Hi everybody!

I'd like to ask for suggestions about mounted combat (mostly horses), anyone?

Maybe with cool mechanics like all the other combat rules as I wouldn't like it to be just a damage adder...

Thanks in advance!

I think I would actually not bother with mounted combat rules--assuming that you're talking about running a Wilderland campaign. The Northmen who fought on horseback went south and became the Rohirrim. The Northmen who stayed behind preferred fighting in shield walls; a horse is something you ride to the field of battle and then dismount so that you can fight on foot.

Well, that doesn't mean that player-heroes shouldn't be able to do it.

In my opinion, rules for mounted combat could be handled a bit like for the Woodman hound. I'm sure it will appear in some form or another in a later book.

-Eirik

As the system stands, I would say that Athletics and Travel would cover horse riding.

In terms of combat, I think that Mounted Combat should give a bonus to the Combat Advantage roll in some manner (maybe adding their appropriate Attribute without spending Hope), so that mounted PCs could get extra dice during the fight.

I also like the idea of a horserider being able to make a melee attack as if they were in Forward Stance (TN6) in place of the opening volley.

For specialised horseriders like Rohirrim, a Faithful Hound Virtue like approach would be cool.

The idea of making an attack with TN 6 instead of a opening volley is amazing, I like it very much.

Even though there aren't rules for mounted combat yet, this won't prevent my players from wanting to do it, as they're very fond of horse riding in play.

I'd like to see the official rules for this by Francesco himself (probably in the 3rd Core ) and wonder if he has already thought of it.

This is a very good idea, and I think it underlines the great intensity of the combat rules.

I guess we will see some large scale battle rules at some point too.

If more detail is needed, differences between types of mounts should be included. This can be as easy as just adding a special ability, similar to the ones used for the Woodmen hound.

Another idea is to have different types of mounts, having different advantages and disadvantages in the different stances. Large warhorses, like destriers, could, for example, have an easier time charging in an Opening Volley, but disadvantages in woods and uneven terrain. On the other end of the scale, ponies could have advantages over larger horses in uneven terrain, but would be less useful in a charge (higher TN?)

And let's not forget goblins mounted on wargs.

-E.

Cheers. I could imagine that if you took this option you would also need to be Forward in the first round as well to represent the momentum of the charge.

If you were to implement these rules though I would suggest that either a new stance must be created or that charging would count as defensive to count for the fact that hitting a mounted hero as they charge past would be difficult.

That stance would only be for when they are charging though, once they have settled into close combat they could then select another stance as per normal.

Although I have no intention of introducing mounted rules unless absolutely neccesary, I think it would be best to create a new stance which would likely trump forward stance for initiative. I have made the TN easier but included a benefit for the rider with a successful use of a stance task.

Stance:
Cavalry charge - "With astonishing speed and skill they checked their steeds, wheeled, and came charging round".
Order of Action 0 (before forward)
Combat TN: 9 + Parry value

Tasks: Escape Combat: Automatic if your enemy are afoot, otherwise; At the end of the round, make an Athletics roll, TN 10 + highest opponents Attrobute. If failed, you lose 1 hope. If you succeed, your opponents lose 1 or more hate. You cannot do this if you were wounded last round.

Cavalry Charge Stance: You spend an entire round gathering speed. If your attack in the following round is successful your parry is increased by 3.

What do people think?

E

I think tinkering with rules is so much fun, thanks guys for joining me!

Great ideas so far, of course we don't want to get ahead of things nor invent the wheel, it's just an exercise for fun before Francesco delight us with a new batch of fresh rules (mounted combat and large scale battles I'm looking at you).


And if one of the advantages of mounted combat is that the opponent cannot take knockback to reduce damage? What do you guys think?

More cool ideas are welcome!

I think that I'd still allow knockback from a cavalry charge, however, if a mounted defender chooses to take knockback, then they're unhorsed!

That's nice, Arandil.

And no knockback for enemies on foot, is it ok?

I would be inclined to say that enemies on foot take all the negatives of taking knockback without the benefit. Spending one Hope/Hate point will negate the knockback effect.

E

I would also suggest some kind of difference between types of mounts. For instance, charging into combat on a warhorse would be very different from using a pony.

Maybe the TN for the attack in the Opening Volley would be diffetent based on what mount you use. In keeping it simple, we could use three types: pony (TN 12), horse (TN 9) and warhorse (TN 6). One could also have a rule for wargs, of course, but since the rules for enemies aren't the same as for player-heroes, I'm not sure how to use those.

Also, some kind of extra damage should be dealt when doing a mounted charge. This could also be based on the type of horse, as a warhorse is much heavier than a small pony.

That's my thoughts for today .

-E.

This is a very good discussion

I have been pondering is too since the Rohirrim are a key culture in Middle Earth.

And let us not forget about Worg Riders from Isengard and not to mention Mumakil!