Best Paladin Mounts and uses thereof: Let's Break it Down

[Wolfwood2]

At the moment my Age of Worms paladin is still a lowly level 3, but I want to make sure I understand all the best ways to use a paladin's mount at higher levels.

Let's first make sure I understand how the mounted feats work together.

1. Ride-by Attack is a modification of the charge action, and works with all effects that enhance charge (like a lance doing double-damage or the spell Rhino's Rush), correct?

2. Spirited Charged is a feat that enhances the effect of a mounted charge rather than its own action and so works with both Ride-by Attack, Rhino's Rush, and all other charge enhancing effects, correct?

3. Both Ride-by Attack and Spirited Charge work when riding a flying mount, there being nothing in the text limiting it to land movement, correct? (Although it seems a flying mount would require the wing-over feat to do a ride-by attack two rounds in a row.)

4. Do you still gain the +2 to-hit when using Ride-by Attack, even though the attack is not taking place at the end of the charge?

Okay, on to the mounts themselves.

1. Is there any guidance as to how a paladin might 'switch out' his mount for a more powerful mount as the character gains levels? When reaching 8th level for example, can a player simply declare, "I want my mount to be a griffon now"?

The core rules appear silent on this issue. On the one hand, the SRD states, "The mount is the same creature each time it is summoned, though the paladin may release a particular mount from service."

Rules are given in case of the mount's death, "Should the paladin’s mount die, it immediately disappears, leaving behind any equipment it was carrying. The paladin may not summon another mount for thirty days or until she gains a paladin level, whichever comes first, even if the mount is somehow returned from the dead. During this thirty-day period, the paladin takes a –1 penalty on attack and weapon damage rolls."

However, if these rules were meant to be used in case of dismissal as well as death you would think it would say so. The entry on Familiars does, saying, "If the familiar dies or is dismissed by the sorcerer, the sorcerer must-"

Has this ever been explored in any supplements?

Finally, I'm wondering if anybody has thoughts on the best paladin mounts at any given level. It seems to me that the benefits of a flying mount are great enough that a paladin should acquire one as soon as possible, barring an all-Underdark campaign or something.

However, how does a griffon stack up against a pegasus stack up against the other possibilties listed in the DMG? (I don't have my DMG on me at the moment.)

 

[Klaus]

Ride-by-Attack is not a charge. The feat allows you to make an attack during any part of a move action.

If you charge, you must stop when you hit the opponent.

 

[Diirk]

Ride-by-Attack is not a charge. The feat allows you to make an attack during any part of a move action.

If you charge, you must stop when you hit the opponent.

Benefit: When you are mounted and use the charge action, you may move and attack as if with a standard charge and then move again (continuing the straight line of the charge). Your total movement for the round can’t exceed double your mounted speed. You and your mount do not provoke an attack of opportunity from the opponent that you attack.

 

[borc killer]

At the moment my Age of Worms paladin is still a lowly level 3, but I want to make sure I understand all the best ways to use a paladin's mount at higher levels.

If you want my 2cp:

Spoiler

You will get very little use from your mount in the AoW unless you DM modifies it for you. You would be much better off taking feats that increase you Smite abilities. Unless you are a Halfling/gnome paladin… then it could work.

 

[Wolfwood2]

If you want my 2cp:

Spoiler

You will get very little use from your mount in the AoW unless you DM modifies it for you. You would be much better off taking feats that increase you Smite abilities. Unless you are a Halfling/gnome paladin… then it could work.

Can you explain to me why a Medium size mount works when a Large mount won't? Is space really that cramped? We're finished with the Whispering Cairn and on to the Ebon Triad. Admittedly those Wind Duke elevators would have caused a problem, but otherwise it looks good so far and I can't think that single person elevators are going to come up too often.

If I were playing a Large size PC, would that PC also be useless?

Or is it more that a mount is fine, but there's just not going to be a lot of room for mounted ride-bys and such, with most encounters occuring at Close spell range or equivalent? But if that's the case, why would a gnome/halfing medium mount be any better? They still need room to use the mounted feats too.

 

[Wolfwood2]

Ride-by-Attack is not a charge. The feat allows you to make an attack during any part of a move action.

If you charge, you must stop when you hit the opponent.

Is this the general consensus of the boards?

As Diirk quoted, the feat specifically says you must be using the Charge Action for it to work. Also, you are not limited to a single move's worth of movement, but may travel up to double your standard movement, just as with a regular charge. It differs greatly from Fly-By attack and Spring Attack, both of which work as you describe.

 

[DreadArchon]

1. Ride-by Attack is a modification of the charge action, and works with all effects that enhance charge (like a lance doing double-damage or the spell Rhino's Rush), correct?

Well, technically, if you listen to the official FAQ, Ride-By Attack got errated from "This feat lets you charge and then move" to "This feat does absolutely nothing." (Seriously.) Not a problem if you're a DM, but you might wish to be aware of that.

(I don't have much to contribute to this thread though--I let the Paladin in my campaign trade his mount for feathered wings that work like Dragon Disciple or Animal Lord wings, so I don't have much experience with Paladin mounts.)

 

[Erywin]

When you are mounted and use the charge action, you may move and attack as if with a standard charge and then move again (continuing the straight line of the charge). Your total movement for the round can’t exceed double your mounted speed. You and your mount do not provoke an attack of opportunity from the opponent that you attack.

I would say that you get all the benefits and penalties of the charge action. +2 to attack, -2 AC, must charge in a straight line, etc.

Re: AoW, generally its MUCH easier to get a medium sized mount inside dungeons and places than it is to try and take a medium sized one... Ever seen a horse try and fit thru a normal sized doorway? Just ain't going to happen.

Cheers,
E

PS. sorry don't have the search function maybe another ENner could search and see if it has been debated before

 

[Diirk]

Is this the general consensus of the boards?

As Diirk quoted, the feat specifically says you must be using the Charge Action for it to work. Also, you are not limited to a single move's worth of movement, but may travel up to double your standard movement, just as with a regular charge. It differs greatly from Fly-By attack and Spring Attack, both of which work as you describe.

Well actually, fly by attack is different again; it allows you to take a standard action at any point during a move, but doesn't prevent AoOs. And yes, ride by attack is a continuation of a charge, and while the official FAQ greatly limits the circumstances it can be used it doesn't actually stop it working.

eg.

            A
B          x

B can use ride by attack to charge A. The closest square he can attack from is x. He can then continue the straight line passed A. It makes it difficult, but not impossible.

 

[Erywin]

Wow, didn't know that the FAQ nerffed it Generally why I pay no attention to the thing!