Find Steed

[RulesJD]

Is there any guidance as to what AL allows to be summoned as a steed? So far the only thing I've seen at tables is the War Horse. But the spell specifically calls out for better mounts as the Paladin levels. Any guidance on good breaking points/mounts to ask for? Obviously Pegasus, Hippo, and Nightmare comes to mind depending on the level/alignment/etc.

 

[kalani]

With DM permission, you should be able to summon any mount-like beast from the PHB (appendix D) or the Monster Manual (Appendix A). Expect considerable table variation, as anything other than a riding horse/war horse requires DM permission.

It was clarified today by Greg Marks that characters with the Steeder Mount certificate can also summon Steeders with the Find Steed spell. Given the exclusive nature of certificates and the way this certificate is intended to be used - DM permission is not required in order to summon steeders in this way.

 

[Coredump]

It is completely DM discretion, but....

I think the spell itself indicates that it is meant to provide a steed, not a combat beast. So while I would agree on the beasts getting more powerful for higher level Paladins, (I believe) they should still be 'just a steed'.

One DM uses increased spell slots for increased CR.

2nd: CR 1/2 max
3rd: CR 1
4th: CR 2
5th: CR 4

Seems like a good system to me.

 

[RulesJD]

With DM permission, you should be able to summon any mount-like beast from the PHB (appendix D) or the Monster Manual (Appendix A). Expect considerable table variation, as anything other than a riding horse/war horse requires DM permission.

It was clarified today by Greg Marks that characters with the Steeder Mount certificate can also summon Steeders with the Find Steed spell. Given the exclusive nature of certificates and the way this certificate is intended to be used - DM permission is not required in order to summon steeders in this way.

Interesting. Was hoping Pegasus/Nightmare/Hippos would be available, but it looks like not. I'm guessing common choices can be, in theory:

1. Brown Bear
2. Dire Wolf
3. Elephant (wooo)
4. Giant Ape (wooooooooooooooooooooo exotic saddle time)
5. Giant Boar
6. Giant Eagle
7. Giant Crocodile
8. Giant Elk
9. Giant Hyena
10. Giant Lizard (even mentions being used as a pet)
11. Giant Owl (Flyby is pretty good)
12. Giant Spder
13. Lion
14. Mammoth
15. Phase Spider
16. Polar Bear
17. Rhinoceros
18. Winter Wolf

 

[kalani]

All of the above options would require DM permission. Steeder mounts and riding/war horses do not require such permission.

Caveat: Phase Spiders and Winter Wolves are monstrocities, not beasts. You could not choose these options as they are not a legal player option.

 

[Mithreinmaethor]

You may want to keep this in mind as well when dealing with your mount from Find Steed:

http://www.sageadvice.eu/2015/09/16/find-steed-steed-can-attack-on-your-turn/


https://twitter.com/JeremyECrawford/status/635938490274811905?s=09

The best thing to do is try not to cheese it up because the DM does not know any better. Just my personal opinion

**Edited to add 2nd Tweet about Find Steed NOT being an Independent Creature.

 

[RulesJD]

You may want to keep this in mind as well when dealing with your mount from Find Steed:

http://www.sageadvice.eu/2015/09/16/find-steed-steed-can-attack-on-your-turn/

The best thing to do is try not to cheese it up because the DM does not know any better. Just my personal opinion

I don't see why that matters? It's normal mount rules as an intelligent mount (which it is).

 

[Inconnunom]

I don't see why that matters? It's normal mount rules as an intelligent mount (which it is).

It matters because your giant ape mount gets two attacks at 3d10+6 each. Maybe you as a DM would allow it, but I wouldn't.

Caveat: Phase Spiders and Winter Wolves are monstrocities, not beasts. You could not choose these options as they are not a legal player option.

Unless there is a new AL guidance on the spell, the only requirement is that it is an animal, not that it has type beast.

"(Your DM mught allow other animals to be summoned as steeds.)"

I agree that winter wolves and phase spiders are not on the list of Official legal creatures, but Pegasi are.


Note, that I'm really hoping the DMs will do the right thing and not be enablers of poor game behavior. I have a Giant spider as a mount in the underdark (OOTA). For both for my character's personal backstory and the adventure's setting, the theme works well.

 

[kalani]

The rule I am referencing is an AL-Rule, specifically the following from the AL-FAQ

When a character casts a spell that summons or creates a creature, from which rules sources may the creature be selected?
The player whose character casts the spell may select an appropriate creature from the sources allowed by the Adventurer's League Player's Guide. If, and only if, no appropriate creature is available in those sources, the player may select an appropriate creature from the Dungeon Masters Basic Rules. In the rare instance in which there is no appropriate creature in those rules, either, the Dungeon Master may select an appropriate creature from the Monster Manual.

As I said above, this gives players the choice of a Beast from the Monster Manual (Appendix A), or a mount-like creature from the Player's Handbook (Appendix D).

As there is at least one creature you can summon from the above two sources, the DM Basic Rules is not even referenced (let alone other creatures in the Monster Manual). The only time that winter wolf or phase spider would be an option in AL, is if there were zero legal targets in either of the above sources.

You can find a complete list of AL-legal creatures stickied at the top of this forum. The list was created by me in response to the above FAQ, and was later used to create the following supplemental FAQ by one of the Admins, although a list for Find Steed was deliberately omitted from the list (as all non-horses require DM permission).

 

[Mithreinmaethor]

I don't see why that matters? It's normal mount rules as an intelligent mount (which it is).

It makes a HUGE difference.

Independent Creature - Attacks whether mounted or dismounted. Thus allowing the PC and its Mount to attack each turn.

Controlled Creature - Attacks only when dismounted if the DM determines it would do so normally.