What is the rule for this wild shape? Can I have a rider with no problem, or do I not have tack, so the rider has to test constantly to see if they stay on, specially while I'm running?
What is the rule for this wild shape? Can I have a rider with no problem, or do I not have tack, so the rider has to test constantly to see if they stay on, specially while I'm running?
You would not get any equipment from using your Wildshape, you need to add that in some other way.
There are no specific rules in D&D for penalties for riding a mount without the proper gear. It would be up to the DM to decide whether to penalize that, and in what manner.
A saddle comes with a bit, a bridle, reins, and any other equipment needed to use the saddle. A Military Saddle gives Advantage on any ability check you make to remain mounted. An Exotic Saddle is required for riding an aquatic or a flying mount.
If you wildshaped into a Mount, you'd be an independent mount and offer no bonuses to saves for a rider.
As per TarodNet's post, A saddle would offer advantage and you could additionally wear barding to increase your AC but how you get that Barding off and what happens to it when you lose wildshape is bit more of a question there.
A saddle comes with a bit, a bridle, reins, and any other equipment needed to use the saddle. A Military Saddle gives Advantage on any ability check you make to remain mounted. An Exotic Saddle is required for riding an aquatic or a flying mount.
Sometimes, for example in medieval times, a warhorse was equipped with bridles and even armor (barding), designed both to control it and to protect it during combat (mechanically granting you Advantage in the game)
But the detail about the specific equipment, if I'm not mistaken, it's not written in the books (though we do have this image). That was really my question, because maybe I missed that information for this or other similar cases (e.g., Riding Horse).
If the rider is without a saddle, but proficient, and is not being whacked on in combat, I'd probably not ask for any special dex checks to stay on. I would very definitely do so if the rider were hit, and the dc would depend on the damage roll from the attack. Having stirrups is a big help when subjected to sideways forces - either due to an attack or the horse suddenly turning or spooking.
Galloping bareback is also fine - it's bucking or sharp unexpected turns that will get you.
As per TarodNet's post, A saddle would offer advantage and you could additionally wear barding to increase your AC but how you get that Barding off and what happens to it when you lose wildshape is bit more of a question there.
I'd have to disagree slightly. A Saddle does not offer advantage to the rider, that is the effect of a Military Saddle. Of course that means that having a saddle or not is the same thing ruleswise and that is somewhat disappointing really. All in all I'd say that the rules for riding (along with the rules for controlling a vehicle) are seriously under cooked.
In the 2024 ruleset all of these mechanics are pretty well explained in a combination of two places: Under "Playing the Game" there is a section on Mounted Combat. Also, under "Equipment" there is a section on Mounts and Vehicles.
When you Wild Shape into a Warhorse (a Large creature), you become an independent mount that can potentially carry an ally of size Medium or smaller.
an independent mount—one that lets you ride but ignores your control—retains its place in the Initiative order and moves and acts as it likes.
I'm thinking of it more in terms of utility. I would wild shape and pursue and enemy, with an ally on my back.
RAW, this could not be done all on the same turn since you and your ally would be in different places in the initiative order. So, you would Wild Shape on your turn. Then, on your ally's turn, they would mount the Warhorse which requires half of their movement:
During your move, you can mount a creature that is within 5 feet of you or dismount. Doing so costs an amount of movement equal to half your Speed (round down). For example, if your Speed is 30 feet, you spend 15 feet of movement to mount a horse.
Then, when your turn comes back around again, you could pursue an enemy with an ally on your back.
As for when a DM might ask for a check to remain mounted with or without a saddle, the rules say this:
If an effect is about to move your mount against its will while you’re on it, you must succeed on a DC 10 Dexterity saving throw or fall off, landing with the Prone condition (see the Rules Glossary) in an unoccupied space within 5 feet of the mount.
While mounted, you must make the same save if you’re knocked Prone or the mount is.
While not perfectly explicitly stated, it is implied by the rules for a saddle that the main function of a saddle is not to prevent the rider from falling off, but instead it is the equipment required to control a trained mount.
You can control a mount only if it has been trained to accept a rider . . . It moves on your turn as you direct it
A saddle comes with a bit, a bridle, reins, and any other equipment needed to use the saddle.
However, since you would be an independent mount in this scenario, the saddle would not be required.
The above would be the only functionality provided by the standard Riding Saddle. The more expensive saddles provide additional functionality -- the Military Saddle grants advantage to any check that might arise to remain mounted. The Exotic Saddle is required to ride an aquatic or flying mount.
It would be reasonable to rule that it would take more than an action in order to properly secure a saddle and other related equipment onto a Warhorse so this would not be something to do in the middle of combat.
To understand your combat capability as a Warhorse, you would need to check the Warhorse stat block. It provides the information about your new AC, HP, speed and the "Hooves" Melee Attack Roll action.
What is the rule for this wild shape? Can I have a rider with no problem, or do I not have tack, so the rider has to test constantly to see if they stay on, specially while I'm running?
You would not get any equipment from using your Wildshape, you need to add that in some other way.
So, a rider would need periotic DEX checks?
There are no specific rules in D&D for penalties for riding a mount without the proper gear. It would be up to the DM to decide whether to penalize that, and in what manner.
pronouns: he/she/they
I know there's a rule that says:
But where is the Warhorse's equipment listed?
If you wildshaped into a Mount, you'd be an independent mount and offer no bonuses to saves for a rider.
As per TarodNet's post, A saddle would offer advantage and you could additionally wear barding to increase your AC but how you get that Barding off and what happens to it when you lose wildshape is bit more of a question there.
The default assumption is that animals don't have equipment (presumably), so it's up to the DM to determine if they have saddles.
Sometimes, for example in medieval times, a warhorse was equipped with bridles and even armor (barding), designed both to control it and to protect it during combat (mechanically granting you Advantage in the game)
But the detail about the specific equipment, if I'm not mistaken, it's not written in the books (though we do have this image). That was really my question, because maybe I missed that information for this or other similar cases (e.g., Riding Horse).
If the rider is without a saddle, but proficient, and is not being whacked on in combat, I'd probably not ask for any special dex checks to stay on. I would very definitely do so if the rider were hit, and the dc would depend on the damage roll from the attack. Having stirrups is a big help when subjected to sideways forces - either due to an attack or the horse suddenly turning or spooking.
Galloping bareback is also fine - it's bucking or sharp unexpected turns that will get you.
Everyone in "proficient" in riding now, but yes, I would say there would be a check for bucking or a combat situation.
I'm thinking of it more in terms of utility. I would wild shape and pursue and enemy, with an ally on my back.
The rider would need to do the same checks that he would need to do while riding any other horse/rideable animal.
I'd have to disagree slightly. A Saddle does not offer advantage to the rider, that is the effect of a Military Saddle. Of course that means that having a saddle or not is the same thing ruleswise and that is somewhat disappointing really. All in all I'd say that the rules for riding (along with the rules for controlling a vehicle) are seriously under cooked.
In the 2024 ruleset all of these mechanics are pretty well explained in a combination of two places: Under "Playing the Game" there is a section on Mounted Combat. Also, under "Equipment" there is a section on Mounts and Vehicles.
When you Wild Shape into a Warhorse (a Large creature), you become an independent mount that can potentially carry an ally of size Medium or smaller.
As for this:
RAW, this could not be done all on the same turn since you and your ally would be in different places in the initiative order. So, you would Wild Shape on your turn. Then, on your ally's turn, they would mount the Warhorse which requires half of their movement:
Then, when your turn comes back around again, you could pursue an enemy with an ally on your back.
As for when a DM might ask for a check to remain mounted with or without a saddle, the rules say this:
While not perfectly explicitly stated, it is implied by the rules for a saddle that the main function of a saddle is not to prevent the rider from falling off, but instead it is the equipment required to control a trained mount.
However, since you would be an independent mount in this scenario, the saddle would not be required.
The above would be the only functionality provided by the standard Riding Saddle. The more expensive saddles provide additional functionality -- the Military Saddle grants advantage to any check that might arise to remain mounted. The Exotic Saddle is required to ride an aquatic or flying mount.
It would be reasonable to rule that it would take more than an action in order to properly secure a saddle and other related equipment onto a Warhorse so this would not be something to do in the middle of combat.
To understand your combat capability as a Warhorse, you would need to check the Warhorse stat block. It provides the information about your new AC, HP, speed and the "Hooves" Melee Attack Roll action.