Some questions on horses.

[Figouze]

We have tried a medieval version of strange aeons.  

So I have some rules questions with unused rules like horses.


Horse is used as an equipment but it could fight with kick.


Question 1 :
If I ride one, have I  to activate the horse as a character in order to fight with it or use as a close combat weapon ?

Question 2 :
If one character died in the 5'', does the horse have to check insanity even if it is ridden by the character  as a regular character ? Same thing with hideous, have I to check twice for the horse and for the rider ?

[Figouze]

I don't know if it is so easy or a hard question, anyone may help ?

[Ramirez Noname]

Hi Figouze

Just trying to think around your questions and here’s my thoughts, more as a “chip-in” rather than hard and fast rules.

Q1   I would have thought activating the rider would be enough and then use the horse as a piece of equipment (in game turns) to achieve a close combat attack. Maybe the horse could add two extra dice to your attacks (when rearing up) but would the rider need to make a “dex” check to stop from being thrown? and if the rider was holding a weapon would that also affect the dex. check?

Q2.   Is blood involved – would a horse rear (see notes above) from a “bloody” killing (which in medieval terms I assume would be the norm with handheld weapons) due to the smell of the blood? As for hideous... um. Do horses brains perceive hideous things as human brains?  may be “a sense of fear” to panic the horse?

Well, some ramblings to get the ball rolling ...

RMZ

[Uncle Mike]

Hey Figouze,

I haven't gone through those rules in a while...been busy working away on a couple more Black Dossier case files. I'll need to go over them, but will get back to you later with an 'official' statement.  See you soon...

[Uncle Mike]

O.K. Here we go. I'm assuming you have a copy of Shocking Tales#1, so as I go I'll quote page references.

1) The Animal Handler skill (P.9 ST#1) is required to ride a horse. Once you have that, and I quote, "Any 'nominated' model with this skill may in turn 'nominate' one animal assigned to them in their turn (as per the Lieutenant skill)." In Close Combat the Horse and Rider should be treated like Multiple Opponents (P.14 Main Rulebook).

2)Yup. You gotta check for the Horse and the Rider. Although, if you look at Ride (P.10 ST#1) it states, "For all other tests [except Shooting a Tommygun from horseback... ] while a Horse is being ridden, it will use the rider's Resolve as its own." So, potentially a bit of a bonus there...

Hope that helps. Also, it occurs to me that if you are playing a medieval version of the game I see the potential for a War Horse...I'll knock out some rules and see what happens...you as well, if the mood takes you.

[Uncle Mike]

Gone a bit off the deep end on this I'm afraid. Hope to release a PDF version of a medieval S.A. Got about ten pages of new stuff; warhorses, riding beasts, black knights, crossbows... so far!

Any ideas for a title? I'm thinking: Tera incognito or The Unknown Lands or Strange Aeons in Latin...whatever that may be...

All ideas welcome.

[jnr]

I look forward's to your medieval   PDF, I would like to play a Solomon Kane type character.

[Figouze]

We played from sometimes with medieval "house" rules.
In Cathar Crusade (or Albegiese crusades), as we played, the lord, as a character,  wears an heavy armor, a sword and has a horse for 7 points. (5+2 for armor).

We have checked rules for shield, sling, crossbows and so... (we have all expansion actually for comparison).

I appreciate your advices on how to play with horses.
In the games we played, we had some difficulties to play an horse as a character instead of an equipment.
After you horse has moved, your character didn't want to move also.
So, it seems for us that an horse is just a vehicule that could get hurt  and that may flee with fire.

The rider may fall when the horse is dead or when the horse fail a resolve test.
When the character riding an horse is in close combat with an hideous monster, it is hard to understand that two checks may be done.  If the horse has a success but not the rider, does the rider go down ?


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I can send you our rules by message if you want.

[Uncle Mike]

You have got me on that last question... ...I'll think on it and let you know. And, "Yes Please!" on those rules of yours. I'd love to see 'em!

[Figouze]

It is sent.

[Uncle Mike]

Thank you Sir! I am reading it now while enjoying a relaxing cup of stimulant liquid.