The Mounted Mage

When we imagine mounted warriors in our fantasy games, they are most often in the vein of glorious knights, deadly horse archers, or even cavalry skirmishers whose scimitars flick out and claim heads before reprisals can come their way. However, we rarely think of these characters as spellcasters... but the ability to move rapidly across the battlefield, slinging spells and sowing chaos can be a unique addition to nearly any party.

And that's how you end up with a Mounted Mage.

For those who enjoy this concept, consider checking out the Crunch section on my gaming blog Improved Initiative, as well as the rest of my Vocal archive!

The Benefits (And Challenges) of Mounted Magecraft

Being on a mount offers the rider a lot of benefits which can be particularly important for a spellcaster. Primarily, of course, is the sheer movement speed that a mount provides you. This is particularly true for small-sized characters, who can often be run down in rather short order. Additionally, having a mount can provide you with another target for enemies to attack, as well as a friend that can run you out of combat if you get knocked out, and you're still in the saddle.

There are, of course, challenges with mounted magic. First is that you have to make Concentration checks to cast from a moving conveyance, and that is something that can be challenging at low levels. There's also the danger to your mount, because having it slain out from under you can be a serious issue. Lastly, though, is action economy. Combining spell attacks with mounted combat can be tough if you aren't using the right feats and abilities to really make it work for you.

So, while it can be done, and it can be potent, it's important to make sure all your ducks are in a row.

Suggested Feats

There's a lot of feats that can go into this character setup, and which ones you need will vary depending on the type of combat you most want to focus on.

Beginning at the beginning, though, you're going to want to take Combat Casting and Uncanny Concentration, which will allow you to cast from the back of a mount (or even from the deck of a heaving ship) without issue. And if you just want to focus on being able to move about the battlefield on the back of a mount, these two will basically be your bread and butter. Mounted Combat is also a good feat to have just to keep your mount out of harm's way while you're riding about the battlefield.

If you're planning on delivering touch spells as part of your combat strategy, you're going to want to consider Ride-By-Attack, and Wheeling Charge. This allows you to target an enemy, hit them with a weapon or a touch attack, and then to keep on going past them. Wheeling Charge allows you to turn once, up to 90 degrees, during your charge, and you can move through your allies' spaces. These abilities only work on a charge, however, so to really get the most out of them you'll need a spell-storing item, the ability to cast quickened spells, or to cast a spell, hold that spell, and then deliver it on the following turn.

If you want to deliver your spells through a lance (either through the Spellstrike class feature or a particular weapon enchantment), you may also want to think about Spirited Charge in order to add a little extra damage to your combat.

Classes and Mounts

If you're planning on riding a creature into battle to carry you while you cast spells, you're going to need something that grows with you and gains in power. Because while regular horses, ponies, and dogs may serve well enough at lower levels, they won't survive combat even past the early levels of the game.

Classes that gain animal companions are one of the best choices for this. Druids are the obvious choice, but Nature clerics, Chivalry Inquisitors, as well as characters who take the Nature Soul and Animal Ally feats (along with Boon Companion) can also gain animal companions that can act as mounts that advance in level with you.

Small-sized characters who gain a familiar may be able to ride them if they take a Mauler archetype, as this allows the familiar to become Medium-sized a certain number of times per day. This could be used as a strategy for wizards, sorcerers, magi, and others who have the ability to acquire a familiar.

If none of those options gel with your character style, though, there is the Leadership feat, as well as Monstrous Companion, which can expand the options you have available to you when it comes to your mount. It may take several levels, but it may be worth it.

What makes this strategy useful is that in addition to your animal companions, familiars, etc. growing with you in power level, you can often share spells and effects with them that would normally only be available to use on yourself. Some creatures may be able to fly, giving you even greater mobility to keep yourself out of reach of the enemy while you sling spells toward your enemies, and dive down to aid your allies. This can be particularly useful if you can cast a spell, and then ride your familiar over to an ally, allowing your familiar to deliver that spell by head-butting that ally to give them healing, proper protection, etc.

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