Falling from a horse and other things...

[Bombadil]

Hi there!

I've been playing M&B full game for two weeks (after a week with the demo) or so and I love it.

But there are things that annoy me a little bit.

When I'm riding my horse at full speed, with the adrenaline filling my veins, screaming "DIE YOU FILTHY SCUM!!!". And one of them takes his/her heavy bardiche and slays my ultrafast horse. Then I hit the floor (eat it will be more likely).
Why don't I take damage?

When I'm riding my horse and I'm shooting some arrows to the bad guys and then, I have one of them behind me, I turn around to shoot it, I aim, and then... BUMP! My horse has collided with a tree or whatever,
Why don't I fall from the horse?
This applies too to recieving a blow while riding, especially with lances and that kind of weapons.
I think there should be some kind of roll that determines (using your riding hability and the "horse difficulty") if you fall when you get hit or your horse stops dead.

That brings another thing. How can a horse stop dead? Specially when it's riding at full speed. It should take damage too.

Of course, all this things aply to NPC, too.

 

[Poil]

My horse has collided with a tree or whatever,
Why don't I fall from the horse?

Seat... saddlebelt?

 

[Bombadil]

My horse has collided with a tree or whatever,
Why don't I fall from the horse?

Seat... saddlebelt?

That can help, but if you recieve a big impact crashing or being hit by someone (like they're suggesting here) you should fall (or fly).

EDIT: Thinking a little bit more about it, if people are wearing those cool things that prevent you from falling, even if you are hit or crash, why do they fall even if they are slain with their horse stopped?

 

[Volkier]

Answer the first question would be because you jump off when you feel your horse about to collapse :

As for question two - in reality your horses would not run into a tree, they would navigate around it. That is why mounted police is still used in some situations, rather than motorbikes, since horses can navigate by themselves, while riders can concentrate on other things. I agree however, that horses are currently too 'lifeless' and act as 'vehicles' without a soul, however an 'thinking' horse would be a tad difficult to code in, (me thinks) and very few people would actually appreciate that.

As for your horse rearing when hit with a lance, it is not that difficult to keep your seat since the horse is rearing to defend itself, and not to throw you off, therefore the momentun will carry the rider towards the withers of the horse, rather than over the top. (Obviously if the horse starts bucking and then rears, thats a different story)

As for stopping dead, it is not really possible. Horses can 'brake' very efficiently, but not just 'stop' as is currently occuring in game. I agree its unrealistic etc. but horses in M&B are far from realistic, and function as a vehicle (although I personally would love to see horses more alive - I admit thats the main reason I play the game, however most people draw different priorities in their mind for why the play the game, and hence the suggestions on what should be improved :)

Lastly please take into account that horses in M&B do not move in a flat out gallop. The current max speed of horses in M&B is pretty normal canter.