I want to ride a rust monster

[Dr.Epic]

The title pretty much says it all. There are just two issues I need to overcome and I can probably do them simultaneously: controlling the beast so it doesn't eat my metal and having it gain more HD and a higher BAB. I figure my best bet would be something like animal compainion or holy mount but I don't think the apply to abberations. Any suggestions?

[magic9mushroom]

The title pretty much says it all. There are just two issues I need to overcome and I can probably do them simultaneously: controlling the beast so it doesn't eat my metal and having it gain more HD and a higher BAB. I figure my best bet would be something like animal compainion or holy mount but I don't think the apply to abberations. Any suggestions?

Charm Monster?

[pffh]

Why not go all the way and ride a rust dragon because everything is better with dragons in it.

[magic9mushroom]

Why not go all the way and ride a rust dragon because everything is better with dragons in it.

Could you get that with Draconic Cohort?

[Jon_Dahl]

Warbeast template, it doesn't matter if it's aberration...

[Ravens_cry]

If you're the DM, just do it. BUT, unless they are a bunch of vow of poverty druids, they will hate, and I mean hate, you with an unquenchable fire that will threaten to ignite the world with their rage and fury. Dice shalll be thrown, books smote, blood spilled. The cries shall reach the heavens, and the earth shall quake with their outburst.
If you're a player, ditto.

[Superglucose]

It's easy enough, just get an epic handle animal check! The DC is only 65.

EDIT: Does anyone else find that the epic use of Handle Animal is pretty lackluster? I mean I know the epic rules have problems, but Diplomacy has things like "Take your worst enemy and turn him into your own devoted fanatical worshipper", sense motive has "read his mind through looking at his eyes", and Handle Animal gets...

"You can train animal-like creatures."

I mean why should it be so difficult to rear a Pegasus? They have int 10! They should be easier to train! </rant>

Oh one more thing: the vermin checks are ridiculous. I've seen regular people train rats before... and according to the SRD that's a dc 36 "handle animal" check. I guess my friends are level thirty three, eh?

[pffh]

Could you get that with Draconic Cohort?

I'm AFB but I don't see why not.

[Ravens_cry]

It's easy enough, just get an epic handle animal check! The DC is only 65.

EDIT: Does anyone else find that the epic use of Handle Animal is pretty lackluster? I mean I know the epic rules have problems, but Diplomacy has things like "Take your worst enemy and turn him into your own devoted fanatical worshipper", sense motive has "read his mind through looking at his eyes", and Handle Animal gets...

"You can train animal-like creatures."

I mean why should it be so difficult to rear a Pegasus? They have int 10! They should be easier to train! </rant>

Because you're not training the Pegasus as much as convincing it. "Yeah, why should I carry you? That saddle is heavy enough and it itches." You're using a tool for an unsuitable purpose and while it sort of works, it's a lot harder.

[Rainbownaga]

Oh one more thing: the vermin checks are ridiculous. I've seen regular people train rats before... and according to the SRD that's a dc 36 "handle animal" check. I guess my friends are level thirty three, eh?

Don't let the weird terminology fool you: the d&d term vermin refers to arthropods, and doesn't include rats. Teaching a rat a simple trick is only a dc 15; a trained, mildly charismatic level 1 could even take 10.



Back on topic, make sure to be especially careful with the saddle design: rust monsters have corrosive skin, so if it's not big enough your armor or weapon could accidentally touch the skin and rust. Also, I know it doesn't have to be said, but avoid metal buckles or clasps.

[Steelblood]

Warbeast template, it doesn't matter if it's aberration...

I thought it says that it has to be Animal type.

[Cicciograna]

Rules for riding a Rust Monster, or in particular to domesticate and train one, are in Arms & Equipment Guide, page 86.

Besides, I love Rust Monsters.

[bosssmiley]

The title pretty much says it all. There are just two issues I need to overcome and I can probably do them simultaneously: controlling the beast so it doesn't eat my metal and having it gain more HD and a higher BAB. I figure my best bet would be something like animal companion or holy mount but I don't think the apply to aberrations. Any suggestions?

Advanced Rustie. Switch to Rust Dragon later.

Handle Animal. (the DCs are comically easy)

[hewhosaysfish]

Back on topic, make sure to be especially careful with the saddle design: rust monsters have corrosive skin, so if it's not big enough your armor or weapon could accidentally touch the skin and rust. Also, I know it doesn't have to be said, but avoid metal buckles or clasps.

IIRC, Races of Stone has rules for some sort of dwarven armour made of stone, XPH has crytal as a material and Arms and Equipment guide has weird sorts of armour like wood, coral, chitin or interplanar clay.

[Optimystik]

Oh one more thing: the vermin checks are ridiculous. I've seen regular people train rats before... and according to the SRD that's a dc 36 "handle animal" check. I guess my friends are level thirty three, eh?

Oddly enough, rats are not vermin. That DC refers to training things like spiders and beetles.

[Person_Man]

Amulet of Aberrant Empathy: You can use a Handle Animal check in place of a Diplomacy check to influence the attitude of aberrations with low Int. Comp Adventurer pg 132. And you're set.

[Dr.Epic]

Okay, you've all given me great tips on how to ride one, but I want to increase it's toughness. At higher levels a rust monster with its low HP could get killed in one round. I want to beef it up. I like the warbeast idea but I'll have to check to see if it affects abberations.

Also, what book is rust dragon in?

[Beowulf DW]

I'd recommend a Tetanus shot.

[pffh]

Okay, you've all given me great tips on how to ride one, but I want to increase it's toughness. At higher levels a rust monster with its low HP could get killed in one round. I want to beef it up. I like the warbeast idea but I'll have to check to see if it affects abberations.

Also, what book is rust dragon in?

Dragonomicon I think, dragon cohort is also in it.
Just be careful or you might turn your party into iconic dragon nom.

[rayne_dragon]

Two words: Dwemoer Devourer

Although now that I check, I can't find it in my 3.X books, so it might be 4e only... still, it's possible you could convert it over.

[aivanther]

Needed for you and whole party: everbright on all your metal weapons and blueshine on all your metal armor and shields. Those can be found in the Magic Item Compendium.

Incidentally, your DM will probably start doing that to.

[faceroll]

Because you're not training the Pegasus as much as convincing it. "Yeah, why should I carry you? That saddle is heavy enough and it itches." You're using a tool for an unsuitable purpose and while it sort of works, it's a lot harder.

You treat it like any other slave- failure to submit means it gets whipped.

Don't let the weird terminology fool you: the d&d term vermin refers to arthropods, and doesn't include rats.

Oddly enough, rats are not vermin. That DC refers to training things like spiders and beetles.

That one always throws me, but if you look at the root of vermin, it's latin for "worm" (vermis), so it sort of makes sense that vermin refer to invertebrates, which certainly share more characteristics with each other (in an Aritotelian way) than with our broader definition of vermin.

[LichPrinceAlim]

I second Rust Dragon and say take levels in Paly (I prepare for the tomatoes...) and take Dragon Mount (Ready....FIRE!!!!)

[Ravens_cry]

You treat it like any other slave- failure to submit means it gets whipped.
.

Wow. That's a real bright idea. One, it can fly. The reason you want it is because you can't fly. Two, it's intelligent enough to escape. Three, it's quite often chaotic good, which means it will severally resent, to put it mildly, mistreatment. Finally, once your in the air, it has you at its mercy. If it finds your treatment intolerable, it can make you a crater if it wants. You'll fail that ride check eventually.

[hamishspence]

Yup- in the later Drizzt books the orcs try and enslave a pegasus.

Eventually the orc king figures it's a waste of time and hands it to his frost giant ally as a gift.

[PlzBreakMyCmpAn]

Wow. That's a real bright idea. One, it can fly. The reason you want it is because you can't fly. Two, it's intelligent enough to escape. Three, it's quite often chaotic good, which means it will severally resent, to put it mildly, mistreatment. Finally, once your in the air, it has you at its mercy. If it finds your treatment intolerable, it can make you a crater if it wants. You'll fail that ride check eventually.

Don't whip the pretty horsey!

[Ravens_cry]

Yup- in the later Drizzt books the orcs try and enslave a pegasus.

Eventually the orc king figures it's a waste of time and hands it to his frost giant ally as a gift.

So the white horse was basically a white elephant.
Fascinating.

[faceroll]

Wow. That's a real bright idea. One, it can fly. The reason you want it is because you can't fly. Two, it's intelligent enough to escape. Three, it's quite often chaotic good, which means it will severally resent, to put it mildly, mistreatment. Finally, once your in the air, it has you at its mercy. If it finds your treatment intolerable, it can make you a crater if it wants. You'll fail that ride check eventually.

You overestimate the capabilities of a properly broken slave.

[Triaxx]

It wasn't ridden, just kept in a cage, like we keep birds.

Rust monster: I'd make a note to wear leather pants. Else it might get a little embarrassing. Or hilarious.

[faceroll]

It wasn't ridden, just kept in a cage, like we keep birds.

Rust monster: I'd make a note to wear leather pants. Else it might get a little embarrassing. Or hilarious.

Wait; you normally wear metal pants?