Ride skill and getting cover for free?

[Saeviomagy]

My mounted char is halfway through 5th level. I'll get back to you after he reaches 6th.

Make sure to remind your DM that your mount has to save against AoE spells.

 

[Aaron2]

If you are trying to get cover against any one attack (in effect, as a "free" action in response of another's action) you can't take an action because it's not your turn. So the text mentioning that you can't attack whilst trying to get cover is superfluous.

I can only see two reason why it would matter. First, if your opponent has an attack readied. If you undo your cover to make an attack then he can attack you without the cover bonus. The second reason is if your Ride skill is low and you don't want to risk another DC 15 check. You make your check once and then don't attack for several rounds, thus keeping the cover for as long as you need it.


Aaron

 

[Scharlata]

I can only see two reason why it would matter. First, if your opponent has an attack readied. If you undo your cover to make an attack then he can attack you without the cover bonus. The second reason is if your Ride skill is low and you don't want to risk another DC 15 check. You make your check once and then don't attack for several rounds, thus keeping the cover for as long as you need it.

Yepp! That's how I like to see it....

Kind regards

 

[Lord Pendragon]

It says, quite specifically that it's an immediate action that doesn't take an action to perform. It also says "you react instantly". Nothing action, done in response to a declared attack.

Where are you looking? I don't remember "immediate action" being in any of the 3.5 core material, unless they've updated the SRD to use the term after coining it in the splatbooks?

 

[Greylock]

It's in the PHB. I think it's a missed edit.

 

[Greylock]

Make sure to remind your DM that your mount has to save against AoE spells.

Not sure what you are trying to imply, but my DM is well aware of this. My mount makes saves the same as my char does when needed. There is a rather famous, within our game group, Reflex save my first mount made. Gobsmacked my most benevolent, generous, and all-seeing DM, who knows first-hand of what RW horse can do.

 

[Saeviomagy]

Where are you looking? I don't remember "immediate action" being in any of the 3.5 core material, unless they've updated the SRD to use the term after coining it in the splatbooks?

"You can react instantly to drop down and hang alongside your mount, using it as cover. You can’t attack or cast spells while using your mount as cover. If you fail your Ride check, you don’t get the cover benefit. This usage does not take an action."

The fact that you're reacting, that it's instant, and that it doesn't take an action all add up to me to equal (more or less) the definition of an immediate action.

Not sure what you are trying to imply, but my DM is well aware of this. My mount makes saves the same as my char does when needed. There is a rather famous, within our game group, Reflex save my first mount made. Gobsmacked my most benevolent, generous, and all-seeing DM, who knows first-hand of what RW horse can do.

Just that in general, when I've had a mounted character, the first time anyone remembers that the mount might take area damage too, the mount takes the damage and drops dead, leaving me with an unmounted character.

Past about 5th level, your mounts start having less hit dice and hitpoints than you do, which means that you can be in trouble when your opponents target them.

 

[Liquidsabre]

This is why the Leadership feat for a cohort-mount is always a good idea for mounted character types.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

"You can react instantly to drop down and hang alongside your mount, using it as cover. You can’t attack or cast spells while using your mount as cover. If you fail your Ride check, you don’t get the cover benefit. This usage does not take an action."

The fact that you're reacting, that it's instant, and that it doesn't take an action all add up to me to equal (more or less) the definition of an immediate action.

Interesting. I'd never interpreted it this way. Being an immediate action would allow you to do it on someone else's turn, which I've never thought the skill capable of. I've always thought of it as pretty much an ability you use when crossing an open field. Not something you can do when it's not your turn, in order to escape an incoming attack. Why, if you can do it when it's not your turn, it costs you absolutely nothing. You aren't going to attack or cast spells when it isn't your turn anyway...

 

[monboesen]

Even if it is a free action to drop down and get cover it might not be a free action to get up again, but strangely thats not specified.

This thread got me thinking and now I hope my clever players will never realise that the technically can ride straight into a group of enemies, make a fast dismount (ride dc 15) and then proceed to make a whirlwind attack. Or am I missing something, does the horses move prevent them from full attacking ?