running a mounted character

[Voadam]

So in tactical time does the mount count separately from the mounted character with a separate initiative and actions?

Does maneuvering the mount count as an action for the PC? Does it occur outside his normal initiative when the mount acts?

For instance mounted paladin must squeeze through a gate and then jump over a downed gate bar before entering an area. Say he has to make two ride checks for these maneuvers. Does this happen on his turn or his mount's and does it take an action on his part to do so or can he still use a standard action that round to lay on hands himself or whatever?

 

[shilsen]

So in tactical time does the mount count separately from the mounted character with a separate initiative and actions?

No. It acts on the rider's initiative. Check PHB pg.157 for details.

Does maneuvering the mount count as an action for the PC? Does it occur outside his normal initiative when the mount acts?

No (assuming it's a mount trained for combat - otherwise the rider uses a move action and must make a DC 20 Ride check to control it). The mount uses its own action to move, but that occurs on the rider's initiative.

For instance mounted paladin must squeeze through a gate and then jump over a downed gate bar before entering an area. Say he has to make two ride checks for these maneuvers. Does this happen on his turn or his mount's and does it take an action on his part to do so or can he still use a standard action that round to lay on hands himself or whatever?

His turn (which is also the mount's turn, as mentioned above). Does not require an action from him, so he can still use a standard action. He could even use a full-round action, if he needed to, though there are some restrictions.

 

[bweenie]

Do you allow mounted riders to take ten on rolls for being able to fight two hand ed or spur the mount to fight? Or some other way to reduce the number of dice rolls. It seems rather tedious to me.

 

[shilsen]

Do you allow mounted riders to take ten on rolls for being able to fight two hand ed or spur the mount to fight? Or some other way to reduce the number of dice rolls. It seems rather tedious to me.

By the RAW a rider can't take 10 during combat, since you can only take 10 when not threatened or distracted. But since guiding a mount with one's knees (DC 5) and getting your warhorse to fight (DC 10) at the same time as you are fairly low on the DC scale, a PC with a decent Ride score usually never has to bother to roll for these.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

By the RAW a rider can't take 10 during combat, since you can only take 10 when not threatened or distracted. But since guiding a mount with one's knees (DC 5) and getting your warhorse to fight (DC 10) at the same time as you are fairly low on the DC scale, a PC with a decent Ride score usually never has to bother to roll for these.

Right.

If the roll needs to be made (in other words, the rider has less than a +9 Ride), they have to roll it, period. Once it becomes automatic, no reason to roll.