Mounted Combat

[RogueGunslinger]

I'd like mounted combatants to be more powerful in combat.

I think someone who's proficient in mounted combat should be much better than someone of the same skill unmounted. I like the current skill progression to become good while fighting but I'm under the impression that you can only become as good as you are when unmounted.

Historically mounted combatants were far more effective against infantry.

[Thunkkin]

In Zalanthas, it's a guaranteed way to have every spider that ambushes you leap up and bite you directly on the neck.

[WarriorPoet]

Historically mounted combatants were far more effective against infantry.

Eh. This isn't really accurate. Cavalry is only truly effective en masse or chasing a routed opponent. History has shown time and time again that a determined defense of foot will see off an assault by mounted foes, so long as the initial charge doesn't put the fear into them and cause a panic/rout. That's why the Scottish schiltrom pretty much raped England's knights until the introduction of the warbow allowed them to weaken and harass the knots of pikemen before charging home. Even Alexander's Companion Cavalry, the most famous and effective mounted unit in history, weren't used to break a foe heads-up. Grip and hold the front with sarissa's while the cavalry went round and charged from the flank or rear.

Stout defense of spear/pike infantry > Cavalry charge

I don't like the idea of being mounted giving you a boost to melee combat. Maybe if thoroughly trained war mounts were intoduced at a HUGE price, but then I would want a 'brace pike' command to use your mount's wild charge and momentum against you.

[RogueGunslinger]

I'm talking 1 on 1 infantry vs mounted. Like Armageddons code is, 1 vs 1.

[Riev]

I'm talking 1 on 1 infantry vs mounted. Like Armageddons code is, 1 vs 1.

Perhaps, MAYBE if the combat rounds were slower for the mounted party. Maybe the tradeoff is harder hits, or more hits to the head? I don't know how that would be represented in code...

If someone is on a beetle, and you're on the ground, so long as you're the better fighter, you're going to win. It WOULD be nice to see people with the skill to charge, to also have a bonus to combat while mounted, but even so...

[FantasyWriter]

I would vote yes if:

the combat rounds were slower for the mounted party. Maybe the tradeoff is harder hits, or more hits to the head?

[tortall]

I would vote yes if:

the combat rounds were slower for the mounted party. Maybe the tradeoff is harder hits, or more hits to the head?

Also, don't let little damned hard hitting creatures jump into the sky and kick you on your head when you're on the back of an inix that's already at least twice as big as them. Talk about overpowered. :-p

[elvenchipmunk]

Well, if we're getting into little buggers jumping up and biting, we'd also better consider the fact that someone with a dagger/sword/club can still hit one of those buggers from atop the inix.

[Synthesis]

I fight mounted almost exclusively, and can seriously fuck shit up.  If you suck fighting mounted, you just suck at fighting, period.

[Riev]

I fight mounted almost exclusively, and can seriously fuck shit up.  If you suck fighting mounted, you just suck at fighting, period.

Oh yea? Well I fight mounted, with a weapon in my offhand, while carrying the corpse of a carru over my shoulders, blindfolded, drunk, and spiced up to high Drov on Tho. And a gortok almost killed me.

Mounted Combat needs a buff.

/sarcasm

[Synthesis]

I fight mounted almost exclusively, and can seriously fuck shit up.  If you suck fighting mounted, you just suck at fighting, period.

Oh yea? Well I fight mounted, with a weapon in my offhand, while carrying the corpse of a carru over my shoulders, blindfolded, drunk, and spiced up to high Drov on Tho. And a gortok almost killed me.

Mounted Combat needs a buff.

/sarcasm

Mounted combat doesn't need a buff.  Your character's skills need a buff.  I've punched gortoks to death while mounted.

[Eloran]

If that's true, then thank your offense. Your twinking ability is on a whole different level, one near that of the greats such as X-D.

I shouldn't have to twink my natural offense up so I could punch a gortok to death.

There should be coded advantages and disadvantages when fighting while mounted, as well as when fighting without a mount.

[Synthesis]

If that's true, then thank your offense. Your twinking ability is on a whole different level, one near that of the greats such as X-D.

I shouldn't have to twink my natural offense up so I could punch a gortok to death.

There should be coded advantages and disadvantages when fighting while mounted, as well as when fighting without a mount.

Defense is the far more important factor, really, and it's not about twinking.  Anyone who survives 30+ days with a combat character will be that good, or at least in the ballpark of that good.

[Eloran]

Defense doesn't let you punch a gortok while mounted. Whatever though.

[SMuz]

Historically mounted combatants were far more effective against infantry.

Historically, mounted combatants were fare more effective against infantry who weren't using spears.
And a lot of 'history' was about knights marching in plains, not massive dunes of sand or rock. Try and march an inix up at a guy on a 6-cord high dune and you'll see how ineffective that is.
And a lot of knights were effective because they were highly trained and equipped - you'll rarely ever see a peasant on a horse. I'm sure some templars could beat up some Bynners from atop a horse. Or punch a gortok to death.

Just saying. I don't really disapprove of this idea otherwise.

If you really want to play like the classic horsemen.. charge, flee, and charge again
EDIT: Lol, I just read the pending change to mounted combat. Hah, nice that it's being changed so you have to do that.

[spawnloser]

Mounted combat is too easy to twink, in my opinion.

[brytta.leofa]

Mounted combat is too easy to twink, in my opinion.

You may very well be right: I know I've been able to get halfway decent with it in what some of you folks would consider inconsequential playtime.  And yet I've almost never seen people fighting mounted, even those who are fairly experienced.

But my experience in-game is not very broad.  Are there clans (don't have to name 'em) that encourage or regularly use mounted fighting?

[SMuz]

I know some clans do. Certainly depends on who's in charge.

[The7DeadlyVenomz]

Why, yes, there are.

[Riev]

There are, for sure, mounted cavalry divisions in most military organizations that I can think of in game.

Problem is, as someone noted, it depends on who is in charge. If you have a group of 5 warriors, that couldn't ride straight if they were riding a half-giant, chances are fighting up there isn't their best advantage.

Then, neither is sending in some dual-rapier wielding Drizzt riding a mekillot, when you're doing a simple urban assault.

[Twilight]

I only wish straight warrior guild could get a little more decent at riding, which would in theory make them better at mounted combat.  And less annoying to play at times.

[Synthesis]

I only wish straight warrior guild could get a little more decent at riding, which would in theory make them better at mounted combat.  And less annoying to play at times.

You can ride while dual wielding/etwoing/whatever with an ordinary warrior with the use of a common item sold in the Bazaar in Allanak.  This will allow you to ride well enough that the only time you ever fail is in the MOST rugged terrain, and even then only usually while running your mount, and at this point you won't ever be thrown from your mount.

What else do you need?

[jcljules]

I've never played a serious combat character before. But I've seen some cavalry ride off to battle mounted. Am I to believe that once they arrive at said battle, they dismount, hitch their mounts, and fight hand to hand?

[spawnloser]

I've never played a serious combat character before. But I've seen some cavalry ride off to battle mounted. Am I to believe that once they arrive at said battle, they dismount, hitch their mounts, and fight hand to hand?

There is such a thing as mounted infantry.  They ride up, dismount and leap into the fray.

[Solifugid]

I only wish straight warrior guild could get a little more decent at riding, which would in theory make them better at mounted combat.  And less annoying to play at times.

The hard part about mounted combat isn't your ride skill - nearly anyone can practice enough to fight without falling off.  It's the fact that you're sitting in one place (your mount) and unable to dodge effectively. Warriors, being generally rather good at defense-related skills, can actually fight from the saddle pretty damn well.