Halfling ranger with a riding dog...questions

[aza9999]

Ok so one of our players is starting a halfling ranger (archer build) and looking at taking the riding dog as their animal companion to use as a mount....what things do we need to take into consideration?

I've read that to move and shoot you need to make a riding check. Under the ride skill descripion there is "fight with a warhorse DC10", and the description for riding dog says "brave in combat like a warhorse" so im assuming thats the correct DC? Or if you are not in threat range of anyone would it just be the 'move with knees' DC5 check?

For mounted combat it says that you can shoot while moving but take a -4 on a double move and -8 on a run...does that mean there is no penalty if the riding dog just takes a normal move action (40ft?).

Can you make a ranged full attack action while moving? It says that if your mount moves more than 5 ft you can only take a single melee attack but it doesnt specify for ranged.

Any other things to be aware of for a mounted archer?

[KillianHawkeye]

I've read that to move and shoot you need to make a riding check. Under the ride skill descripion there is "fight with a warhorse DC10", and the description for riding dog says "brave in combat like a warhorse" so im assuming thats the correct DC? Or if you are not in threat range of anyone would it just be the 'move with knees' DC5 check?

The "fight with a warhorse" usage is only to allow your mount to attack while you are also attacking. What you really need is "guide with knees" so you can keep both hands on your bow.


For mounted combat it says that you can shoot while moving but take a -4 on a double move and -8 on a run...does that mean there is no penalty if the riding dog just takes a normal move action (40ft?).

That's correct. The Mounted Archery feat will halve those penalties.


Can you make a ranged full attack action while moving? It says that if your mount moves more than 5 ft you can only take a single melee attack but it doesnt specify for ranged.

Yes, you can make a full attack. See here (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/combat/specialAttacks.htm#mountedCombat):

You can use ranged weapons while your mount is taking a double move, but at a -4 penalty on the attack roll. You can use ranged weapons while your mount is running (quadruple speed), at a -8 penalty. In either case, you make the attack roll when your mount has completed half its movement. You can make a full attack with a ranged weapon while your mount is moving.

[Urpriest]

Halfling Outrider (Complete Warrior) is nice for this sort of character, as is Wild Plains Outrider (Complete Adventurer). People will tell you it's only good for crazy supermount shenanigan builds, but while it's good for that it's also just a straightforwardly decent class for mounted archers.

[Seharvepernfan]

A mounted character can be pulled from his mount with a trip attack.

A riding dog is small enough to be ridden in most dungeons and interior spaces.

A riding dog can track on its own.

It can also jump much better than a 1st level character.

Why is he waiting for an animal companion riding dog? Why not just ride one that he bought? For that matter, do you use the MM2? Get a warbeast riding dog.

[aza9999]

the player is replaceing a dead character and starting at level 7, so theres no waiting.

The main benefit of having the animal companion as a mount is increased loyalty over a bought one and the shared spell link ability.

[Fitz10019]

does that mean there is no penalty if the riding dog just takes a normal move action (40ft?)
Right, but note, to avoid the penalty, the archer's shot occurs from the position either before the move action, or after the move action.