[3.5] Paladin Mounts

[MisterSaturnine]

So, I've searched all over the internet for this information, but still haven't really found an answer--how do you determine what mount a paladin can use? Is it based on HD or what? In the class ability entry, it just says that a paladin usually has a Warhorse or a Warpony and such, but seems to give no information pertaining to how to determine if you can use something else.

[AslanCross]

DMG Page 204 has general guidelines on what mounts may or may not be allowable. Ultimately this is subject to the DM, of course. I suggest either a Dire Wolf or Dire Lion. :D

Dire Wolf gets trip, the lion gets pounce.

[MisterSaturnine]

DMG Page 204 has general guidelines on what mounts may or may not be allowable. Ultimately this is subject to the DM, of course. I suggest either a Dire Wolf or Dire Lion. :D

Dire Wolf gets trip, the lion gets pounce.

Ah, thank you very much.

It's monstrous spider time.

[Renegade Paladin]

I tend to go with griffons, myself. Sure, you wait until 8th level, but they're stylin'.

[Tsotha-lanti]

For monsters not on the list, I suggest finding the closest equivalent in HD and CR that is on the list, and assigning the same level.

[sofawall]

But remember, like LA/CR, it may not be the same for you as for the enemy.

Unicorns come to mind as useful for the spell-likes.

[Sstoopidtallkid]

Awakened Horse Paladin, with a Human mount.

[Pharaoh's Fist]

Awakened Horse Paladin, with a Human mount.

Disclaimer: Not legal in most states of the Union...

[archon_huskie]

I usually have the Paladin's go a a spirit quest to achieve their mount. This is a not a rules thing, but something I do for roleplay. I give the player a description of traveling to a sacred place to enter a deep meditative state. Then the paladin recieves a vision, usually it is a conversation of sorts with their diety.

I'll ask the character a couple of question. "Do you value strength over speed (Heavy verses Light war horse)? Where's your ideal place to live (IF it is exotic, odd, or unusual then this opens the possibility of non-horsey mount and fits the campaign of course)? favorite color? (Color of the animal)?

[Serrae]

favorite color? (Color of the animal)?

Okay now I have a very monty python-esque image of a booming voice of *insert deity here* going

"Whaaaat is your favorite color?"

Some discretion comes into it, but usually anything CR 2 or below that can be sensible ridden (I think one of the books (MM?) talks about being both willing and able to be a mount). Theme it with the player though, a drow paladin might well drool over a gigantic spider, but an arachnophobic halfling might not be best pleased if their gods gifted them with the same mount.

I know it seems strange but also sometimes do just give out a standard warhorse, and maybe have a quest to change their mount later, non-standard mounts stop being non-standard if you give them out all the time.

Oh and I don't recommend giving out unicorns, apart form anything else they are always chaotic good, If I see unicorns I prefer to see them go as (temporary) mounts for druids/rangers/worshiper of a nature god and even then they aren't meant to leave their own forest without a very very good reason, make it more than a handle animal check

[Trodon]

"Whaaaat is your favorite color?"

"blue, no yell aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!" lol

anyway i like tigers myself wait untill level 7, but its a tiger

[Origomar]

If only i could ride a giant squirrel into battle, alas a scouting companian as ranger will have to do :(

[Babale]

But you CAN do that! Dire Squirrel, advanced to large size, and given the Warbeast template!

[Flickerdart]

You generally want something with mobility, like a Dire Eagle.

[Babale]

Or a dire squirrel. Can't underestimate those racial bonuses to climb checks.

And although the DC to climb on open air is infinity, if he rolls a natural twenty...

[TheThan]

Personally I think it depends greatly upon race.

Dwarf: griffin
Elf half/elf: giant eagle
Human: Pegasus
Orc, half/orc: Razor boar
Halfing: blink dog
Gnome: wolverine
Goblin: spider eater

Dragonborn: Pterosaur
Tiefling: nightmare

[archon_huskie]

In a game called Hackmaster, a friend of mine played a pixie fairy paladin with a regular Squirrel mount. . .

[Poil]

Dwarf: griffin

I object! Dwarves would ride things closer to the ground. Strong, stable and hairy creatures such as bears or mammoths.

[SSGoW]

a friend of mine had a giant kitty (yes kitten) that was large or huge but i dont suggest that .... about 100 kobolds killed >.>

[TheThan]

I object! Dwarves would ride things closer to the ground. Strong, stable and hairy creatures such as bears or mammoths.

I know, but I always like the idea of dwarves training griffins for patrolling the high mountain passes that go dangerously close to their mountain strongholds.

That and you know… warcraft.

[mistformsquirrl]

<^_^> I prefer Warhammer dwarfs.

Gyrocopters <^.^>

Though now that I think of it... <o.@> how would a Celestial Gyrocopter work. *think*

[Thurbane]

I object! Dwarves would ride things closer to the ground. Strong, stable and hairy creatures such as bears or mammoths.

I always think of Dwarves associated with Griffons as mounts - I think it's from playing Warlords on the PC.

[Callista]

I had a rogue/paladin with a Blink Dog mount. Yes, free instant flanking. Requires a Small rider, and a higher level; and the blink dog is intelligent, not a regular animal, so it has a mind of its own. The low HP requires that you get the dog some protection so it's never killed before you can dismiss it.

[Frosty]

What would a Centaur Paladin call down? It's not like they can mount another horse...

[MisterSaturnine]

What would a Centaur Paladin call down? It's not like they can mount another horse...

Well...when two centaurs love each other very, very much...

[Aneantir]

What would a Centaur Paladin call down? It's not like they can mount another horse...

The ideal male centaur paladin mount is, in fact, a female centaur. Don't tell me it's not legal, and don't even try to argue that he can't "mount that"...

[RTGoodman]

What would a Centaur Paladin call down? It's not like they can mount another horse...

He'd say screw a mount and take the Charging Smite ACF from PHB2.

[Mr.Moron]

Another thing to keep in mind is the way the progression works. Low-Availability mounts (like the standard horse) really miss out because they're weak to begin with and stop getting new stuff in the mid-levels. If you aim for something that becomes available ~10, you get the most bang for your class feature buck.

Oh, and be wary. The paladin mount feature does nothing to make animals proficient with barding. If you want to get armor for that puppy, I'd suggest applying the Warbeast template (MM2). It delays availability, but also gives some nice minor stat bonuses .. more importantly it lends proficiency with all types of armor.

I'll second a previous poster's suggestion for the Dire Lion, just for the sheer awesome. Though the lack of mobility might hurt if you're using the standard paladin class (the suggestions for flying mounts & the like are very good ones). If you're using Prestige Paladin, your faster casting progression should net a way around that in a timely manner.

[Frosty]

He'd say screw a mount and take the Charging Smite ACF from PHB2.

Hmm...so if a Centaur Paladin does Smiting Charge with a Spirited Charge Smite Evil against an evil target...

[Sstoopidtallkid]

What would a Centaur Paladin call down? It's not like they can mount another horse...

See my earlier post. If the mount must be unintelligent, they instead get a Baboon or similar that rides them, wields a Lance, and in general is just more dangerous.

He'd say screw a mount and take the Charging Smite ACF from PHB2.

But if he takes Charging Smite, he doesn't get a mount...