Rules for "special" mounted combat...

[RigaMortus2]

Let's say I have a Gnome PC and a Half-Ogre PC in the same party. And the Gnome PC wants to ride on the shoulders of the Half-Ogre PC. Are there any rules for this? What abour rules about charging (attacking)? Where the Half-Ogre charges with the Gnome on his shoulders?

 

[Primitive Screwhead]

Yup.. this one should get stickied

Use the Ride skill, which does not quite handle intelligent mounts but does a close approximation.

Basically I work it like this:

If the Ogre acts as a Mount, the Gnome directing him and all that. Treat as normal Ride checks etc. The Gnomes iniative drops to that of the Ogres and they work as a team.

If the Ogre wants to think for himself, don't change the Gnomes initiative. The Gnome will need Ride checks to stay mounted, concentration checks for casting spells, and needs to ready attacks if he wants to melee attack while the Ogre is passing by them.

Note: Ogres are not well-suited for riding, +5 DC
Ogres do not have a nice Saddle, +2 DC
{It would have to be a special saddle...}


Make sense?

 

[Storyteller01]

Wow!!! Master Blaster all over again!

 

[mvincent]

You would of course have the -5 ride penalty for using an unsuitable mount, but the Rules of the Game present some additional rules for using an "aggressive" mount.

 

[Dross]

Isn't there somewhere in the ride description that says that a mount needs to be suitable and willing to carry a rider for it to be ABLE to be used as a mount (actually I think that they used this example)? I'd say that an Ogre is not suitable to be a mount. IDNHMBIFOM

If allowed, the rules proposed by Pimitive Screwhead should be fine.

 

[HeavenShallBurn]

Checking Rules Now!!?

I'm fairly sure I saw a rule about bipedal mounts somewhere in one of the 3e(not 3.5) supplements. Checking now.

EDIT: Found it in 3e Arms and Equipment Book. No concrete mechanical expansions. Does say that the mount should be 2 size categories larger than rider instead of 1. Mentions backpack (babycarrier-like) saddle. Suggests backward facing for rider who covers the back of the "mount" to paraphrase.

 

[Primitive Screwhead]

Nice RoTG... the part I had not noticed before fits very well with the Ogre/Gnome issue:

Riding Along with an Aggressive Mount: If your mount isn't trained for war but chooses to fight with you aboard, you can just give the mount its head. You and your mount make separate initiative rolls. Because there are some full-round actions you cannot perform while your mount moves (see Parts Three and Four), you must delay until after your mount's turn to use such actions if your mount's turn in the initiative order comes before your own turn comes. Even then your mount's movements could keep you from performing your intended action.

When it's finally your turn to act, you must succeed on a DC 10 Ride check to adjust your actions to fit your mount's uncontrolled movements. The check is a move action for you, but it does not provoke attacks of opportunity. (You're looking after yourself, not your mount.) If you fail, your mount's movements keep you from taking any actions this round. If you succeed, you can use a standard action. Just remember that you're allowing your mount to take you where it will, so your options might prove limited.