Improved Horses Rules

Expanding how to handle horses in your games

5th Editions take on horses is very weak in my opinion. The massive difference from the smallest of ponies to the largest of Clydesdales is enough to warrant more than simply 4 different options in the Player's Handbook. This is my attempt at deepening the purchasing and stats of horses.

I will be using some additional stats to make more unique mounts. These stats will be Speed - which adds or subtracts modifiers to the horses speed and rolls to control the horse; Stamina - which modifies the horses ability to continue travelling and how long they can move at full speed; and Fortitude - which modifies the horses carry weight and how well they can handle hauling large loads without suffering adverse effects. There is an optional stat of Nature (Proud, Wild, Friendly, Stubborn) that you may use if wish. I will be describing this stat later as it is for a Bond stat which will be used to determine how loyal your mount will be to you and is the only stat that can change easily.

Measuring these stats from 1 to 10, 1 being very sickly to 10 being a horse of legendary prowess. The most average of horses will have a 5 in all stats and their stats will be identical to the Riding Horse stat block. There are three classifications of horses in this Homebrew; Riding Horses, Racing Horses, and Heavy Horses. Rolling for a horses stats adds a depth to these stats and means each mount is more unique and can lead to some interesting stats.

Riding Horse Base Stats (avg. 75gp)

Stat Average Unique Stats Speed 6 roll 1d8 + 1 Stamina 5 roll 1d6 + 2 Fortitude 4 roll 1d6

Racing Horse Base Stats (avg. 150gp)

Stat Average Unique Stats Speed 7 roll 1d8 + 2 Stamina 6 roll 1d6 + 3 Fortitude 3 roll 1d6

Heavy Horse Base Stats (avg. 400gp)

Stat Average Unique Stats Speed 4 roll 1d4 + 2 Stamina 5 roll 1d6 + 2 Fortitude 8 roll 1d6 + 4

Superior Horse Base Stats (avg. 1200gp)

Stat Average Unique Stats Speed 7 roll 1d6 + 4 (min 6) Stamina 7 roll 1d6 + 4 (min 6) Fortitude 7 roll 1d6 + 4 (min 6)

(^^ = Same Bonus as above)

Explaining Stats

These stats are used to slightly change the stat blocks for each type of horse. As stated above, the average for each stat is 5 and 5s mean that the stat block is unchanged from the stat blocks from below. Each increase or decrease will effect each associated stat incrementally to make for a more unique and customizable approach to mounts.

Speed Stat Changes

Score Movt Speed Bonuses 1 40 -3 to Dex, DisAd. on Athletics 2 45 -2 to Dex 3 50 -2 to Dex 4 55 -1 to Dex 5 60 +0 to Dex 6 60 +1 to Dex 7 65 +2 to Dex 8 65 +3 to Dex 9 70 +4 to Dex, Prof. on Acrobatics 10 70 +5 to Dex, Prof. on Acrobatics

Stamina Stat Changes

Score Bonuses 1 -1 to Dex, Fast Pace for 4 hours 2 Fast Pace for 4 hours 3 Fast Pace for 5 hours 4 Fast Pace for 5 hours 5 Fast Pace for 6 hours 6 Fast Pace for 7 hours 7 Fast Pace for 7 hours 8 Fast Pace for 8 hours, Adv. against Exhaustion 9 Fast Pace for 9 hours, ^^, +2 to Con 10 ^^, ^^, +2 to Con

Fortitude Stat Changes