Druid riding an animal companion?

[diablodevil2]

So, I'm thinking about making a level 12 druid for 3.5. I was looking at the different level 10 companions, and started wondering how riding them might work.

Take for example, the Dire Lion.
http://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/SRD:Dire_Lion
Firstly, being as it has Int of 2, it seems like it could have Combat Riding training.

So my thought is; if my druid was riding it, could it attack something as usual (using it's Improved Grab, Raking and such), leaving my Druid to then poke at the opponent with their own weapon while it's being grappled?

I've not had a mount or animal companion before, so I'm not sure if they have their own seperate Initiative like a Cohort.

Thanks a bunch!

[defiantdan]

you use handle animal and ride checks as free actions to control your mount. As long as your druid is one category size smaller than your mount you are good to go. Generally it's more optimal to allow your mount to do the melee attacking while you cast spells from his back. Buff your mount with bite of the were-x, animal growth, nature's favor ect. or lay down some serious BC. or do some summoning.

Using your animal companion as a mount really helps with taking advantage of your share spell feature. When you can. Get the dire tortoise. It's the best animal companion you can get that isn't a venomfire fleshraker.

[Hiro Quester]

Generally the mount/AC Acts on your initiative.

The dire tortoise, however would drag you along with it when it gets to act in the surprise round.

Get a military saddle to give you+2 to ride checks to stay mounted.

And you have to train it for mounted combat. See the handle animal skill description for time and DC.

[Ferronach]

I usually rule that the mount and rider have separate initiatives. I find it helps to keep the battle flowing as the Druid does not have to roll a whole bunch of stuff all at once. Because the ride and HA checks are free actions, I allow the rider to direct the mount during the mount's turn.

Just be advised that depending on your Dm, you may still provoke attacks of opportunity for casting from the back of your mount while it is in direct combat.

[diablodevil2]

Thanks for the information, everyone. I appreciate it!

Never having played a spellcaster, I kinda forgot all about the AoO's. It's helpful to know!

[Vrock_Summoner]

I usually rule that the mount and rider have separate initiatives. I find it helps to keep the battle flowing as the Druid does not have to roll a whole bunch of stuff all at once. Because the ride and HA checks are free actions, I allow the rider to direct the mount during the mount's turn.

... So how do mounted characters charge in your games? :|

[nyjastul69]

Do realize that as an animal your AC still needs to be handled through the HA skill. This includes tricks, commands, etc. Handling an AC for a druid is a free action. Speaking is a free action as well, even outside of your own turn. This does not necessarily mean that handling an AC outside of your turn is a free action. You will have to ask your DM if the skill HA can be used outside of your turn.

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These (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/rg/20050125a) may (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/rg/20050201a) be (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/rg/20050208a) usefull (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/rg/20050215a) too (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/rg/20050222a).

[Coidzor]

I usually rule that the mount and rider have separate initiatives. I find it helps to keep the battle flowing as the Druid does not have to roll a whole bunch of stuff all at once. Because the ride and HA checks are free actions, I allow the rider to direct the mount during the mount's turn.

I would find that staggering a character's turn by splitting it up into whether they're taking their turn or their mount is taking their turn to do the opposite by adding in additional starting and stopping or in many cases an unnecessary number of "X delays until Y's turn," to cease having the mount and rider acting on different initiative counts.

Also, as mentioned, that makes charging while mounted even more borked.

[Ferronach]

... So how do mounted characters charge in your games? :|


I would find that staggering a character's turn by splitting it up into whether they're taking their turn or their mount is taking their turn to do the opposite by adding in additional starting and stopping or in many cases an unnecessary number of "X delays until Y's turn," to cease having the mount and rider acting on different initiative counts.

Also, as mentioned, that makes charging while mounted even more borked.

Charging characters I handle by saying that if they want to charge, they can hold their/their mounts action until the turn of the latter (unless surprise round which means that you go with the mount).
Unless the character is built on charges in which case the initiative is always the same.
Like I said "usually".
The OP aske about a druid who I assumed would be focused more on casting from his mount rather than charging in with a lance etc. like a paladin :)

That being said, I have not hat that much experience with chargers and the like (only had 3 players/characters over the years).

[Flickerdart]

Riding on a creature engaged in a grapple sounds like a terrible idea, but by RAW I don't think there's anything actually stopping you.