Mounted Combat

Date: Mon, 24 Oct 1994 18:04:47 -0400

From: CHIP BENNETT <MALIKTO@delphi.com>

To: Multiple recipients of list 

Subject: Re: Mounted vs unmounted warriors

Provided he makes MR character attacks. If he fails MR bad things happen, fall off the horse or something.

Comments?
>>>

I think that a mounted fighter should get a hefty bonus for the force generated by the horse on a chaging type attack, as opposed to just standing still that is. I agree with using a hard MM vs. riding to make sure the rider can handle the impact. etc. I would increase the OB by a percentage based on the type of weapon used. A bs, might get a +50% OB on a succesfull attack/MM. One could also use the MM tables to add the number generated as a %bonus to the attack. Of course failures could really compromise the rider.

Date: Sun, 29 Sep 1996 01:00:26 -0400

From: "Wyatt R. Lavigne" 

To: Multiple recipients of list 

Subject: Re: Mounted Combat

On Sat, 28 Sep 1996, Troy 'Trojan' Clark wrote:

> What are the benefits of Mounted Combat.  Looking through the books I 

> haven't found anything that makes it preferable, even for a Nomad.

Here is some stuff that I made up. I may have posted it back in may. I originally made it becuase I thought RMSR rules were a bit to mean to MC.

Mounted Combat Rules Revisited. See pages 161-162 of RMSR. See also pages 18-19 of RMCIII for additional Mounted Combat Rules.

(RMC III makes MC deadly when charging)

The main problem with the Mounted Combat skill is that the system tends to give higher bonuses for weapon attacks than the Mounted Combat skill. This is due mainly to weapon bonuses, herbs, spells etc. So even if you boosted your weapon attack by +70 you still wouldn't get a higher bonus than before on a horse. This is due to the system's limitation that the weapon attack bonus while on horseback can never exceed the Mounted Combat Skill. Here is a possible solutions to this problem.

Ignore the regular Mounted Combat skill bonus. Apply a -20 modifier to all attacks and skills that are not normally done on a mount. Ie.Read Runes, Attunement, Melee/Missile attacks. This modifier does not apply to any related skills or skills that would not be affected while riding a mount. When you buy a rank in Mounted Combat you reduce this penalty by 1(ie. 18 ranks would reduce the penalty by 18 to a -2 modifier at 43 ranks you would have a +23 bonus). Restrictions: The total number of ranks in mounted combat cannot exceed the total number of ranks in the riding skill. For most static skills done while mounted the penalty cannot be reduced to less than -10. No skill except melee combat may be raised to more then 0 without the GM's express permission.

Of note: Horse nations greatly benefit from this rule. An average 1st level fighter charging 500 feet per round would under this system plus RMCIII rules would have a +32 to his OB. The 1st level Nomad would be at +52 OB This assumes 2 ranks in Mounted Combat. The same fighter at 10th level would be at +52 OB while charging. Nomads at +72 OB. This assumes 22 ranks in Mounted Combat. Again the same fighter at Lord level would be at +72 OB (Nomads at +92 OB) additionally under the same circumstances. This assumes 42 ranks in Mounted Combat.

NOTE: The GM should closely look at this option before it is included. Players become quite effective in combat while on horseback at higher levels.

Further note: The OB from the speed of the charge may not be used to parry with. Likewise any one who is also charging towards you gets their speed added to your speed bonus so the both of your OB's (Non parryable) get boosted by 100. (This assumes both of you ar thraveling at a combinded speed of 1000 feet per round towards each other) Results should be worked that if you do get a crit the attack is assumed not to bounce or glance off the opponent and the +100 or whatever is then added. (Jousting becomes pretty messy. It also explains why Jousting armor was so heavy that the knight had to be lifted by a winch to get on top of his horse. Still deaths did occur even at freindly tornoments.)

Yet another note: If a person or spike/stake is set to receive the charging combatant with an appropriate weapon then they get the bonus that you recive as well. Same rules about parring apply (Things happen so fast it would be hard to parry. As you have only one chance at hitting unlike regular combat which is a serries of feints, parryiess ect.)

I hope you find this useful.

Does anyone have any further suggestions?

Wyatt