Mount warfare!

[Doublepalli]

Allowing you to send your mount into the next room, with aggro. Or telling your mount to attack so and so.

[Potaje]

If your mount is aggro, expect to be its meal.

If your mount can understand your commands to attack so and so, expect that your mount is some kind of magick beasts from the planes of 'never going to happen'. And report it to the nearest templar.

[Doublepalli]

If your mount is aggro, expect to be its meal.

If your mount can understand your commands to attack so and so, expect that your mount is some kind of magick beasts from the planes of 'never going to happen'. And report it to the nearest templar.

Well, we train animals to do certain things. Don't see why people in Armageddon coudln't. And people and mounts form bonds IG. A tamed and close mount, woudln't aggro towards you.

[Potaje]

The real reason is abuse, I think at one time there was a code to support this, but it was taken out as it created an unbalance.

[Ouroboros]

I'm guessing you've either never accidentally engaged a mount in combat, or you recently did and want the rest of the Known to experience the pain.

Beyond that... Your suggestion would make mounts into NPC guards, to be used as personal executioners. And even NPC guards can't be compelled to do your dirty work from a room away, and they're arguably smarter (or at least on par with mounts, in some cases).

[Doublepalli]

I'm guessing you've either never accidentally engaged a mount in combat, or you recently did and want the rest of the Known to experience the pain.

Beyond that... Your suggestion would make mounts into NPC guards, to be used as personal executioners. And even NPC guards can't be compelled to do your dirty work from a room away, and they're arguably smarter (or at least on par with mounts, in some cases).

I have, and it wasnt fun. Which is why we're, discussing it!

[MeTekillot]

I do not think this is realistic or a good idea even if it were

[Gimfalisette]

I have, and it wasnt fun. Which is why we're, discussing it!

Subterfuge is your best bet here.

tell amos Hey man, would you mind kicking my mount for me? He won't seem to move. Just, um, yeah...KICK BEETLE, ok?

[lordcooper]

Too exploitable.  The average indie PC could obtain 5+ mounts way too easily.

[hatchets]

I used to play a Mud that had necromancy and demonology as abilities and could summon up massive hordes of undead and demons. And the one thing I learned from that is, they gotta be weak if you intend to allow them to do anything.

You'd have to reset the mounts to being quite weak, which would make them alot less useful in other aspects. I kinda like it the way it is now myself.

[Marauder Moe]

We do have this: http://www.armageddon.org/help/view/Charge

I have also used mounts for more direct combat, but it was a little bit tricky and in a somewhat narrow circumstance.

Indeed, many mounts are quite formidable and being able to easily spur them to combat would be a powerful ability.  I'd expect it to require master riding at least, if not some other skill that's not easy to obtain, were it allowed at all.

If you want an IC explanation as to why it can't really be done, though, perhaps consider that mounts have all had most of the agression extensively trained out of them.  Otherwise they would be unamangable.

[James de Monet]

The animal people might disagree with me here, but also keep in mind that the animals we train to do things IRL are almost all mammals or birds.  And while there are mammalian mounts IG, the vast majority are insects or reptiles, which aren't known for their trainability and/or bonding ability. Getting them to wear a saddle and a bridle is probably a feat in and of itself.

[Maso]

The animal people might disagree with me here, but also keep in mind that the animals we train to do things IRL are almost all mammals or birds.  And while there are mammalian mounts IG, the vast majority are insects or reptiles, which aren't known for their trainability and/or bonding ability. Getting them to wear a saddle and a bridle is probably a feat in and of itself.

As an animal person, I completely agree.

[Morrolan]

The real reason is abuse...

Agreed. Considering the actual size of an inix, it would be like everyone getting to start with the offensive skills of a 10-day warrior, but the glass jaw of a new character.

[Molten Heart]

Horses and other tamed animals don't do this, so it isn't really realistic.  Now I realize it's a fantasy world and that fire elementalists that can hurl fireballs at people don't exist in reallife, but I think that elementalists help contribute to the game setting and help enhance roleplay.  I don't see how mounts that can attack others independently of their riders enhances roleplay.  (Unless it was something that some tribe of NPCs did, that'd be different, exotic and cool).

[racurtne]

Horses and other tamed animals don't do this, so it isn't really realistic.  Now I realize it's a fantasy world and that fire elementalists that can hurl fireballs at people don't exist in reallife, but I think that elementalists help contribute to the game setting and help enhance roleplay.  I don't see how mounts that can attack others independently of their riders enhances roleplay.  (Unless it was something that some tribe of NPCs did, that'd be different, exotic and cool).

Actually, there's some evidence to suggest horses were trained to kick and possibly even bite in combat.

Wikipedia's source is:

Gravett, Tudor Knight, pp. 29–30.

Note: Didn't read it myself, but I had heard this so I went looking for evidence. Also, I think this is a bad idea for Armageddon, despite how realistic it may or may not be.

[Molten Heart]

Did the knights send the horses off to fight for them?  That's kind of what we're talking about.

[racurtne]

Did the knights send the horses off to fight for them?  That's kind of what we're talking about.

Oh, no, just in the midst of a melee the mounted people likely didn't want to be caught in for any prolonged period. Sending it in? No, definitely not. But I was guessing having war beetles biting your target as you were mounted would come up if it didn't already.

Edit: Yeah, he did say something about just ordering it to attack, I guess that could mean while you are mounted.

[Fujikoma]

In my limited experience, this would be, hideous. Imagine you're out there, just grebbing up salt. No warning shot or nothing, and suddenly, in from the east comes a pack of inix and beetles, clamping jaws and mandibles down on all your limbs and ripping you into quarters...

Now, maybe if your mount could be commanded to -assist- you in battle whether mounted or not (on a skill separate from riding so it wouldn't be unfair for elves), I might not be too opposed to it, might even come in quite handy, and certainly makes more sense than your mount passively watching you get ripped to shreds by horrible monsters which are just going to turn around and eat them anyway.

[bcw81]

A 2 ton inix is not a warhound.

That would be scary as all hell.

Why do you want to make mount(ed) combat more OP?

[RogueGunslinger]

Now, maybe if your mount could be commanded to -assist- you in battle whether mounted or not (on a skill separate from riding so it wouldn't be unfair for elves), I might not be too opposed to it, might even come in quite handy, and certainly makes more sense than your mount passively watching you get ripped to shreds by horrible monsters which are just going to turn around and eat them anyway.

This would still be ridiculously powerful. Like having a 10-day dwarf-warrior friend around who's always ready to jump into a fight with you.

[Potaje]

Now, maybe if your mount could be commanded to -assist- you in battle whether mounted or not (on a skill separate from riding so it wouldn't be unfair for elves), I might not be too opposed to it, might even come in quite handy, and certainly makes more sense than your mount passively watching you get ripped to shreds by horrible monsters which are just going to turn around and eat them anyway.

This would still be ridiculously powerful. Like having a 10-day dwarf-warrior friend around who's always ready to jump into a fight with you.

More so that it is like the above with a single pc now in control of two powerful beings, with no karma to gauge if they are responsible enough to handle such power, as all other pc's leaders with npc control generally have. Or at least staff supported.

On the funny side of this:

ranger and inix are going along.

Ranger sees a wild inix near.

Ranger dismounts and orders Inix to charge the wild inix, near and kill.

Inix run off

Ranger looks east

Two inix are here, palavering.

Moments latter..

Two inix charge in, ranger is caught in mid wonder..

Two inix munch on ranger.

After..

Wild inix turns to mount inix and in inix speak says " See I told you we could free you from your slaver. Now I know the best clump of grasses to eat, right over near this place with plenty of water."

Mounted inix nods to wild inix and they run off into the sunset.

[RogueGunslinger]

Hahah!

[musashi]

Sure let's do this!

And then ... also make rangers and half-elves like ... 6 karma.

[Desertman]

I hate to just say "no".

Just saying "no" is so closed minded. I can see how this would work. You would just have to make the ability something that is tagged onto a higher karma class.

In a world where people throw fireballs, I just find it hard to say anything is "unrealistic" or "op". You can justify just about anything in a world where dragons exist and mindbenders are actually real.

This isn't unrealistic or OP in Zalanthan terms, it is however very unbalanced from a "this is a game" view point if not given the right karma restriction.

So to the new player. "Yes, this would be possible and isn't a horrible idea, it would just have to be very carefully implemented, and probably won't be implemented any time soon."

[Doublepalli]

I hate to just say "no".

Just saying "no" is so closed minded. I can see how this would work. You would just have to make the ability something that is tagged onto a higher karma class.

In a world where people throw fireballs, I just find it hard to say anything is "unrealistic" or "op". You can justify just about anything in a world where dragons exist and mindbenders are actually real.

This isn't unrealistic or OP in Zalanthan terms, it is however very unbalanced from a "this is a game" view point if not given the right karma restriction.

So to the new player. "Yes, this would be possible and isn't a horrible idea, it would just have to be very carefully implemented, and probably won't be implemented any time soon."

Hey now! Im not a shining newbie anymore! Just a little bit less of one Got near everything down, except for think/feel/solo rp....trying to get into that mindset.

[Is Friday]

Trying to tell everyone that you're not a noob is a clear indicator that you are a noob.

[Doublepalli]

Trying to tell everyone that you're not a noob is a clear indicator that you are a noob.

Slightly less of one

[Delirium]

Hey now! Im not a shining newbie anymore! Just a little bit less of one Got near everything down, except for think/feel/solo rp....trying to get into that mindset.

One thing that helps is this: approach your gaming sessions as if you are telling chapters of a story, or better yet, episodes of a television show. Therefore you are always telling that story and illustrating it (emotes, thinks, feels), whether or not there is another (visible) character. Not only are you rarely as alone as you think you are, but I find that helps keep you rooted in your character so that when someone does show up, you know exactly what you are doing and where you are in the narrative.

Note that this doesn't mean you have to constantly think and emote and be 'interesting'. It just means that you should be keeping up a consistent narrative regardless of who is there to see it.

My take.

edits: stupid phone

[bcw81]

I would rather see this made into a whole 'druid' type guild (that would be just as hated as any magicker) than put into Rangers.

[FantasyWriter]

I would rather see this made into a whole 'druid' type guild (that would be just as hated as any magicker) than put into Rangers.

Psionicist light?

From original submissions:

[Vwest]

While we're at it, I would really like warriors to have a mountable summoned battle cat.

I'm willing to accept Druid characters and let the northern Templars just fly around on the sticks they have up their asses all the time if it'll help get me my battle cat.

I'll name it Pickles.

[Molten Heart]

The Mekillot whisperer

[FantasyWriter]

If only Gage Gritshaw had had a blond wig and a Kiyet Lion for a mount....

[Potaje]

Lord Amos and his battle cat Cringer.