Your DM is a dick. - Edit 1
Before modification by Kotagg at 16/06/2010 02:09:06 AM
So I have two questions:
1) Has anyone tried this in a game?
2) How was it handled?
I think if I had been running the game I'd have allowed it. I'd treat the leap from the window as a charge and any attempt to stay on the creature would have been dex based (balance or ride with super secret DM modifiers). In the second scenario, a strength check would be needed to hold onto the axe handle while it flings you about trying to remove you from its back.
1) Has anyone tried this in a game?
2) How was it handled?
I think if I had been running the game I'd have allowed it. I'd treat the leap from the window as a charge and any attempt to stay on the creature would have been dex based (balance or ride with super secret DM modifiers). In the second scenario, a strength check would be needed to hold onto the axe handle while it flings you about trying to remove you from its back.
There's absolutely no reason not to allow it. First of all it's awesome and it's about having fun, and second of all there's no reason that through physics you couldn't do it.
We've done all manner of similar things in our games. And based upon the rules, it's entirely legit. Here's how it would be handled in 3.5 and Pathfinder (I don't play 4th Edition as it is terrible):
If you chose to attack axe-first, it would be treated as a charge attack for purposes of attacking. You and the beast would both take damage from the impact, based upon the damage tables for falling damage and falling objects. At that point I would make it a Strength check to hold onto the handle, likely at DC 20. For further rounds, I would require a Ride or Balance (Acrobatics) check of DC 20 to stay on the creature's back. It is huge, after all, and bucking around once it realizes you're there.
If you chose to not attack but simply jump onto the creature, again you would both take applicable impact damage. At that point I would have you make a DC 15 Ride or Acrocatics check per round since you have all hands open and usable. From that point you could also make Climb checks to get closer to the creature's head if need be.
The key here that your DM needs to learn is that the rules exist to make the story happen. The story does not exist so that rules can be employed.