as well ...

 

[Hypersmurf]

From the SRD:

BARBARIAN
Alignment: Any nonlawful.
Hit Die: d12.
Class Skills: The barbarian's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Handle Animal (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Intuit Direction (Wis), Jump (Str), Listen (Wis), Ride (Dex), Swim (Str), and Wilderness Lore (Wis).

and:

While raging, a barbarian cannot use skills or abilities that require patience and concentration. (The only class skills he can't use while raging are Craft, Handle Animal, and Intuit Direction.)

You could, perhaps, maybe, make a case to deny him a synergy bonus from Handle Animal to his Ride check.

But I wouldn't.

-Hyp.

 

[CRGreathouse]

Excellent reference, Hypersmurf!

Even without it, though, I would let the barbarian do both.

 

[Saeviomagy]

I swear there are just a huge group of people out there who think this is still 2nd ed, where a berserking character became a mindless drooling idiot, unable to speak, tell friend from foe etc.

Unable to ride for goodness sake?

"Me angry. Me fall off horse now".