Teleporting on a flying dragon's back?

[Bauglir]

Personally I would ask for an inital balance check (difficult but not impossible - depends on the dragon (I like stylish maneuvers like this, but that doesn't mean they should be easy mind you )) as you would initially appear standing on the dragon's back. Success assumes you managed to drop to a more stable 'riding position'. Failure means falling.

After this I would allow the dragon move-actions-that-can-be-taken-during-a-move (like drawing a weapon) to attempt to throw you off. These I would represent by opposing the dragon's Escape Artist against the rider's Ride.

Also any attempt to cast a spell from the dragon's back would require a concentration check, any attempt to swing a weapon would require a ride check. (DC would be lower than the initial check as the rider will be stabler at this point)

 

[Infiniti2000]

Just make sure you have the dragon do the same thing. Let's see the Huge dragon teleport on top of the mage.

Also, note that 'stand on mount' is a DC40 epic Ride check. The dragon should also be considered 'not suited for riding (-5 on check) and unsaddled (-5 on check).

 

[Ringmereth]

I'd first require a high Int or Spellcraft check to let the caster teleport to the right spot. Failure results in being a few dozen feet off-not normally a problem, but it is if the dragon is 500 feet in the air. Then I would require a grapple check to grab hold of the dragon. Standing up and taking actions while the dragon is in flight is probably out of the question for any spellcaster-the Balance check would be insane. This is equivalent to trying to stand up and fight on top of a slow-flying aircraft. Maybe it can be done, but I wouldn't want to try.

For the guy attempting to do this, I'd advise some readied Fly, Feather Fall, and True Ressurection spells.

 

[Arravis]

"I'd first require a high Int or Spellcraft check to let the caster teleport to the right spot."

Why? If it's a spot the caster can see, why couldn't he teleport there as per the spell describes? Teleport already has a built in mechanic for mistakes, why would there need to be another one?

 

[Rhun]

Also, note that 'stand on mount' is a DC40 epic Ride check. The dragon should also be considered 'not suited for riding (-5 on check) and unsaddled (-5 on check).

The dragon's back is also probably a lot wider than the back of a horse, so I think a positive bonus might apply as well.

 

[ThirdWizard]

The dragon's back is also probably a lot wider than the back of a horse, so I think a positive bonus might apply as well.

Of course, its also moving much faster.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Also note that "Stand on Mount" as a DC 40 Epic Ride check is completely batcrap luny.

I've seen trick riders do it, and I'm pretty sure there's no Epic people in the world today.

 

[Derren]

Standing on a horse while it walks in a straight line without changing its speed is a bit different than stanfing on it in the middle of the combat at full speed with sharp turns and be still able to fight.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Standing on a horse while it walks in a straight line without changing its speed is a bit different than stanfing on it in the middle of the combat at full speed with sharp turns and be still able to fight.

But is it that much different from standing on it while the horse moves at a gallop, or standing on two horses pulling a carriage and changing back and forth, or any of a hundred other equestrian tricks genre-appropriate heros do?

High DC Ride check? Yes.

Epic character only? No.

 

[azmodean]

Here's how I'd rule it:
Grapple check is required to hold on, but the dragon takes a -20 to grapple due to "grappling without being considered grappled" and another -10 for "resisting a grapple without using limbs".
That is for the initial grapple, on subsequent turns, the dragon can take a standard action to grab an opponent with only the -20 penalty (and drop them with a free action). If the dragon decides to stop flying however, it can negate both penalties and either take it's full bab/5 attacks to rid itself of annoying hangers-on, or grab and drop a single cling-on and resume flying with its remaining move-equivalent action.

I might consider allowing an opposed grapple/ride or grapple/climb with similar penalties to the dragon, as well as some penalties to the PC. I might allow an opposed grapple/balance, but at massive penalties to the PC.

Concerning trick riding:
I think the DC 40 for standing in the saddle is a bit much, I'd place it at 30, still epic obviously. Before you protest, there is a huge difference between doing a well-practiced stunt in a controlled situation and doing something "similar" in a spontaneous fashion. I consider trick riders that can do that sort of thing to be something like expert10, taking 10 due to the action being in a controlled situation and practiced often, and lots of synergy bonuses.