The Strength of Lances

[Lord Pendragon]

-IMC, I allowed a centaur character to take feats as if he were on a mount, not realizing what the results would be. Soon he'll get spirited charge (I think at fourth level, due to another houserule giving everyone an extra feat at first level to keep non-AU characters in line with AU characters), allowing him to charge past someone without incurring an AoO, and do 3d8+(4.5*str bonus) damage. His Str is 20, so each charge does 3d8+22 damage. Yeow. At least currently he does this at the expense of his AC; this ruling would make it even worse.

Yeow is right! It seems we're both looking at this issue through our own experiences. In your case, you're seeing a character doing huge damage at 4th-level.

For comparison, I'm considering a paladin (that I play) putting it all together at 8th-level. At that point, he'll be riding a griffon. The mounted charge, even with Spirited Charge, does much less damage using the RAW than a straight-on charge with a longsword, that allows the griffon to attack as well (it's Pounce ability allows it to make 5 attacks on a charge.)

So I like the idea of adding a bit of damage to the lance, which will still be the low damage, high avoidance option.

Also, it seems to me that the House Rule would make very little difference to your centaur, since he'll be using Ride-By Attack to charge away from his target anyway, so he's not really getting the damage "at the expense" of anything as things stand now.

 

[Hypersmurf]

-IMC, I allowed a centaur character to take feats as if he were on a mount, not realizing what the results would be.

I think this is explicitly allowed in... Races of Faerun?

-Hyp.

 

[Pielorinho]

Is it? I dunno. I think someone told me that certain feats were allowed, but I don't know which, not having that book.

At any rate, the damage is so nasty (3d8+22, or about 35 points/round) that I really don't want the tactic to become any better. 'Sides which, as I said, the old way of doing things, in which you could hit harder with a medium weapon by holding it in both hands, makes more sense to me anyway .

Daniel

 

[Hypersmurf]

'Sides which, as I said, the old way of doing things, in which you could hit harder with a medium weapon by holding it in both hands, makes more sense to me anyway .

That's still the case.

A one-handed weapon wielded in one hand adds Str bonus to damage.

A one-handed weapon wielded in two hands adds 1.5x Str bonus to damage.

A two-handed weapon adds 1.5x Str bonus to damage.

The lance just happens to be a special case - a two-handed weapon that can be wielded in one hand.

-Hyp.

 

[Darklone]

Without speaking about that centaur... take a human ftr1/bbn1 with mount and lance, feats all for Spirited Charge... str 18.
3d8 + 27 without Power Attack which he will probably get next level.

 

[Greylock]

Take a page from alsiH20. If you've got a Fighter all set for a mounted lance attack, throw a winged critter into the mix.

*horse paws oerth*

There, only 25 feet up! Attack!

 

[Lord Pendragon]

Take a page from alsiH20. If you've got a Fighter all set for a mounted lance attack, throw a winged critter into the mix.

*horse paws oerth*

There, only 25 feet up! Attack!

Or any standard dungeon, unless we're talking about a halfling fighter here.

Still, I can see how it could be unbalancing at low levels, where PCs aren't trading away iterative attacks. Perhaps Spirited Charge needs a BAB 6+ prereq.

 

[Pielorinho]

Lord Pendragon, that's a brilliant idea. By giving it that prereq, it would force characters to choose between multiple attacks and one humongous attack.

It might also be good to give Ride-By Attack a +4 BAB as well, to mirror Spring Attack.

Daniel

 

[Bauglir]

That's still the case.

A one-handed weapon wielded in one hand adds Str bonus to damage.

A one-handed weapon wielded in two hands adds 1.5x Str bonus to damage.

A two-handed weapon adds 1.5x Str bonus to damage.

The lance just happens to be a special case - a two-handed weapon that can be wielded in one hand.

-Hyp.

Two-Handed: Two hands are required to use a two-handed melee weapon effectively. Apply 1-1/2 times the character’s Strength bonus to damage rolls for melee attacks with such a weapon.

Sorry, couldn't resist

 

[Lord Pendragon]

Lord Pendragon, that's a brilliant idea. By giving it that prereq, it would force characters to choose between multiple attacks and one humongous attack.

I should put this comment in my sig.

Seriously, though, one of the reasons that at first I didn't understand your (and others') reluctance to allow the lance two-handed weapon bennies was because, at the level I'll have access to it, that's exactly what it is, a choice between several attacks or one big attack. And even then, mounted on a mount of Quality, the full attacks will do more damage. So the Spirited Charge is a better option for if you're getting low on hp, but still isn't superior to getting in those full attacks. I never even considered the impact the feat would have at low levels, when you don't have anything to give up.

It might also be good to give Ride-By Attack a +4 BAB as well, to mirror Spring Attack.

Yes, I think I'll house rule it this way from now on as well.