Riding another PC

[HeapThaumaturgist]

Are there any rules for one character "riding" another character?

Particularly I'm thinking of a Tiny PC riding around on the shoulder of a regular Medium PC or hanging out in their backpack.

--fje

 

[wedgeski]

*chuckle*

 

[Jack Simth]

Gnome/Halfling with Reduce Person?

Don't think there's anything specifically for it. If you want to ad-hock something, you could have them make an Exotic Saddle for the Medium critter (or take the bareback penalty), take the "unsuitable as a mount" penalty, and use the Ride skill as normal except where it involves directing the mount (so the little guy has to make a ride check to fight at the same time his Medium buddy is (and Concentration checks to cast spells, too), or to stay in the saddle if he's hit, but he can't use the Guide With Knees, Spur Mount, Leap, the "negate a hit" option in the Mounted Combat feat, et cetera).

 

[Dross]

There is a sentence somewhere (maybe in Masters of the Wild????/) that says that a mount needs to be willing and able to carry someone, then goes on to say that an Ogre has the STR, but not the shape to be a suitable mount.

I'd tend to follow this, unless the rider was maybe >=3 size categories smaller than the mount.

 

[HeapThaumaturgist]

Well, particularly, I'm thinking of a Dragonwrought Kobold using Alter Self to become a 5hd Tiny Wyrmling Shadow Dragon and then using the other characters for cover while shooting spells.

Sure, they'll get hit more often, but hey, what're friends for if not to soak up my damage for me?

--fje

 

[Jack Simth]

Shucks, a Halfling or Gnome can do that with Reduce Person, and skip any potential issues with the DM saying that the spell components pouch merged in the transformation. Okay, it doesn't last as long. Big deal. It also didn't cost a feat, is done with a lower-level spell, can be accomplished regardless of level, and can be made Permanent at 9th at the cost of 500 xp.

Oh, and you might consider a Pseudodragon at 3rd/4th.

 

[Primitive Screwhead]

The way I rule this is simple... there are two states, with appropriate rules, when one being is 'riding' the other.

State #1: Mount is under direction and control of the rider. Use the Ride skill and mounted combat rules {including the 'take cover' action}. Key point here is that your initiatives match up. Generally speaking the mount would be limited to movement and melee attacks only...

State #2: Mount is under its own direction and control, the rider is just along for the ride. The rider must spend a Move action for DC 20 ride check. Failure results in not being able to take any action other than to hang on for the entire round. Mounted Combat rules are not used except the 'take cover' action {and of course the Ride check or fall off when damaged, etc..} Key point here is that your initiatives do no match up, the rider still acts on thier own phase.. meaning it will be mighty hard to do a melee attack against anything.

And, as a reminder, exotic saddles would be usually be required, boosting that DC 20 up a couple notches....

Finally, the rules state that some creatures are not suitable as a mount, I go with 2 sizes smaller in order to ride a bi-pedal being.

It's worked for me so far

 

[starwed]

The rules of the game about mounts actually kind of covers this issue:

Intelligent Mounts

According to the Dungeon Master's Guide, a mount with an Intelligence score of 3 or higher acts like an NPC ally rather than a mount. Riding such an ally works much like riding an aggressive mount in battle (see Part Two.), except that you don't have to make a Ride check to act while riding. (If your mount carries you willingly, the ride is smooth enough so your actions aren't restricted.) You also cannot make a Ride check to control the mount's actions, but you can make a Diplomacy (or possibly a Wild Empathy) check to get the mount to accept your direction. If you do, your mount acts just like a mount trained for combat riding.

Even if you cannot (or do not choose to) direct your mount's actions, you still can ride along, making your own initiative roll and possibly delaying until after your mount acts, as noted in Part Two.

 

[HeapThaumaturgist]

Sweet. Thanks, I'd forgotten they did a RotG article on the whole thing.

--fje

 

[Ruslanchik]

The thing is that the rules for mounts are made mostly for the rider to be one size smaller than the mount. Medium characters usually ride large animals and small characters ride medium animals. If you are tiny and your mount is medium, the rules wouldn't work the same. I think the benefit of riding a creature so large should balance all the penalties for using an abnormal mount, especially since you aren't going to be directing your "mount." If I were DMing I would say maybe a DC 10 ride check to do something other than hang on--cast a spell, attach with a weapon, or whatever.