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Baskineli
2007-04-19, 01:14 AM
Is this a bad or a good idea, to build a mounted wizard?

In his guide, TLN writes:

-Phantom Steed: Utility. At first it seems meh, but then you realize that the horse can eventually fly (hours-duration Fly spell, effectively), and has a movement speed of 20 ft *per caster level*. At level 5, that's 100'. Take Ride ranks, and you can have the phantom horse move in, cast a spell, and have it move back. It caps at 240', which is pretty damn fast.



How it can be done? Don't you need a feat for it?

My concern is my wizard being attacked after landing touch attack... Is there a way to avoid it?

Jack Mann
2007-04-19, 01:24 AM
No need for a feat. Ranks in ride help, but aren't strictly necessary. You just have to make a concentration check. 10+spell level if it's moving double its speed, 15+spell level if it's running.

EDIT: For the touch spells, you'd still incur attacks of opportunity. For that, I'd recommend taking a level of archmage for arcane reach, or else taking the reach spell feat.

Baskineli
2007-04-19, 01:48 AM
EDIT: For the touch spells, you'd still incur attacks of opportunity. For that, I'd recommend taking a level of archmage for arcane reach, or else taking the reach spell feat.

Why would one incur AoO for using a touch spell? And, where is this reach spell feat can be found?

Dhavaer
2007-04-19, 01:51 AM
Why would one incur AoO for using a touch spell? And, where is this reach spell feat can be found?

If you cast it within reach, you provoke, just like any other spell. And Arcane Reach is a class ability of the Archmage, which is found in the dungeon master's guide.

Jack Mann
2007-04-19, 01:55 AM
You also provoke an attack of opportunity for moving past them.

EDIT: The Reach Spell feat is in Complete Divine. Getting Arcane Reach from Archmage is better, though, since you don't need to use a higher level spellslot. Or, y'know, a feat.

Weasel of Doom
2007-04-19, 05:15 AM
I guess you could use ride-by attack

Ikkitosen
2007-04-19, 05:24 AM
What about the mount moving before and after you cast - I mean, a known tactic is move in, cast pell, move away. Is the mount autonomous enough to use it's own action (MA to close, ready a SA to move away after you've cast) or do you need to use YOUR actions. What about normal horses vs. spell horses?

Dausuul
2007-04-19, 02:57 PM
You also provoke an attack of opportunity for moving past them.

Yeah, this is a lot more important than the usual AoO-for-casting. By the time you can get Arcane Reach, you should never have to worry about missing your roll to cast defensively.

And the real worry, honestly, is not that they'll attack you--it's that they'll attack your mount. Phantom steeds are notoriously wussy when it comes to taking damage. It's the weak spot in what is otherwise a devastatingly effective spell.

As for independence of the mount: Yes, a mount can take a double move action while you cast in the middle. No feat is necessary.

Baskineli
2007-04-19, 02:59 PM
As for independence of the mount: Yes, a mount can take a double move action while you cast in the middle. No feat is necessary.

Where is it written, please?

Catch
2007-04-19, 03:05 PM
Where is it written, please?

Player's Handbook.

Your mount acts independently of you, but in the same round. The short of it is that you have your own set of actions apart from whatever you're riding.

jamez
2007-04-19, 03:15 PM
You might what to take a look at the Knight Phantom PrC from 5 Nations. It is exactly made for doing just this (Wizards on "horseback"). It's Eberron but could easily be changed in flavor to fit whatever.

Dausuul
2007-04-19, 03:20 PM
Where is it written, please?

From the SRD (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/combat/specialAttacks.htm):


Casting Spells while Mounted

You can cast a spell normally if your mount moves up to a normal move (its speed) either before or after you cast. If you have your mount move both before and after you cast a spell, then you’re casting the spell while the mount is moving, and you have to make a Concentration (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/skills/concentration.htm) check due to the vigorous motion (DC 10 + spell level) or lose the spell. If the mount is running (quadruple speed), you can cast a spell when your mount has moved up to twice its speed, but your Concentration (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/skills/concentration.htm) check is more difficult due to the violent motion (DC 15 + spell level).So, no feat, but a potentially difficult Concentration check depending on how far you go.


You might what to take a look at the Knight Phantom PrC from 5 Nations. It is exactly made for doing just this (Wizards on "horseback"). It's Eberron but could easily be changed in flavor to fit whatever.

Eh, not really. The Knight Phantom is more of a gish class, and not a terribly impressive one IMO. You give up two caster levels for what--some BAB, a 20% miss chance that you could get from a 2nd-level spell, and a brilliant energy weapon? Whoopty-doo.

Now, if it made your phantom steed less prone to drop dead when somebody looks at it funny, then it might be worth considering. Though I will admit, it has a lot of style.

Fax Celestis
2007-04-19, 03:25 PM
You might what to take a look at the Knight Phantom PrC from 5 Nations. It is exactly made for doing just this (Wizards on "horseback"). It's Eberron but could easily be changed in flavor to fit whatever.

Knight Phantom is also available as an excerpt on the WotC website.

Ikkitosen
2007-04-19, 03:27 PM
Cheers for the info/references peeps.