I've pasted some combat logs with my horse in the two configurations, first with the "advance horse" trick, both mounted and unmounted; and second with just plain "let's go out and hunt something", both mounted and unmounted:

Some messaging with horse after "advance horse" trick:


You (nimbly balanced) are facing a faenrae reaver (1) at melee range.
A wind hound (1: nimbly balanced) is flanking you at melee range.
A wind hound (2: off balance) is behind you at melee range.
A gold-colored horse (1: solidly balanced) is behind a faenrae reaver (1) at missile range.
A faenrae reaver (1: nimbly balanced) is facing you at melee range.

(Notice horse is in combat assess)

MOUNTED

* A wind hound charges at you. You block with an emblazoned tower shield.
[You're nimbly balanced and in better position.]
>
A gold-colored horse turns to face a wind hound.
>
A faenrae reaver's body crackles with flickering blue energies, then fades away.
>
A wind hound sniffs around suspiciously.
>face hou
You turn to face a wind hound.

< Firmly seated and confident on your gold-colored horse, you sweep your war mallet squarely at a wind hound's right hand, hitting it with a light strike that drives into the right elbow from the rear and bends it the wrong way.
[You're incredibly balanced and overwhelming opponent.]
[Roundtime 4 sec.]
R>draw chest
< Firmly seated and confident on your gold-colored horse, you draw your war mallet at a wind hound's chest, hitting it with a sound strike that rips the top layer of skin from its chest and exposes underlying muscle.
The wind hound lets loose a scream like a howling blizzard and falls still.
[You're incredibly balanced]
[Roundtime 3 sec.]

(Notice while mounted, the horse does not actually fight the critters while I am mounted, but does face the critter and gets to missile range, never any closer, which I understand is the way it probably is supposed to work if he's flanking while I'm facing, but then he can't fight from that distance?)

UNMOUNTED:

A gold-colored horse begins to advance on a faenrae reaver.
R>feint
< Moving well, you feint a light war mallet with a pierced steel head at a faenrae reaver.

A faenrae reaver barely blocks with an oval shield. The mallet lands a grazing strike to
the reaver's chest.
[You're nimbly balanced and in good position.]
[Roundtime 1 sec.]
R>bash chest
* A faenrae reaver slices a battle axe at you. You dodge, just managing to get out of a
tight spot.
[You're nimbly balanced with no advantage.]
>
< Moving with grace, you bash a light war mallet with a pierced steel head at a faenrae
reaver. A faenrae reaver barely blocks with an oval shield. The mallet lands a good hit to the reaver's chest.
[You're incredibly balanced and in good position.]
[Roundtime 4 sec.]
R>
* A wind hound charges at you. You block with an emblazoned tower shield.
[You're nimbly balanced and in strong position.]
R>
The gold-colored horse closes to pole weapon range on a faenrae reaver.

>sweep
< With strength, you sweep a light war mallet with a pierced steel head at a faenrae reaver.

A faenrae reaver fails to parry with a battle axe. The mallet lands a solid hit to the
reaver's right arm.
[You're nimbly balanced and have slight advantage.]
[Roundtime 4 sec.]

R>draw chest
< Timing it well, you step backward and then bash at a faenrae reaver. A faenrae reaver
barely blocks with an oval shield. The mallet lands a light hit to the reaver's chest.
[You're incredibly balanced and in strong position.]
[Roundtime 3 sec.]
R>
* A faenrae reaver chops a battle axe at you. You dodge, bending aside easily.
[You're incredibly balanced and in good position.]
R>
* A wind hound charges at you. You block with an emblazoned tower shield.
[You're incredibly balanced and in dominating position.]
R>jab abdomen
>
< Timing it well, you jab a light war mallet with a pierced steel head at a faenrae reaver.

A faenrae reaver barely blocks with an oval shield. The mallet lands a glancing blow to the reaver's abdomen.
[You're nimbly balanced with opponent in better position.]
[Roundtime 3 sec.]

R>
The gold-colored horse closes to melee range on a faenrae reaver. (Takes him a long time to get to melee range)

R>
Attacking well, a gold-colored horse lashes out with its forefeet at a faenrae reaver. A
faenrae reaver barely blocks with an oval shield. The hoof lands an extremely heavy hit
that slices deeply into its left calf!

R>slice
< Moving strongly, you swing a light war mallet with a pierced steel head at a faenrae
reaver. A faenrae reaver barely blocks with an oval shield. The mallet lands a strong hit that connects solidly with the reaver's lower back.
[You're nimbly balanced with opponent in better position.]
[Roundtime 4 sec.]
R>
* A wind hound howls and leaps, growling deep in its chest at you. You evade, leaning to
one side with no room to spare.
[You're nimbly balanced and in better position.]

R>
Moving well, a gold-colored horse slashes with razor-edged hoofs at a faenrae reaver. A
faenrae reaver barely fails to block with oval shield. The hoof lands a very heavy hit that rips away half of its hip as its left femur is pulled from its socket!
A faenrae reaver giggles and falls to the ground with a hand clamped about its left leg!

(Moving slowly, the horse does get to melee range and fight the critter when I'm not mounted)


WITHOUT "ADVANCE HORSE" TRICK

You assess your combat situation...

You (nimbly balanced) are facing a rock troll (1) at melee range.
A rock troll (1: solidly balanced) is facing you at melee range.
A rock troll (2: solidly balanced) is flanking you at melee range.
(Notice the horse is not listed)

MOUNTED:

The rock troll closes to melee range on you!
>adv troll
A rock troll searches the area.
>
You are already at melee with a rock troll.
>feint
< A rock troll mostly parries your bastard sword, but you still manage a light hit to the
abdomen.
[You're nimbly balanced and in better position.]
[Roundtime 3 sec.]
R>draw
< A rock troll partially parries your bastard sword, but you still manage a good hit that
scratches the right bicep (But another battle scar for its collection!).
[You're nimbly balanced and in very strong position.]
[Roundtime 4 sec.]
R>
A rock troll begins growling a spell!
R>
Moving with grace, a gold-colored horse lashes out with its forefeet at a rock troll. A
rock troll beats off the hoof with a sharp pine sapling.
Moving well, a gold-colored horse rears up to its full height and lashes out with its
razor-edged hoofs at a rock troll. A rock troll knocks aside the hoof with a sharp pine
sapling.
(Notice the horse fighting and I'm mounted, although my combat messages do not indicate I'm fighting from a mounted position.)

R>sweep
< A rock troll partially parries your bastard sword, but you still manage a heavy hit that
shreds away skin and exposes the muscles of the abdomen.
[You're nimbly balanced and in very strong position.]
[Roundtime 6 sec.]
R>
Moving well, a gold-colored horse rears up to its full height and lashes out with its
razor-edged hoofs at a rock troll. A rock troll repulses the hoof with a sharp pine
sapling. Timing it well, a gold-colored horse lashes out with its forefeet at a rock troll. A rock troll deflects the hoof with a sharp pine sapling.
R>slice
< A rock troll partially parries your bastard sword, but you still manage an incredible hit
that rips half the spinal cord from the body with a slash to the back.

A rock troll collapses with a heavy thud.
[You're incredibly balanced]
[Roundtime 6 sec.]



UNMOUNTED

A rock troll begins to advance on you!
The rock troll is still a distance away from you and is closing steadily.
>
< Moving with powerful grace, you step backward and then slice at a rock troll. A rock
troll fends off little of the sword with a sharp pine sapling. The sword lands a strong hit that nicks the troll's left forearm.
[You're nimbly balanced and in strong position.]
[Roundtime 4 sec.]
R>
Moving with grace, a gold-colored horse snaps with wicked teeth at a rock troll. A rock
troll deflects the teeth with a sharp pine sapling.
R>sweep
A rock troll searches the area.
>
< Moving with powerful grace, you sweep a bastard sword at a rock troll. A rock troll
deflects little of the sword with a sharp pine sapling. The sword lands an extremely heavy
hit that tears a small cut on the back of the troll's right hand.
[You're incredibly balanced and in superior position.]
[Roundtime 6 sec.]
R>
The rock troll closes to pole weapon range on you!
R>
A rock troll begins growling a spell!
R>
Moving well, a gold-colored horse lashes out with its forefeet at a rock troll. A rock
troll counters the hoof with a sharp pine sapling.
R>slice
>
< With the speed and temerity of a swooping falcon, you slice a bastard sword at a rock
troll. A rock troll fails to dodge, taking the full blow. The sword lands an extremely
heavy hit that cuts the lumbar region just enough to bleed a little.
[You're nimbly balanced and in very strong position.]
[Roundtime 6 sec.]
R>
* A rock troll chops a sharp pine sapling at you. You beat off the sapling with a bastard
sword.
[You're nimbly balanced and in good position.]
R>
Moving well, a gold-colored horse lashes out with its forefeet at a rock troll. A rock
troll repulses the hoof with a sharp pine sapling.
R>chop
A gold-colored horse snaps with wicked teeth at a rock troll. A rock troll deflects the
teeth with a sharp pine sapling.
>
< Moving in gracefully, you chop a bastard sword at a rock troll. A rock troll repulses
little of the sword with a sharp pine sapling. The sword lands an awesome strike that
amputates the left arm and a good deal of the shoulder in a crippling blow.

A rock troll collapses with a heavy thud.
[You're incredibly balanced]
[Roundtime 6 sec.]




I've been discussing this with my friend who is not a paladin, and he does not understand why I am concerned since the horse obviously fights well both mounted and unmounted in the second configuration. But this is basically my problem and my question:

Is this the way it is supposed to work? In order to get the horse in assess combat I need to use the "advance horse" trick and then he does not fight while I'm mounted. If I don't use this trick, will it affect my bonding with the horse? Basically I'm asking if I'm doing something wrong or if this is the way all Paladins have experienced working with their horses, at least until they've bonded with the horse and the "signal charge" and then later "signal attack" is added to the menu.


Defender of the Faith Airoza and her faithful Companion and Warhorse Sir Maximus

Aethereal Lancer Rozaria and her faithful familiars Bob and Shat

Ruidin,
Thank you so much for replying to my horse questions! Sorry it took so long for me to see it, but nobody was responding, so I stopped checking very regularly.

Since I last posted, I have regularly been using the Mode B aspect, and I have discovered that the horse will combat while I'm mounted in Mode B after all, but only if he's already advancing on the critter. Since I can't yet mount in combat (hopefully to be remedied soon--I think I can get this ability at Circle 30 and I'm 29 now), if I'm not mounted I watch until my horse is advancing the critter while I am retreating to stay out of engagement. Once the horse has advanced to at least pole range, I mount him (as long as I have retreated and not engaged, I can mount). Then I will be able to battle the critter once we get to melee range, and the horse will be also battling the critter while I am mounted. But he will not battle the next critter until I again dismount, retreat and wait to mount when the horse is advancing the critter.

The horse seems to be learning battle very well now, and I regret there's not a lot of places to take him to fight with me at this point. I wish the GM's would take a look at the horse system with all these other changes, but it doesn't look like it's in the plans for this year anyway.

I've had to limit my use of my horse for the time being because my internet has been giving me trouble and disconnecting, only for a few seconds, but enough to throw me out of the game and then I must wait for my horse to reappear, only for my internet to throw me out again. Very frustrating and really unplayable, so hopefully my husband can figure out what the problem is soon.

Thanks again for your reply.


Defender of the Faith Airoza and her faithful Companion and Warhorse Sir Maximus

Aethereal Lancer Rozaria and her faithful familiars Bob and Shat

anther crazy think is one minute I am melee then the next it says I am not close enough, nothing dead and nothing has retreated

This while mounted
Face what?
FACE HELP for more information
At what are you trying to swing?
There is nothing else to face!
* A small peccary slices wide at you. You evade.
[You're solidly balanced and in better position.]
* A small peccary slices wide at you. You evade.
[You're solidly balanced and in excellent position.]
>ass
A gold-colored horse slashes with razor-edged hoofs at a small peccary.
You assess your combat situation...

A small peccary (1: off balance) is behind you at melee range.
A small peccary (2: very badly balanced) is flanking you at melee range.

What the?


Here is what happened when I tried to get the horse into the Ass combat
>fac horse
You face your horse.
>ass
You assess your combat situation...
You begin to advance on a gold-colored horse.
>ass
>
You (solidly balanced) are facing a gold-colored horse (1) at melee range.
A gold-colored horse (1: solidly balanced) is facing you at melee range.
A swamp troll (1: solidly balanced) is moving to flank you at pole weapon range.

retreat
You retreat from combat.
>n
You are already as far away as you can get!
>
[Gwenalion Fens]
(I leave room then I head back)

ass
You assess your combat situation...

You (solidly balanced) are facing a swamp troll (2) at pole weapon range.
A gold-colored horse (1: solidly balanced) is behind you at missile range.
A swamp troll (2: solidly balanced) is advancing on you at pole weapon range.

Ok I am still at missle with my horse (umm)

You close to melee range on a swamp troll.

You assess your combat situation...

You (solidly balanced) are facing a swamp troll (1) at melee range.
A swamp troll (1: nimbly balanced) is facing you at melee range.
A gold-colored horse (1: solidly balanced) is behind you at missile range.
A swamp troll (2: nimbly balanced) is flanking you at melee range.

You retreat from combat.
You leap up onto the gold-colored horse,

(ASS COMBAT while mounted)
You (nimbly balanced) are facing a swamp troll (1) at melee range.
A small peccary (1: nimbly balanced) is behind you at melee range.
A swamp troll (1: nimbly balanced) is facing you at melee range.
A gold-colored horse (1: solidly balanced) is behind you at missile range.
A swamp troll (2: nimbly balanced) is flanking you at melee range.

(UMM even though I am mounted on my horse you notice it is facing me at missile range!)

(Try this I think)
signal horse charge troll
>
You retreat back to pole range.
You retreat from combat.
signal horse charge troll
A swamp troll begins to advance on you!
The swamp troll is still a distance away from you and is closing steadily.
(UMM)
You can't do that right now.
(EER WHY NOT)
10 seconds later

You assess your combat situation...

You (solidly balanced) are facing a swamp troll (1) at pole weapon range.
A small peccary (1: solidly balanced) is moving to flank you at pole weapon range.
A gold-colored horse (1: solidly balanced) is behind you at melee range.
A swamp troll (1: nimbly balanced) is advancing on you at pole weapon range.

(now my horse is at melee with me!)

You retreat back to pole range.
You retreat from combat.
>signal horse charge troll
But you aren't in combat!
(LOL now this is stupid I am in combat!)
A small peccary begins to advance on you!
The small peccary is still a distance away from you and is closing steadily.
>
A swamp troll begins growling a spell!
>
A gold-colored horse charges at a swamp troll.
WHAT NOW THE HORSE CHARGES!
SO I ASS again

You assess your combat situation...

You (solidly balanced) are facing a swamp troll (1) at melee range.
A small peccary (1: solidly balanced) is moving behind you at missile range.
A small peccary (2: nimbly balanced) is moving to flank you at missile range.
A swamp troll (1: nimbly balanced) is facing you at missile range.

(NOW the horse is no longer in the Ass combat)

Kill the troll and then you get what I showed at the begining.

What a shambles! I have not idea what is going on here.

Wodie

>>>>(ASS COMBAT while mounted)

That whole post was one of the funnier ones I've read on here.

Yeah I find it funny too now!

Speaking with an other Paladin and he said he has the same problem, horse was fighting ok by his side, then he signals his horse to retreat, then the problems start, he is having the same problem I have, that is his horse is not longer fighting by his side but only when mounted.

I think this might be were the all the problems start!, "signal horse retreat"

I hope there is a god out there!

Wodie