Uses for a blind horse?

[Joker]

Can a blind paladin's mount still run, charge and fight if directed properly (high ride check), given scent? Or should he be turned into a glue and a meal?

 

[Starglim]

Neither close guidance nor scent will prevent a blinded creature from moving at half speed, taking a 50% miss chance against all opponents and the rest of it.

However, the question won't trouble the paladin for long, since he can dismiss the mount to its celestial home and call it forth the next day in full health. If "full health" is not sufficiently clear, consider that a celestial realm will have a number of inhabitants who can and will cast remove blindness for the benefit of a specially chosen defender of goodness such as a paladin's mount.

 

[Joker]

The current situation doesn't allow him to summon a horse. His is permanent like a familiar. Could he still run at full speed if I require him to make balance and or ride checks, for the horse and rider respectfully.

 

[Starglim]

It's not really a question of balance. The horse is incapable of moving faster than a walk because he can't see the variation and obstacles in the ground and must feel for them with his hooves. If absolutely panicked and in fear of his life, the horse might try to run, but would immediately trip, stumble, fall and struggle up again, reducing to half speed or less anyway.

The best that the player can do is get the horse the Blind-Fight feat which negates some of the penalties.

 

[Krafen]

Horse steaks all around!

 

[Storyteller01]

The current situation doesn't allow him to summon a horse. His is permanent like a familiar. Could he still run at full speed if I require him to make balance and or ride checks, for the horse and rider respectfully.

Can't see why not, but only after a high Handle Animal check to train it to trust you, and even then you'd probably see a +5 increase in your ride DC's. There are rumors of blind horses used in races and hurtling obstacles with a particular rider.

This would be a house rule though.

 

[Ferrix]

Dinner.

 

[Babylon Knight]

That idea makes me seriously sick.

 

[Aust Diamondew]

Retire the current mount and bond with a new one. If thats not possible at this time then you'll just have to deal with having a blind horse.

 

[IcyCool]

Horse steaks all around!

I'm partial to horse stew myself.

And in reference to the "summoning it back with full health" thing. Could a Paladin sustain a small village on horsemeat (provided that he didn't kill his mount), by summoning it back daily? Heck, that's better than the Troll in a PantryTM.