Advancing a Griffon Mount Question?

[Aluvial]

How do you advance a griffon mount for a paladin of 12th level?

What reuirements are needed to obtain the mount?



Here are the basic stats from the MM.

Griffon (Source: MM)
Large Beast

Hit Dice: 7d10+21 (59)
Initiative: +2 (Dex)
Speed: 30 ft., fly 80 ft. (average)
AC: 17 (-1 size, +2 Dex, +6 natural)
Attacks: Bite +8 melee, 2 claws +3 melee
Damage: Bite 2d6+4, claw 1d4+2
Face/Reach: 5 ft. by 10 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Pounce, rake 1d6+2
Special Qualities: Scent
Saves: Fort +8, Ref +7, Will +3
Abilities: Str 18, Dex 15, Con 16, Int 5, Wis 13, Cha 8
Skills: Jump +8, Listen +6, Spot +11*
Feats:

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Climate/Terrain: Temperate and warm hill and mountains
Organization: Solitary, pair, or pride (6-10)
Challenge Rating: 4
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 8-10 HD (Large); 11-21 HD (Huge)


Combat

Griffons prefer to pounce on their prey, either diving to the attack or leaping from above.

Pounce (Ex): If a griffon dives or leaps upon a foe during the first round of combat, it can make a full attack even if it has already taken a move action.

Rake (Ex): A griffon that pounces on an opponent can make two rake attacks (+8 melee) with its hind legs for 1d6+2 slashing damage each.

Skills: Griffons receive a +4 racial bonus to Jump checks. *They also receive a +4 racial bonus to Spot checks in daylight.

Training a Griffon

Training a griffon as an aerial mount requires a successful Handle Animal check (DC 21 for a young creature, or DC 28 for an adult) and that the creature be willing. Griffons mature in about two years. Trainers can reduce the DC by 5 and the rearing time by one-half by using a magic bridle enchanted for this purpose.

Griffon eggs are worth 3,500 gp apiece on the open market, while young are worth 7,000 gp each. Professional trainers charge 1,500 gp to rear or train a griffon. Riding a trained griffon requires an exotic saddle. A griffon can fight while carrying a rider, but the rider cannot also attack unless he or she succeeds at a Ride check.

Carrying Capacity: A light load for a griffon is up to 300 pounds; a medium load, 301-600 pounds; and a heavy load, 601-900 pounds.

Thanks for the help... I'm not sure if I have done it correctly and want to check here.

Aluvial

 

[AGGEMAM]

That is in the DotF, page 13.

The griffon is an 8th paladin level mount meaning that at 12th paladin level it will have advanced as a warhorse would have at 9th paladin level.

Was that clear enough ?

 

[Mr Fidgit]

How do you advance a griffon mount for a paladin of 12th level?

if you use the guidlines in Defenders of the Faith, a griffon for a 12th level (aquired no earlier than 8th level) would add:

+4 HD

+6 natural armor

+2 Strength

Int 7

and would have improved evasion, share spells, empathic link, and share saving throws

 

[Chun-tzu]

See if you can get a Celestial Griffon instead. You'd have to wait an extra level, due to its higher CR, but it advances as a magical beast. That means Fighter's BAB and extra feats, compared to a beast's advancement.

 

[Aluvial]

See if you can get a Celestial Griffon instead. You'd have to wait an extra level, due to its higher CR, but it advances as a magical beast. That means Fighter's BAB and extra feats, compared to a beast's advancement.

What level Paladin for this? 13 or 10?

Aluvial

 

[AGGEMAM]

What level Paladin for this? 13 or 10?

Actually a Celestrial Griffon is to high ECL to gain normally, you'd have to gain it as a co-hort, just as a dragon mount, that means by using the leadership feat.

 

[Chun-tzu]

A Celestial Griffon is ECL 9, which is off the chart in DotF. But you can easily extrapolate.

I'd use Paladin levels 9-11 for the first tier, 12-14 for second, 15-18 for third, and 19-20 for the highest level of mount advancement.

I'm not sure I'd require the Leadership feat to get the mount, but that's perfectly reasonable.