[CONAN] Question: Attacking Mounted vs. On Foot

[Supplement Four]

In RL, I understand that a mounted warrior has a great advantage to the warrior on foot, barring ranged weapons. The game mechanics don't really prove that to be true, do they?

In a scenario I ran by myself, just testing out the rules, the mounted warrior lost his horse pretty quickly.

In fact, the game seems to turn the advantage to the character on foot. Think about it: if the mounted warrior attacks and keeps on riding, that provokes an Attack of Opportunity (possibly more than one) by the warrior on foot as the mounted warrior leaves his target's threatened area. If the mounted warrior stops next to the target-on-foot, then what real advantage does he have?

Sure, he gets a +1 attack for the height advantage. And, it's an advantage that the horse will most likely take damage and get killed first, buffering the rider. But, losing your horse like that--is that a real advantage.

I understand that, if a mounted rider charges using a lance that, if he hits, he does automatic double damage. But, what about the mounted rider with the scimitar?

Plus, the rider must make Ride checks as needed.

So, don't you think that the existing 3.5 mounted combat rules are a little off in reflecting reality? Should foot-borne warriors fear the cavalry coming at them to attack?

 

[Supplement Four]

Answering my own question: I think the Ride By Attack Feat is the answer. It makes sense that a person would need to be trained. Otherwise, he'll just get his mount, and probably himself, killed. He'd be better off attacking on foot.

I wonder if an Improved Ride By Attack feat would be in order: I'm thinking of a feat that, if you charge by a target as you would with Ride By Attack, that your target gets a chance to hit you only if your attack is unsuccessful. That would be more along the lines of what I think of when I think of cavalry vs. foot soldiers, and at a cost of two Feats, it deprives the character from specializing in other areas.

Just a thought.

 

[Spectator]

I really like your idea on your second post.
Also the fundamental laws of physics are disregarded for projectile weapons when riding.
If you are charging towards someone and you toss a javelin at them, that Javelin is going to hit 30mph more than it would have been lofted by a stationary thrower. That means the javlin has mor kinetic force and that means more damage. It would also apply to arrows, as well.
Conversely riding away from a target and loosing a shot would impart less kinetic energy.
"Science, Mr White, fucking Science!- From Breaking Bad.

 

[LucaCherstich]

Actual rules favour Mounted fighters only if they charge with Heavy Lances and trigger Massive Damage with the attack, before the footed enemy replies.
In this sense one needs to have the right feats to maximize damage with lances.

I agree something more should be done for knights vs footmen, but not so sure what (the bonus for attacking from above is still not enough).

 

[Mach5RR]

Hey guys, this problem is actually solved with a manuever from "Hyboria's Fiercest" p.75:

Hit and Run
You make excellent ride-by attacks.
Prerequisite: Ride 10 or more ranks, Ride-By Attack
Circumstance: You approached an enemy in the previous round.
Effect: The mounted character can make an attack with a -1 penalty against any adjacent enemy that he approached in the previous round and then move away without suffering an attack of opportunity.

Just be careful not to confuse "approach" with "attack". You don't need to end your 1st turn adjacent to who you were going to attack, you just need to move closer to them to set up the approach.

In fact, you could probably do this as a chain. First round approach 1st opponent. 2nd round: Move up, attack 1st opponent, move away approaching second target. 3rd round: Move up, attack 2nd opponent, move away approaching next target. Repeat.

 

[Mach5RR]

I wonder if an Improved Ride By Attack feat would be in order: I'm thinking of a feat that, if you charge by a target as you would with Ride By Attack, that your target gets a chance to hit you only if your attack is unsuccessful. That would be more along the lines of what I think of when I think of cavalry vs. foot soldiers, and at a cost of two Feats, it deprives the character from specializing in other areas.

Just a thought.

The answer for foot soldiers is to Ready their actions, waiting for the rider/horse to come into range.
This is why lances kick ass. With their 10' reach, this gives them the capability to attack their target before moving close enough to trigger the foot soldiers Ready action. Unless, of course, the the footman has prepped himself with a warspear (the mounted animals natural enemy)