I'm planning a Ravnica-based one-shot to hook in a friend who loves MTG but has never played D&D, and am planning on using archon of the triumvirate as the boss of the battle. Reading through the stat block, it seems unclear as to whether the mount attacks separately from the archon. There are no attacks listed for the mount under the archon's stat block and no directions to have the mount attack (i.e. nothing that tells me to look up the mount's stat block), but one of the archon's legendary actions - Smite - allows the mount to use its reaction to make a melee attack. This leads me to believe that I should have the mount attacking alongside the archon. I know the mount would be a felidar, and can find this stat block, but its unclear whether the mount would act as another combatant. I imagine it would, since it's supposed to be trained and bonded to the celestial riding it, and not sit there like a statue while its rider gets wailed upon. I would also assume that if the mount does attack independently it would still share initiative, since it's a mount. Has anyone run this monster? Any advice?
In case it helps: the party is 5 PCs (4 are experienced, but other than my buddy, they're all my kids and their friend) that will be level 8. There will be 1-2 NPCs who may fight alongside them (a lawmage and a level 8 Sorcerer/Rogue goblin. Yes, it's Squee).
I don't see why you wouldn't count the mount as a separate entity in combat. Nothing in the statblock definitively says that they are the same entity, so we go to the default rule of different creatures having different abilities.
Of course, when you're mounted, you're messing with the Mounted Combat rules. Since Felidars are intelligent creatures, by RAW they would be independent mounts, which means they use their own initiative and can take any actions on their turns. However, based on the text about how close Archons and Felidars can bond, that doesn't really make sense, so if I were running it I'd make the Felidar a controlled mount, which means that its initiative changes to match the Archon's and it can only do Dash, Disengage, or Dodge on its turn.
Look at what you've done. You spoiled it. You have nobody to blame but yourself. Go sit and think about your actions.
Don't be mean. Rudeness is a vicious cycle, and it has to stop somewhere. Exceptions for things that are funny. Go to the current Competition of the Finest 'Brews! It's a cool place where cool people make cool things.
How I'm posting based on text formatting: Mod Hat Off - Mod Hat Also Off (I'm not a mod)
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
I'm planning a Ravnica-based one-shot to hook in a friend who loves MTG but has never played D&D, and am planning on using archon of the triumvirate as the boss of the battle. Reading through the stat block, it seems unclear as to whether the mount attacks separately from the archon. There are no attacks listed for the mount under the archon's stat block and no directions to have the mount attack (i.e. nothing that tells me to look up the mount's stat block), but one of the archon's legendary actions - Smite - allows the mount to use its reaction to make a melee attack. This leads me to believe that I should have the mount attacking alongside the archon. I know the mount would be a felidar, and can find this stat block, but its unclear whether the mount would act as another combatant. I imagine it would, since it's supposed to be trained and bonded to the celestial riding it, and not sit there like a statue while its rider gets wailed upon. I would also assume that if the mount does attack independently it would still share initiative, since it's a mount. Has anyone run this monster? Any advice?
In case it helps: the party is 5 PCs (4 are experienced, but other than my buddy, they're all my kids and their friend) that will be level 8. There will be 1-2 NPCs who may fight alongside them (a lawmage and a level 8 Sorcerer/Rogue goblin. Yes, it's Squee).
I don't see why you wouldn't count the mount as a separate entity in combat. Nothing in the statblock definitively says that they are the same entity, so we go to the default rule of different creatures having different abilities.
Of course, when you're mounted, you're messing with the Mounted Combat rules. Since Felidars are intelligent creatures, by RAW they would be independent mounts, which means they use their own initiative and can take any actions on their turns. However, based on the text about how close Archons and Felidars can bond, that doesn't really make sense, so if I were running it I'd make the Felidar a controlled mount, which means that its initiative changes to match the Archon's and it can only do Dash, Disengage, or Dodge on its turn.
Look at what you've done. You spoiled it. You have nobody to blame but yourself. Go sit and think about your actions.
Don't be mean. Rudeness is a vicious cycle, and it has to stop somewhere. Exceptions for things that are funny.
Go to the current Competition of the Finest 'Brews! It's a cool place where cool people make cool things.
How I'm posting based on text formatting: Mod Hat Off - Mod Hat Also Off (I'm not a mod)