Ah, the noble Cavalier. The ruthless Tartar ravaging the countryside… History and legend are full of accomplished Guys-On-Horses. The mounted Combat path takes care of many of the problems fighters had back in the 2nd Edition game, most notably the relative frailty of a mount compared to its accomplished rider. Horsies don’t get XP, you know.

The Mounted Combat Path

The Mounted Combat path starts with (suprise!) Mounted Combat, and moves on to include Mounted Archery, Trample, Ride-by Attack, and Spirited Charge. Needless to say, the Mounted Combat skills heavily rely upon the ability to ride a mount effectively, so a Mounted Combat expert is well advised to invest his meager skillpoint allotment into Ride early and often. This path can be acheived by level 4.

1. Mounted Combat, Ride-By Attack
2. Spirited Charge
3. Trample
4. Mounted Archery

Mounted Combat is easily the most useful of these feats, allowing the fighter to make a Ride check to prevent damage dealt against his mount. Once per round, you get to substitute a Ride check for your mount’s armor class. This is done after the hit is otherwise resolved. The better your ride skill, the safer your mount is. Simple, eh?

Ride-By Attack is the mounted equivalent of Spring Attack, but doesn’t take two prerequisite feats to get ahold of. This lets you split a charge action around your attack roll. Move 50 ft or so at your target, clock him on the head with your mace, move 50ft past. Wheel your horse around, rinse, and repeat.

Spirited Charge allows you to more effectively lay down the hurt during a charge attack. Double (or triple for a lance) your damage done while charging. Take into account the +2 attack bonus you get from charging, plus the +1 height advantage bonus you’d get to attack against Medium sized creatures, and charging is a very appealing way to attack. Especially if you can ride away again on the same action. Oh, did I mention that they don’t get an attack of opportunity due to your movement. This feat is sick.

Trample allows you to overrun an opponent without them having a say in the matter. Normally if you overrun while mounted, the target can get out of the way for free. Not so against a trample. If the opponent is knocked down, your horse gets to whap him for a single hoof attack with a +4 bonus against the prone target.

Mounted Archery halves the penalty for firing a bow from a moving mount. Ever wanted to roll with the Mongol Hordes? This is how they took care of business. An excellent gateway feat for transitioning your Horsie-boy into a fearsome mounted artillery platform. An unneeded feat for your typical Shield-and-lance Cavalier type.

The Mounted Combat path is all about dealing out hurt and keeping your mount comfortable while you do it. It includes 1 feat that defends your mount, and four feats that improve your ability to lay smack upon thine enemies.