Need a Horse

[Guyon]

I need some input in making a horse.

It will only be used while In hero form, give me faster speed naturally, and it appears only when I change.

[McCoy]

I need some input in making a horse.

It will only be used while In hero form, give me faster speed naturally, and it appears only when I change.
By "faster speed" do you mean extra running, or increasing the SPD characteristic?

Can the horse act independently? Is there an emotional bond where the hero would be protective of the horse? If so, build it as a follower.

If all the horse can do is get the hero from point A to point B more quickly, it is a Special Effect for extra running, perhapse with 0 END.

First question is "How will it be used in the game?"

[Guyon]

I just want the horse to give me a faster running speed, when in hero form. There is no attachment to it, nor can it fight.

But wouldn't villains target it too?


So just buy running and set it as a focus? I never thought of that. So is this good?

Horse: Running +4" (12" total) (8 Active Points); OIF Expendable (Difficult to obtain new Focus; -3/4), Only In Heroic Identity (-1/4)

[Sean Waters]

Summon Horse?

[McCoy]

I just want the horse to give me a faster running speed, when in hero form. There is no attachment to it, nor can it fight.

But wouldn't villains target it too?


So just buy running and set it as a focus? I never thought of that. So is this good?

Horse: Running +4" (12" total) (8 Active Points); OIF Expendable (Difficult to obtain new Focus; -3/4), Only In Heroic Identity (-1/4)
I'd allow it.

[Sean Waters]

Possibly with one recoverable charge: only when changing into Hero ID.

Ludicrously cheap, and even if the villains do target it and do for poor Neddie, you'll have a new one next time you change.

[Guyon]

Thanks!
But the idea of making the horse a follower is interesting too.


So I pay Followers base points/5to make one? Pluse any disadvantage points?

Will it come with the base stats that I can build on i.e. Strength 10?

[Sean Waters]

Summon works out about the same as follower in terms of basic cost, but it is slightly dodgy applying limitations to followers, but fine with summon and a follower, once targetted by MegaMonster's Nuclear Death Ray is gone until you go and find another one. Depends what you're after, really. :)

Summon probably involves less cleaning up too. :nonp:

[Guyon]

OK I will look in to summon

[Hugh Neilson]

Simplistically, +x" Running with Physical Manifestation would also do the trick. Perhaps with "costs END only to activate" on all running.

That gets bonus running, END-free movement and a physical manifestation (the summoned horse) which can be targeted and destroyed, forcing you to pay END to reactivate the running (ie call up another horse)

[Guyon]

These are all great thoughts!

...but if I decied to build one what disadvantages coudl it give it?
Psy: fear of snakes
Psy: Others may not ride
for example but what else?

[Silbeg]

One more possibility, though perhaps the hokiest of them all... you could buy the "horse" as a vehicle, especially if you are looking for more of the effect of a horse, than an actual steed.

Haven't thought about the actual implementation, but it is an idea.

All told, though, I think that "summon horse" would be the best (and simplest) way to handle it (and just use the correct type of horse from the Hero Bestiary). You would still need all of the normal skills for riding, but this would be a good way to do it.

I personally don't think follower would be correct for a steed.

[JmOz]

I just happen to have some stats on horses for you that I did a while ago

Here is the link

http://www.herogames.com/forums/showthread.php?p=534501#post534501

[Blue]

I've done this before as Flight with a Pegasus as a special effect (Lumina, a tatooed woman, touches her pegasus tatt and suddenly she's riding one), and in the case of a Charon-like boatman (who rowed down mainstreeet setting people on fire at a glance), his boat was flight, 1 hex area, with various other limitations.

[prestidigitator]

I think that both Follower and Summon could be good ways to go about it. Summon will allow you to call up another one if the first dies and won't require that you have your horse with you at inconvenient times (unless otherwise limited), but will cost End unless you buy an Advantage, and will be more expensive anyway if you want it to be loyal to you (which I advise if you want the thing to be effective).

Note, though, that if you use one of these options your horse WILL be an independent creature. It will not have your DCV, will not benefit from your powers unless they are Usable On/By Others, it will only be able to move in its Segments, etc. You also might need to have the Riding Skill to be effective with it (depending on the genre/flavor of the game). See the "Mounted Movement" section of 5ed.

[Sean Waters]

Running/physical manifestation may be the easiest way, but it depends: do you want the horse to do anything other than make you move faster? If you might, you probably need follower/summon.

[Dust Raven]

If all it does is make you move faster, Running with Physical Manifestation/Focus sounds best. Might also want to include a Only With Enoug Room -1/4 as horses tend not to fit though some interior spaces. When you turn the Power "off" the horse vanishes, and when you turn the Power "on" it appears with you atop it ready to go.

If you go with a Focus, there is no need to make it Expendable. Actually, it's best if you don't. Expendable means that when you are done using the Power, the Focus is gone and you have to go get a new one. That pretty much means you only have one horse and it dies after one ride. Focus might not be the best in an case if there is no horse when you are not riding it, as there would be no Focus to attack.

I would only suggest using Summon if you intent the horse to function without you on top of it or do things other than allow you to ride it (like carry you while you are unconscious, kick down doors, etc.).