Touch AC and Mounted Combat

[kjenks]

Thanks for the help, all.

I do not dispute that is entirely possible to get a touch AC of that high, especially when able to prepare and buff up all day before attacking (which she was able to do).

It just seems odd to me that being mounted doesn't affect your AC.

Fortunately lots of Ice Storms let me ignore all that pesky to-hit and saving-throw business.

DS

Patryn of Elvenshae mentioned using the Ride skill for cover. This does indeed add a +4 cover bonus to the rider's AC using a DC 15 Ride check. Since Ride is a class skill for quite a few classes, and Drow get a racial bonus to Dex, that DC is pretty easy to hit.

Area spells are often good for dealing with mounted combatants. Ice Storm is particularly good since it has no saving throw so it doesn't let a special mount with Evasion/Improved Evasion (druid/ranger animal companion or paladin/blackguard mount) escape with no damage. But the damage from Ice Storm is rather low and the casting time is rather long.

 

[JiffyPopTart]

In this case the drow was most definately not using the mount for cover, as she was blasting spells at us every turn.

For some reason a Warmage gets Ice Storm at 3rd level, which makes it a more viable choice than it would otherwise be. I chose it for two reasons...

1. I had already set the particular inn we were staying in on fire in a previous battle and I was trying to avoid that again.

2. It has no save.

I don't see where it takes longer to cast, however. Is that an errata?

DS

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

In this case the drow was most definately not using the mount for cover, as she was blasting spells at us every turn.

That statement doesn't necessarily follow.

Cover: You can react instantly to drop down and hang alongside your mount, using it as cover. You can’t attack or cast spells while using your mount as cover. If you fail your Ride check, you don’t get the cover benefit. This usage does not take an action.

I cast spells, attack, move, etc., and at the end of my turn, I drop down and use my mount for Cover. Thus, I get Cover when it's not my turn.

Moreover, there's nothing preventing me from gaining cover on my own turn if I provoke an AoO - or just waiting until you attack.

 

[kjenks]

Moreover, there's nothing preventing me from gaining cover on my own turn if I provoke an AoO - or just waiting until you attack.

Well, there is that one thing preventing you. The Main 3.5e FAQ does clarify this a little bit.

When using a Ride skill check to claim cover from your
mount, exactly when do you start claiming cover from your
mount? When must you stop claiming cover from your
mount? The skill description says you react instantly to
claim cover, and it doesn’t take an action. Does that mean
you can do so anytime, even when it’s not your turn? The
skill description says you can’t attack or cast spells while
claiming cover. Why is that significant if you can claim
cover anytime without using an action?

You can make a Ride check to claim cover from your
mount anytime, even when it’s not your turn. Make the check
before your opponent makes his attack roll. If your check
succeeds, you have cover against your opponent’s attacks. If
several different opponents attack you during the same place in
the initiative order, one Ride check determines if you have
cover against all those attacks. If you’re attacked again, you
must make another Ride check to claim cover again. You
cannot claim cover while you’re casting a spell or making any
kind of attack. So, for example, if you cast a spell while
mounted, you can’t use your mount as cover against any attack
of opportunity you might provoke. You also cannot claim cover
from your mount while making a charge attack (not even
during the movement portion of your charge).