Spells on horseback

[nycdan]

Hi folks,

I have a gnome illusionist on a horse trying to cast a shield spell on himself. He has no ride skill and was riding with another character so has no familiarity with this horse or any other. The group is about to engage in combat (this is actually round 1 but he has highest initiative).

Does he need to make a ride check or a concentration check to get the spell off? I'm wondering if I should allow him to combine both skill ratings (9 in Conc, and 1 in Ride - untrained) and make a single check.

Lastly, what would be an appropriate DC? I'm thinking 12 or 15 since it's a defensive spell and combat is just getting started. Thoughts? What would be appropriate for an offensive spell during combat?

Thanks for any advice here.

-Dan

 

[Hypersmurf]

From the Concentration skill:

10 Vigorous motion (on a moving mount, taking a bouncy wagon ride, in a small boat in rough water, belowdecks in a stormtossed ship).
15 Violent motion (on a galloping horse, taking a very rough wagon ride, in a small boat in rapids, on the deck of a storm-tossed ship).

If the horse is moving: DC10 Concentration check (note - not DC10 + spell level).
If the horse is galloping: DC15 Concentration check.
If the horse isn't moving: No Concentration check required.

The Ride skill doesn't come into it. If you feel it should, my suggestion for a house rule would be a +2 bonus from skill synergy to the Concentration check to cast a spell on horseback for 5 ranks in Ride.

-Hyp.

 

[Jack Simth]

If the horse is moving, there's a concentration DC for it written into the skill description:

10 Vigorous motion (on a moving mount, taking a bouncy wagon ride, in a small boat in rough water, belowdecks in a stormtossed ship)

He should be able to make that on a roll of 1.

Edit: Oh well, too late.

 

[dcollins]

It's a Concentration check. From the SRD under the Concentration skill:

DC 10 Vigorous motion (on a moving mount, taking a bouncy wagon ride, in a small boat in rough water, belowdecks in a stormtossed ship).

DC 15 Violent motion (on a galloping horse, taking a very rough wagon ride, in a small boat in rapids, on the deck of a storm-tossed ship).

Edit: Way too late.

 

[Corsair]

From the Concentration skill:

If the horse is moving: DC10 Concentration check (note - not DC10 + spell level).

I caught a mistake by Hypersmurf! Do I get a cookie?

"1 If you are trying to cast, concentrate on, or direct a spell when the distraction occurs, add the level of the spell to the indicated DC."

This applies to ALL concentration check DCs. The superscript 1 is attached to the entire "Concentration DC" column of the DC chart. Sorry Hypersmurf, you were bound to make a mistake eventually.

 

[ForceUser]

I caught a mistake by Hypersmurf!

I've just lost all faith in humanity.

 

[Hypersmurf]

I caught a mistake by Hypersmurf!

Oops - true! 'swhat I get for posting in a rush!

-Hyp.