Unanswered Mount Question (Ride, Sally, Ride)

[The Spectrum Rider]

So here's a question I've never seen a specific answer to: to what extent is the Ride skill dependent on the type of mount? If you have x ranks in Ride, do they apply equally to horses, wolves, pegasi, and large spiders? If you learn to ride on a horse, are you at a disadvantage when riding a griffin, and does that disadvantage fade with time and experience?

I know that some creatures are ill-suited to mounthood (like a cloud giant) and there are penalties for that. But when dealing with proper mounts, are there any distinctions?

The Spectrum Rider

 

[Three_Haligonians]

Going from Memory

If memory serves me correctly (and who knows if that's true?) 3.0 Ride stated that you had to pick a particular group of mounts that your Ride skill was for. It was a pretty general group so that any kind of horse-like creature counted under "horse" and any wolf-like creature counted as a different group etc. For riding things that weren't in the group you specified you took some sort of penalty.

Now in 3.5, its "one skill to use them all and in the saddle ride them"

At least, that's how I think it is, someone may correct me on it.

J from Three Haligonians

 

[dcollins]

Agreeing with previous poster. As per 3.0:

RIDE (DEX)
When the character selects this skill, choose the type of mount the character is familiar with. For this purpose, "horses" includes mules, donkeys, and ponies. If the character uses the skill with a different mount (such as riding a giant lizard when the character is used to riding horses), the character's rank is reduced by 2 (but not below 0). If the character uses this skill with a very different mount (such as riding a griffon when the character is used to riding horses), the character's rank is reduced by 5 (but not below 0).

But 3.5 just says this:

RIDE (DEX)
If you attempt to ride a creature that is ill suited as a mount, you take a –5 penalty on your Ride checks.

So it looks as though 3.5 specifically eliminated any distinction of mount types. Personally, I still play 3.0 for reasons such as these.

 

[Greylock]

Now in 3.5, its "one skill to use them all and in the saddle ride them"

At least, that's how I think it is, someone may correct me on it.

Nope. That is how it is. And it makes sense to me at any rate. Differences in mounts and their aptitude/training for riding add or subtract enough from the DC AFAIC. Otherwise, why pick on this skill? Handle Animal - Small? For the kitties, ya know. Or Disable Device, Nuclear; Survival, Winter; Climb, Slope; Heal, Acid? One skill should cover many sub-types. It's a general thing.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

Nope. That is how it is. And it makes sense to me at any rate. Differences in mounts and their aptitude/training for riding add or subtract enough from the DC AFAIC. Otherwise, why pick on this skill? Handle Animal - Small? For the kitties, ya know. Or Disable Device, Nuclear; Survival, Winter; Climb, Slope; Heal, Acid? One skill should cover many sub-types. It's a general thing.

I agree completely. Subdividing the skills would just lead to needing more skill points. I like 3.5 Ride much better. One skill covers everything that's not too crazy, and anything that is too crazy but is still allowed by the DM at all, gets a -5.

Now if they'd just change back Perform, I'd be happy with 3.x skills in general.